Haveo · Social anxiety at work

Presenting at work

Rehearse the first thirty seconds until they are automatic. Almost all of the difficulty is in the opening — once you are talking, the rest usually runs. A memorized first line means you never start by improvising.

The opening is the hard part

The peak is the moment before and the first few sentences. After that most people find they settle, and knowing that in advance helps.

So spend your preparation disproportionately on the start rather than spreading it evenly.

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Out loud, standing, twice

Reading slides silently is not rehearsal. Say it out loud, standing, at least twice — the second run is always dramatically better than the first, and you want the first one to happen in private.

Time it. Everything runs longer live.

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Cut a third

Almost every internal presentation is too long. Cutting makes it better and it shortens the part you are dreading.

One idea per slide, and no slide you would have to read out.

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Questions

Write the three questions you hope nobody asks and prepare those. They are the ones that will come.

"I do not know, I will find out and come back to you" is a complete, professional answer and it is better than improvising something wrong.

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Notes are fine

Nobody minds notes. Bullet points in your own words work better than a script, which is hard to find your place in when your hands are shaking.

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Rehearse it before you walk in.

Haveo builds your intro, lets you practice out loud with an AI coach, and keeps your notes one tap away in the room. Free on iPhone and iPad.

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Common questions

What if my voice shakes?
It is far less audible than it feels. A pause and a slow breath resets it, and a pause reads as considered rather than nervous.
Should I stand or sit?
Standing tends to make your voice carry and your breathing steadier. If the room is small and everyone is sitting, sit.
Is it worth practicing in front of someone?
One friendly colleague once is worth several solo run-throughs, mainly because it surfaces which part is unclear.
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