Tip 223: Break out of the freeze
"Freezing" is most people's biggest fear. You're standing before a room full of people and your mind goes blank. You can't remember a single thing you were planning on saying.
Many speakers freeze out of nerves. It can happen at the very beginning of you presentation or at any time during it, such as after you have been interrupted or distracted.
There are several tactics to help you recover from a freeze:
While you're preparing your presentation make sure your main points flow logically from one to another. Make the connections really tight.
Take a moment, take a breath, and think. If you give yourself half a chance you'll probably remember what you were going to say.
Back up and try again. Repeat the previous point, the one you just summarized. Doing so will often lead you on to the next point.
Refer to your notes.
Don't focus on saying exactly the right words or memorising your speech. Focus, instead on communicating the concepts you have in mind.
Tell your audience you've drawn a blank. Ask, "Where was I?" and someone will tell you.
Say something. Say anything. The longer you stay silent -- trying to remember exactly what you had planned on saying -- the more stressed you will get.
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