How to energise yourself before a speech, important meeting or interview

You need lots of energy as a presenter as all those who speak in public need to find a bigger, more energised version of themselves when they appear in front of an audience.

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body.  The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.”

Tony Robbins, motivational speaker and author

You will have noticed yourself that people sometimes look like they are smaller, somehow, when presenting.  They are speaking with their usual energy level, but suddenly this is not enough.  This is because presenters – or even interviewees – need extra energy to compensate for the fact that audience members are becoming slightly less energised, more contained versions of themselves.  Think of it as filling the overall energy gap.

When you are making a presentation you are always in a performance role. So make it out of the ordinary.  Make sure you generate energy.  You start to do this by warming up before a presentation.  Energy permeates every part of you: it affects how you stand, breathe, think, speak and move.

Release Tension. Find Energy.

Think of how you are standing and your body alignment.  The feet must take the full weight of the body evenly, ie not just on the heels or toes or more on one foot than another.  Stand with your feet directly underneath or slightly closer together than your hips.  Soften your knees.  In order for the breath to sink into the deepest regions of the lungs the stomach muscles cannot be taut or else they fight the process.

Shake out your hands – imagine you’ve got something rather sticky and nasty on them that you’re trying to shake off.  Extend this loosening into the arms.  Bend your knees in the same rhythm.  Let your whole body contribute to the swinging motion. (You can imagine you are skiing.)  Do this for a good two minutes.

Is two minutes of your time too much, when it can affect the energy level of your speech? I don’t think so!  If you’re feeling nervous it’s a great way to let go of tension and it makes you feel better.  It’s the standing equivalent of going for a walk when you’re feeling tense.

You can, indeed, simply go for a brisk walk. Or walk swiftly up and down some stairs. Get the blood flowing and your energy level up.  It will be worth it.

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