Last-minute wobbles: How to beat the 15 minute nerves.

Some people are nervous for days, or even weeks, before a talk. But there's a good proportion of people who only get the last-minute wobbles.

Here's what it's like.

You’ve been cool as a cucumber all day. No nerves. No sweaty palms. No racing heartbeat.

In fact, you've probably been so busy that you haven't had chance to even think about that big talk in the afternoon.

And then, bam. Fifteen minutes before you’re due to present, that's when the nerves come crashing in.

If that’s you, you're not alone. It's so common.

The problem isn’t that you get nervous. The problem is when. Those final 15 minutes are crunch time.

Below I explain five steps to help you out in this situation but, before I do that, let me explain the idea behind those steps.

The steps will displace the nervous noise in your head with something practical, useful, and confidence-building.
The intention is that the nervousness is replaced by focus.

Here are the steps.


1. Clear those 15 minutes in your diary before your talk

I know this can be a challenge but, if you can, block it out. Treat it as sacred. If you don't, you could be cornered by emails, colleagues, or your own anxious thoughts.


2. Write down your first sentence and last sentence

Not a vague idea. The actual words. Why? Because once you know how you’re starting, you’ve already beaten the scariest part: the silence before you speak. And by nailing your final words you’ll know you’re going to end strong


3. Say those first and last sentences out loud

You’ll probably fluff it the first time you do this. But that’s good. It gets it out of the way before the real talk begins.
The act of saying those lines will also instill some confidence.


4. Flick through each slide

Don’t rehearse the whole deck. It’s too late for that. Instead, jot one quick note per slide: the point you want to make.


5. Plan your stance

Where are you standing? How will you stand?


Again, these five intentional steps will help you to displace the anxiety you're experiencing with something practical. Something that will help you.

By the time you’ve worked through them, you’re not wobbling, you’re ready.

So the next time you feel those last-minute nerves creeping in, don’t fight them. Drown them out.

Because the best way to quieten nerves is simple: displace them with action.


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