Avoiding Distraction When Presenting in a Meeting

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You might get distracted when asked to present in a meeting. Even if you know what to say and you prepared well for the meeting, you could still end up running out of words. The problem is that even if you had something good to say, the people in the room might not feel impressed. Maybe, they could not get over you being distracted. These tips will help you focus on the meeting and survive the challenges.

Block everything out

It is easy for you to forget what you will say during a meeting when your mind is floating all over the place. You need to block everything out and go back to those issues later. For now, you can talk about the topic and focus your entire attention on the meeting.

Turn your phone off

You cannot let your phone notifications distract you. Turn your mobile phone off or at least put it in silent mode. If you see a message from your family while you are talking, you might forget everything that you need to say.

Take a deep breath

When you feel distracted because you get nervous, you need to take a deep breath. You cannot continue talking when you cannot concentrate since it will show. You should spend a few seconds to pause before you start talking again.

Get enough sleep

One reason why you cannot focus is that you did not get enough sleep the night before. You need to have a good rest to allow your brain cells to recover and let you stay sharp on the day of the presentation.

Prepare the place

You might also get distracted if the venue does not look like the way you imagined it would. You want to have a smooth presentation, and it requires everything to be ready. For instance, if you want to present some slides, you can use a laptop and a screen where you will project the information. You can invest in a video wall mount so that you can quickly refer to the monitor if you need to start discussing things. When the place is ready for the meeting, you will feel confident.

Do not fear the people in the room

You might worry because you are afraid that people will judge you. The presentation might be in front of your bosses and colleagues who might be tough on you. Instead of worrying about failure, you need to focus on how you can impress them. Think of them as friends who only want the best for you. When they are tough, it does not mean that they are trying to pull you down. They wish the best for the company, and your success will also be the success of everyone.

Preparation is crucial to avoid getting distracted. When you know what to say, no one can bring you down. You will focus on doing the right thing until you feel satisfied with your performance. You can do the same if you are going to present the next time.