by Kathleen Richardson

Created on: May 28, 2008

A week before the start of my leadership of six weekly meetings, I started making notes. Looking back now, I feel silly. I didn't need those notes. This takes me back several years to when I first began my business and would answer the phone surrounded by dozens of pieces of paper with clever comments and profound questions. Thank goodness, I always forgot to look at those papers during actual calls and did fine.

I know the way I imprint information on my brain is to write it down. That's how I am. So, these eight pages of typed notes for the upcoming group weren't a bad thing. Trouble is, the more notes I compiled, the more I stressed out. So much so that several days before the first session, I was a mental mess.

I was telling my troubles to a friend and she asked, "What do you intend to do with the notes?" After a few minutes of thought, I decided: "Throw them out". I did just that. I disposed of the copious notes and quickly jotted down less than a page of brief, handwritten reminders.

How many times have you over-thought, over-planned and made yourself a nervous wreck before speaking to a group? What has happened, on the other hand, when you prepared carefully and then stepped back for a brief respite. You probably did a much better job of it.

Here's what I think. What you're actually afraid of and over-plan for is not the presentation or the meeting itself. It's how you think people are going to react if everything you do isn't perfect.

Perfection may sound good and may even bring up visions of fame and fortune. Reality is, though, that no one can ever achieve perfection. Think about it. Do you really want your audience or clients in awe of you and sure they can never be the achiever you are? Or do you want them armed with the up-to-date, accurate information, inspired, and confident that they'll make the best decisions for themselves? If the latter, here are some tips for preparing yourself to create a presentation that's easier for you and more valuable for others.

Ask yourself what will it take for you to trust yourself? You know your subject. What unusual or updated information can you add that your audience is not likely to know? Do you need to present information or are you there to listen and facilitate? How can you honor your listeners' or readers' perspectives if they differ from yours?
Next ask yourself what will it take for you to trust your audience? This is about them, not about you. They're more likely to welcome your presentation or way of doing

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