What should officers do to manage nervousness before a speech?

Taking deep breaths and practicing smiling at the audience are effective strategies for managing nervousness before giving a speech. Deep breathing helps calm the body’s physiological response to anxiety, allowing the speaker to feel more relaxed and grounded. This practice can lower heart rates and reduce feelings of panic. Additionally, smiling at the audience not only creates a positive atmosphere, making both the speaker and the audience feel more at ease, but it also improves the speaker’s confidence. Engaging in these practices fosters a connection with the audience and enhances overall presentation effectiveness.

In contrast, practicing only in front of family members may not adequately prepare the speaker for a real audience, as it lacks the varied responses and dynamics one would face in a larger or different group. Consuming energy drinks could lead to increased jitters or anxiety, exacerbating nervousness rather than alleviating it. Limiting audience interaction during the speech might encourage a more rehearsed delivery, but it can also alienate the audience and diminish engagement, which could heighten the speaker’s nervousness.