Managing the nerves when presenting: Learning how to get those butterflies moving in formation.

Duration: 6m35s

AUSMASA Intro: Welcome to the Train-the-Trainer Podcast, proudly brought to you by the Australian Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance. Empowering industry to develop essential workforce capabilities for today and tomorrow.

Marc: Hi team! Marc Ratcliffe here again. It’s great to have your company. In this episode, we’re talking about something nearly every trainer, presenter or subject matter expert experiences at some point or another - managing the nerves when presenting. 

With me today, is Mike West. How are you going Mike!

Mike: Good thanks Marc, I’m looking forward to our chat. 

Marc: Great. So, Mike, have you ever had those butterflies in the stomach just before you deliver?

Mike: Yeah, I certainly have.

Marc: Well, today we are going to share some strategies to reduce their impact on you. 

Mike: I can’t wait!

Body

Marc: Imagine you're standing in front of 30 workers at a pre-shift briefing. It’s your first time running the session, and the room is full of people with more site experience than you. How do you feel?

Mike: You’re giving me some PTSD there Marc.

Marc: Sorry, Mike. But continue.

Mike: Well you get that dry mouth. Racing heart. Tight chest. And that feeling that somehow everybody in the room knows you’re anxious.

Marc: Yeah, those nerves can show up fast. But the good news is, nerves are not proof that you’re bad at presenting. In fact, they’re usually a sign that you care enough about it and want to do a good job.

Mike: Oh, that’s a great way of thinking about it. 

Marc: I often say, the aim is not to get rid of the butterflies. Rather, it’s to get them moving in formation.

Mike: Nice. 

Marc: Let’s start by normalising the issue. In mining and automotive environments, many people step into training roles because they’re technically capable.

Mike: Yeah, they know the plant, the process, the systems, the workshop routines…

Marc: And safety requirements and stuff like that. But knowing the job and presenting it clearly are very different skills. It’s completely normal to feel exposed when the focus shifts from doing the task to explaining it.

Mike: One of the biggest mistakes presenters make is trying to sound perfect. Perfect usually sounds stiff. It increases pressure and makes you more self-conscious. 

Marc: That’s right! Instead we should be aiming for “prepared and useful”. Learners aren’t asking you to be polished like a television presenter. They want you to be clear, credible, and practical.

Mike: So, preparation is the first way to reduce nerves?

Marc: Yes. But I am not talking over-preparation where you try to memorise every word, but practical preparation. Know your opening. Know your key points. Know your examples. Know how you will close. If you have those four things clear, you can stay grounded even if the session goes off script.

Mike: That makes sense. I also think that a simple structure helps. 

Marc: Go on.

Mike: Well, tell them what the topic is. Explain why it matters. Show or discuss what good practice looks like. Check understanding. Then close with the key takeaway. 

Marc: I like that, because that structure gives you something to lean on when your mind starts racing.

Mike: That’s so true. Another useful strategy is to focus less on yourself and more on the learners.

Marc: Yeah, nerves tend to grow when your attention is locked onto questions like: How am I sounding? Do I look nervous? 

Mike: Or what if I forget something? 

Marc: Yeah, Yeah. But when you shift to: you know, “what do these people need to be able to do safely and correctly?” your energy becomes more purposeful.

Mike: I couldn’t agree more! I understand that breathing matters too.

Marc: Yeah, it does. When we’re nervous we tend to take shorter breaths which makes it harder to speak. So before presenting, take a slower breath in and a longer breath out. If you can slow that exhale, you help calm the stress response. 

Mike: Nervous speakers almost always speed up because they’re gasping for breath. 

Marc: Yeah

Mike: So, a slightly slower pace sounds more confident and gives your brain time to think?

Marc: That’s the idea, Mike. What other tips do you have in the kit bag?

Mike: Well, it helps if you avoid opening with an apology. Don’t start with, ‘I’m not great at this’, or ‘I haven’t had much time to prepare’. That lowers confidence in the room and puts more pressure on you. 

Marc: Okay

Mike: Start with the purpose instead. For example: ‘Today we’re looking at three common issues when conducting safety inspections and how to catch them early’. That sounds focused and professional.

Marc: That’s good advice, Mike. 

Mike: Thanks and using notes is absolutely fine too. In fact, good presenters often do. 

Marc: I am totally with you on that! I think the key is to use notes as prompts, not something you read word for word. 

Mike: Yeah, a few headings or key phrases will usually do the trick!

Marc: So, you’re trying to avoid reading a script, right?

Mike: Yeah, no one what’s to watch you read. 

Marc: Okay, now let’s talk about mistakes. You might lose your place. Someone might ask a question you can’t answer immediately. A demonstration might not go to plan. What can you do to feel more in control here?

Mike: None of that means the session has failed. Calmly acknowledging the issue often builds credibility. You can say, ‘That’s a good question. Let’s work through what we know, and I’ll confirm the rest’. People generally respond well to honesty and composure.

Marc: It’s it not what happens but how you handle it?

Mike: Exactly.

Marc: Any final thoughts?

Mike: There’s also value in repetition. Presentation confidence is built through exposure, not theory alone. Start small. A five-minute briefing. A short section of a workshop. A demonstration with a small group. Confidence often comes after action, not before it.

Marc: I like it. 

Mike: Thanks, Marc!

Marc: Remember, in workplace training, connection matters more than performance. Learners will remember whether you made the content relevant, respected their experience, and helped them understand the job better. They’re much less focused on your nerves than you are. So, if you are feeling anxious before presenting, try this. Prepare a simple structure. Practise your opening out loud. Breathe more slowly. Start with purpose. Focus on helping, not performing. And accept that nerves can come along for the ride without taking over. Because being nervous does not disqualify you from being an effective presenter. In many cases, it means you are taking the responsibility seriously. And that is a strong place to begin. All the best in putting that into action. Thanks for joining us.

AUSMASA Outro: Search AUSMASA Resources for more videos, guides, templates and checklists to support your role and help progress your Vet career. Check these out at: ausmasa.org.au/resources. 

END.

Managing the nerves when presenting: Learning how to get those butterflies moving in formation.

Duration: 1m30s

If you get nervous before presenting, that doesn't mean you're bad at it. It means you care.

A lot of trainers in mining and automotive environments still get nervous before they speak to a group. That's normal. So, rather than trying to get rid of the nerves. Concentrate on trying to use that energy better.

Here are 3 practical ways to do it.

First, stop trying to memorise everything. Know your opening, know your key points, and know how you'll finish. That gives you structure without sounding stiff. If you lose your place, you can always come back to one of those points and keep going.

Second, make the session about the learners, not about you. Most nerves come from thinking, what if I mess this up? Shift the focus. Ask yourself, what does this group need to hear, understand or do today? When you focus on helping people learn, the pressure actually drops pretty quickly.

Third, settle your body before you start. For instance, before your first toolbox talk in front of senior tradies, stand still, plant your feet and breathe out slowly. It will make all the difference. Try to pause before your first sentence. If you rush in too quickly, your nerves can take over. But if you slow it down, you will look and feel more confident, even if you are still a little nervous.

Here's the thing. Don't wait to feel confident before you present. Confidence usually comes with practice. Those butterflies may still be there. Your job is to get them moving in formation.

END.