Who knows what miracles you can achieve, when you believe, somehow you will

This was a line in the song popularized by the movie “The Prince of Egypt”. I believe it holds great motivation for some, when the going gets tough and they, who believed themselves as tough people, wavered in their conviction and self-confidence.

Public speaking and presentations in general, is one of these adversities that have the potential to render jelly legs to grown men, to make people doubt their abilities and discredit their past work and successes. In the face of an audience of bored individuals, to simply have that trusting faith in one’s abilities – could, to some, be akin to eating fugu (poisonous puffer-fish sashimi) from a dodgy restaurant.

Paul Potts, in the video below, is an unassuming member of society in his day-to-day activities. Yet, it is his belief in his abilities, that has led him to win the hearts of many all over the world. While we may not be able to boast of outstanding talents as Paul has, the message is clear: when you believe, somehow you will. Not all triumphs need to be impressive . In life, the only person you have to impress, is, really, yourself.

So, how do you rid yourself of overwhelming expectations during presentations or in any task, in general? Simply by remembering that there are no expectations you need to fulfill, other than your own. This may sound strange, but you are your greatest and most terrifying judge. No positive comments, no favorable feedback will satisfy if you do not feel that you have done your best and achieved your goals.

How is this done? Please allow me to share how I do it:

1. Evaluate your personal abilities, strengths and weaknesses very honestly

2. Set a reasonable target for yourself – taking into consideration your strengths and weaknesses

3. Do not let anybody else alter your personal target – people may often urge you to ‘push past your limits’. Always remember that these are merely perceived targets that others have set for you – there is no one who understands you better than yourself!

4. Do your best for your presentation.

5. After that, critically evaluate how you have performed – both qualitatively and quantitatively, if possible.

6. If it has been a success, great! Think of how you succeeded (the process is more important than the outcome) and how you can improve.

7. If it was not successful, always keep in mind that the absence of a success does not amount to a failure, and start thinking of how you can improve next time round.

As the nun Maria sings in the Sound of Music, have confidence in confidence alone!

-stella