i have a big presentation tomorrow

Presentation tomorrow? The survival guide

One of the most common questions we get asked is “Help, I have a presentation tomorrow. What should I do?”

We have put together this presentation survival guide to help you.

1. Don’t panic

Although you are cutting it fine, there are lots of things that you can do to improve your presentation tomorrow. These can help you out in a very short time.

Here are a few pointers that can help you.

2. Decide upon the title

It may sound blindingly obvious, but deciding on a title is often one of the hardest things that you have to do. If you are a journalist you will know the importance of a catchy title.

Being asked to give a talk on any subject is often the hardest thing.

3. The Rule of Three

It’s a sad fact, but it is highly likely that your audience may only be able to remember three things that you have said. It’s the rule of three .

The key point is for you to write down the three points that you want the audience to remember. This can be the structure for your presentation.

4. Pick a nice presentation template

A simple way to quickly improve you presentation is to use a nice presentation template or background.

Presentation Magazine has thousands of free presentation templates and backgrounds that you can choose from.

5. Add one image per slide

Bullet points are quick, but they look boring. Add one image or graph per slide. This will really bring things to life.

People remember images. Remember the old saying: “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

And research bears this out. A presentation with pictures is twice as likely to achieve its objectives as one without.

6. Less is more

Don’t feel that you have to cram in loads and loads of facts. When it comes to presentations, remember that less if often more.

Nobody ever complained about a presentation being too short, but lots complain when it is too long.

Use no more than three bullet points per slide.

7. Most important. Practise it out loud three times

Practise your presentation out loud at least three times. One of these times should be in front of a real-life audience – family, friends or colleagues. Even the dog is better than nothing.

Actors don’t go on stage without having rehearsed, so why should you?

If there is only one thing you can do, then it should be to practise out loud.

Good luck! Please leave some comments in the box below to let us know how it goes.

Recommended Pages

that was good, especially the latest one! I have presentation tomorrow and it help me so much. thanks.

• All Templates
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• Informative
• Architecture
• Celebration
• Educational
• Engineering
• Food and Drink
• Subtle Waves Template
• Business world map
• Filmstrip with Countdown
• Blue Bubbles
• Corporate 2
• Vector flowers template
• Editable PowerPoint newspapers
• Hands Template
• Red blood cells slide
• Circles Template on white
• Maps of America
• Light Streaks Business Template
• Zen stones template
• Heartbeat Template
• Web icons template

• For General Anxiety
• For Panic Attacks
• For Fears and Phobias

Presentation Anxiety: How to Overcome Stage Fright (Complete Guide)

Tyler Ellis

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is thought to affect as much as 75% of the population. For both students and professionals alike, this phobia tends to take the form of presentation anxiety. So, how can we overcome stage fright and presentation anxiety once and for all?

While avoiding presentations may bring some short-term relief to your anxiety, this will worsen your stage fright in the long-run. To overcome presentation anxiety long-term, presentation tools and gradual practice are the most effective solutions.

Maybe, right now, you’re extremely anxious about a presentation coming up. Maybe the only thought racing through your mind is how in the world am I going to get out of giving this presentation?

No worries. This guide is going to cover everything – and I mean everything – you’ll need to know. Make sure not to skip the section on “alternative ways of presenting,” I think you’ll find those really useful!

No need to stress; let’s get right into this.

What Causes Presentation Anxiety?

First things first… why do we feel presentation anxiety in the first place?

Sure, we might expect our heart to pound and breathing to accelerate as we walk along the edge of a cliff – but during a presentation? What part of talking about George Washington Carver inventing peanut butter should cause our hands to tremble and our voice to stutter?

Well, as it turns out, presentation anxiety is caused by ancient mechanisms in our brain responsible for our survival. For anxious people, our brain perceives being the center of attention in large group to be a threat. This triggers the “fight or flight” response, causing us to panic as we try and escape our uncomfortable setting.

Obviously, we are in no real danger while giving a class presentation or work presentation. Many years of evolution, however, have trained us to avoid stage fright with a passion. In ancient times, being surround by a (potentially angry) mob could have fatal consequences; as could being humiliated, rejected, or otherwise cast out from the tribe.

For many of us – especially those of us prone to social anxiety – such fears have stuck with us since caveman times. It’s important we remember these fears are harmless. Just being aware of their nature can help with this process. Despite what your brain and body may be telling you, these feelings of anxiety are not dangerous; they are going to pass.

Feel free to check out this article for a better understanding of the evolutionary psychology behind anxiety .

How to Get Out of a Presentation

I recommend against avoidance in most cases, as it only reinforces our anxiety in the long-run.

However, I know what it’s like to be a student with presentation anxiety.

I know how hard it is juggling academics, a social life, relationships, and newly blossoming anxieties all at once. I know that it can get so bad the most logical option feels like dropping out of school altogether. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do that.

So, if you’re really just not ready to overcome your stage fright:

• Intentionally Choose Classes That Don’t Require Presentations
• Tell the Teacher or Professor About What You’re Going Through
• Ask the Teacher or Professor for Alternative Assignments
• For Group Presentations, Ask Someone Else to Take the Lead
• Present Your Assignment in an Alternative Format Using Presentation Tools and Software (more on this in a bit)

If this seems a bit vague, it’s only because I’ve actually dedicated an entire article to this topic already. Check out this piece on how to get out of giving a presentation in class for more help with this.

Like I said, ultimately, avoidance is a poor strategy. However, I believe it’s just as detrimental to be “forced” into facing our fears before we are mentally prepared to do so. Having been there myself, I want you to be able to rest easy knowing that you do have some options here.

For this guide, however, I want to focus more on how to actually overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright.

My secret is – believe it or not – I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience and, um, despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious, actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit... And now that I've confessed that, I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me.

Prince Harry - Duke of Sussex, Member of the British Royal Family

How to Stop a Panic Attack While Presenting in Class

When I first started having panic attacks, I had no idea what they were or why they were happening. Prior to my first panic attack, I had never had an issue with public speaking or presentation anxiety at all. In fact, I had voluntarily participated in several clubs and activities that required public speaking.

Yet, when my first few panic attacks started (I was around 16 at the time), they would occur in any random situation. Wherever they occurred, I'd quickly develop a phobia associated with that location or situation. One such random panic attack occurred – you guessed it – during a class presentation.

While this experience was terrifying, embarrassing, and extremely uncomfortable, I had – fortunately – managed to keep it together enough for most people not to notice. For the many class presentations that would follow, however, I had to develop some tricks to stop panic attacks while presenting in class.

Here’s what worked for me:

• Volunteer to go first. This may seem strange, but I always felt it easier to volunteer first and get it out of the way. Oftentimes, it’s easier to deal with presentation anxiety when we don’t feel cornered. By choosing to do it yourself, you maintain some control of the situation and get the jump on things before anticipation anxiety kicks in .
• Remember you are not going to die. This is just a panic attack, and it’s going to pass. It may be uncomfortable, but it will be over within a few moments.
• Take control of your breathing. 478 breathing is a simple technique that works. Simply breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds through the mouth.
• Find a focus object. Choose a point, or several points, to focus on in the room. This could be a ceiling tile, a lightbulb, a pile of books, anything. Whenever your thoughts start to wander or spiral out of control, recenter your thoughts on that focus object.
• Try and remember the other times you’ve given a class presentation with anxiety. Chances are, this isn’t your first time. Remember those past successes and visualize this presentation as one where you overcome stage fright as well. If your mind is drawn to a time when it didn’t go so well, at least remind yourself that it passed and you survived it; just as you’ll survive this one.
• If you have a friend in the class, look to them from time to time. Flash them a smile or a wink, and try not to laugh out loud while you’re up there. This may seem silly, but I’d rather stifle a laugh than grapple a panic attack.
• Remember that no one’s really paying attention. Just as you were sitting at your desk nervously thinking about your own turn to present, most people are doing the exact same now. And even if they’re not anxious, they’re probably zoned out or drifting off; it’s quite difficult to keep an involuntary crowd’s attention. Trust me, they’re probably not thinking about you much.

These are just a few ways to stop a panic attack while presenting in class. Of course, just about any method for stopping panic attacks can work well here, so feel free to explore our site a bit to learn some other methods.

There are only two types of speakers in the world:

1. The nervous

Mark Twain - American humorist, novelist, and travel writer

Alternative Ways of Presenting to Help Overcome Stage Fright

If you take nothing else from this article, I believe that this is the section that can help anxious students and professionals with stage fright the most. When I was dealing with presentation anxiety myself, most of these options didn’t even exist. If you’re anxious about standing in front of class and presenting, any of these could be fantastic alternatives to presenting.

Basically, any of these presentation software tools can help you to quickly create a visually stunning presentation; all without having to speak in front of the class. They utilize audio, video, and/or animation to create informative videos that get the point across even more effectively than conventional presentations.

For the most part, all a teacher or boss really cares about is that you: 

• Put hard work and dedication into your assignment
• Learned something throughout the process
• Are able to communicate what you learned to educate your peers

Telling the teacher “Sorry, I just can’t present today,” won’t meet any of these points, and is likely to land you a failed grade.

Instead, ask your teacher if you can use one of these presentation tools to create an even more engaging and informative presentation. This way, it’ll seem like you’ve put in the most effort in the class, rather than the least; all without having to speak in front of the class.

Here are the automated presentation tools I currently use myself and recommend:

I go into much greater detail on these tools here: automated presentation software . Before buying anything, I strongly suggest giving that article a read. Otherwise, Toonly and Doodly are my top picks.

What is the Best Presentation Anxiety Medication for Stage Fright?

Giving a presentation in high school or college can be extremely stressful for many people. If standing in front of the class feels like an impossible task, you may be wondering about presentation anxiety medication. So… what are the best drugs for presentation anxiety?

Since I’m not a doctor, I can only offer you a friendly opinion here.

In general, I think it’s a good idea to steer clear of anti-anxiety medication whenever it isn’t absolutely necessary. If your doctor prescribes you presentation anxiety medication, so be it. In the long-run, however, this can often create cycles of reliance and dependence that are best avoided.

But what about taking an over-the-counter supplement for anxiety before a presentation?

I have personally found one supplement to help me relax and communicate more confidently. This is my favorite supplement for stage fright, as it has helped me tremendously in situations where I would normally feel a bit socially anxious. I’ve used this supplement for presentations, job interviews, and even first dates.

My favorite supplement for presentation anxiety symptoms is phenibut. It just helps me feel significantly calmer while simultaneously boosting my sociability and confidence. This supplement is extremely affordable and legally sold online in most countries. If you want to learn a bit more about it, I have an article going into greater depth about phenibut here.

I do urge responsibility when using phenibut, as you don’t want to become reliant on it. But if it makes the difference between shirking your presentation vs. delivering a great one, I highly recommend it.

Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning

Winston Churchill - Former Prime Minister of the UK, Famous Orator

Tips for How to Present a Project Effectively

Few things help to eliminate anticipation anxiety like truly preparing for the situation. If your fears are rooted in delivering a poor or ineffective presentation, take some time to prepare.

Here are some tips for how to present a project effectively:

How to Overcome Stage Fright and Presentation Anxiety

There are many strategies we can take when dealing with our presentation anxiety or stage fright. Here are three of the most common strategies:

• Complete Avoidance – Post-college, public speaking occasions like presentations are pretty few and far between. As an adult, it isn’t too difficult to avoid presentations, although not overcoming stage fright can be a hinderance in many career fields.
• Reluctant and Occasional – Here’s where most people in the world probably fall. Most of us aren’t 100% comfortable with presenting, yet we suck it up and get it done when we have to. This isn’t a bad place to be, although it's uncomfortable occasionally.
• Conquering Presentation Anxiety – Some brave souls will choose to completely crush their fear of public speaking, overcoming stage fright and glossophobia entirely. This path is not for the faint of heart, as it isn’t easy; however, it has the largest payoff in the end with regard to career and confidence.

We’ve already discussed strategies for the first two earlier in this guide. Let’s now focus on the third.

How can we overcome presentation anxiety and glossophobia?

Well, whenever we want to eliminate a fear or phobia long-term, the best way to do so is through exposure therapy. We do have a full article on how to extinguish fears through exposure therapy if you’re curious to really understand this process.

For now, I’ll fill you in on the basics:

By gradually stepping outside of our comfort zone and exposing ourselves to our fears, we can eliminate those fears over time. The key here is that we are stepping a bit outside our comfort zone, but not immersing ourselves so fully to induce panic. In other words: challenge yourself at a fair pace.  

So how do we apply this to overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright?

My suggestion would be to identify the smallest voluntary step you can take outside of your comfort zone without panicking. Perhaps presenting may induce a panic attack, but are you at least able to read aloud from your seat? Perhaps reading aloud is difficult, but could you at least volunteer an answer from time to time?

This process will be as unique as a fingerprint for each person, as we all have different comfort zones and stressors. Try and find where your comfort zone ends and take small steps just outside of it. With repeated practice, you’ll notice your comfort zone expanding as you become more confident with the activity.

In general, here are some opportunities you may find useful for stepping outside of your comfort zone:

• Start raising your hand more often to ask or answer questions
• Volunteer to read aloud or answer a problem on the board whenever you’re feeling confident
• Create a presentation using presentation software (recommendations above), but see if you can actually get through it without relying on the audio. If you get too nervous, you can use it
• Rather than trying to get out of a presentation, ask your groupmates if you could take a lesser role with speaking; perhaps you could do more of the research to make up for it
• Seek out your local Toastmasters group to practice public speaking away from the pressures of your own social circles
• Try and attend small open mic nights and similar opportunities to gain experience with public speaking

Fun Fact: I successfully avoided presentations for the majority of my high school and college career. Afterward, I wound up working several jobs that forced me to confront this fear. First came a sales job, and next came a job that required me to speak in front of 150-200 people multiple times per day.

Turns out, I liked money more than I disliked public speaking.

List of Famous People with Public Speaking Anxiety

Sometimes a bit of solidarity goes a long way. Here’s a list of famous/successful people who have long been known to have suffered from public speaking anxiety:

• Winston Churchill
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Abraham Lincoln
• Prince Harry
• Warren Buffet
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Sigmund Freud
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Tiger Woods
• Rowan Atkinson
• Jackie Chan
• Thomas Jefferson
• Margaret Thatcher
• Princess Diana
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Sir Richard Branson

As you can see… we’ve got some big names up there. And this is just a very small list of successful people who have been open about their public speaking anxiety – to say nothing of the silent majority!

Never forget, you’re far from alone in experiencing this – you can absolutely overcome presentation anxiety, stage fright, and glossophobia if you wish to!

Unlock the Secrets  to Managing Anxiety  without Harmful Meds

Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. 

Getting started is easy with our #1 recommended online anxiety course.

For a limited time,  click here to watch the first few lessons of Anxiety Academy completely free. Like what you see? Access the rest of the course, all future course updates, plus lifetime access to our exclusive online community, for a small one-time payment today!

Loved this? Spread the word

About the Author

Years of personal experience with anxiety disorders and panic attacks have led me to devise some pretty creative ways to keep my anxiety in check. In the past, anxiety and panic attacks felt like something I'd have to live with forever. Nowadays, panic attacks are a distant memory for me, and I'm free to pursue passions like writing and traveling the world. Hopefully, the information on this website can help you achieve the same. I do all the writing here myself, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions!

Related posts

Mindlax review: fall asleep faster with a high-tech sleep mat, does vaping cause anxiety the surprising link between the two, panic free tv review: my honest thoughts, how to get fmla for anxiety (4 easy steps), subscribe to our newsletter now.

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

15 things you should do in the 15 minutes before a big presentation

"The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public." —George Jessel

You have to give a big, important presentation in just 15 minutes. Your heart is racing, your palms are damp — you're starting to panic.

It's completely normal. In fact, most speakers, beginners and veterans alike, readily admit to feeling nervous in the moments leading up to a big speech or presentation.

Darlene Price, president, of Well Said, Inc. and author of " Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results ," tells Business Insider that instead of trying to lose the butterflies, you should aim to leverage them. "The adrenaline surge can fuel your body with the energy and enthusiasm necessary for a great performance," she explains.

Whether you're stepping to the front of the room to speak to just a few people, or making a grand entrance in a ballroom to address thousands, here are 15 ways to effectively use the 15 minutes before you go up to prepare your body and mind for peak performance:

1. Talk positively to yourself

Claim your success before you begin, Price says.

"Let's learn from the experts in sports psychology. They've proven that an athlete's positive self-talk prior to and during a performance consistently creates a higher win rate," she explains.

In the minutes leading up to your presentation, say over and over within yourself, "I am a dynamic speaker!" "I am enthusiastic and engaging!" "I am prepared and confident!"

"Write your own set of self-affirmations and confidently declare them," she advises. "Your words will create a self-fulling prophecy."

2. Use the restroom

"First thing's first," Price says. "Needing the toilet when you wouldn't normally 'have to go' is a common reaction to anxiety and pre-speech jitters. Why take chances? Plan ahead and use the restroom in the moments prior to going on stage."

3. Check yourself out in the mirror

There's nothing worse than wondering, "Do I have something in my teeth?" as you take the stage.

To ease any potential concerns about your physical appearance you might have as you begin your presentation, you should take a quick look in the mirror before you start. This way, you'll have one less thing to worry about (and be distracted by!). 

4. Meet and greet the audience before you speak

Shake hands and talk with as many people as possible ahead of time. "This shows the audience you're approachable and personable," Price explains.

"You may even learn a few names, issues, and stories to weave into your presentation. Plus, having conversations with your listeners ahead of time transforms scary 'public' speaking into natural, relaxed 'personal' speaking."

5. Check out the meeting room and audiovisual set-up

As the speaker, be sure you know the environment, including the seating arrangement, presentation electronics, microphone, and lighting.

Get to the room early and ensure you're comfortable with the set-up. "This step shows the audience you're prepared and helps ensure your presentation runs smoothly," she says.  

6. Take several deep belly breaths

Since anxiety tightens the muscles in the chest and throat, it's important to diminish that restricting effect with deep inhalations, Price explains.

Don't underestimate the power of a long, slow, deep breath. "It maximizes the amount of oxygen that flows to the lungs and brain; interrupts the adrenalin-pumping 'fight or flight' response; and triggers the body's normal relaxation response," she says. In the moments leading up to your presentation, breathe deeply and deliberately.

7. Practice the first minute in your mind

Whatever you're planning to say as the captivating opener — a witty quotation, personal story, or startling statistic — rehearse the first few sentences several times, Price suggests. Knowing exactly how you're going to start gives you confidence, enables you to look directly into the eyes of audience members as you begin (not at notes or a slide), and creates a powerful first impression.

8. Focus on positive thoughts and images

"Harnessing the power of the mind-body connection means that you can learn to use your thoughts to positively influence your body's physical responses," Price says.

As a result, you can decrease stress and increase a sense of well being and control, just by holding positive thoughts and images in your mind.

For example, replace the thought, "I'm so nervous and unprepared I'm going to bomb," with a positive statement such as, "I'm an expert on my topic," "I'm enthusiastic and engaging," or, "I'm credible and confident."

9. Sip water that is either warm or room temperature, with lemon if possible

"This helps with dry-mouth, cuts through mucus buildup in the mouth, and clears the throat," Price says. Avoid cold food and drinks, dairy products, and carbonated beverages — and ensure a glass or bottle of water is within arm's reach during your speech.

10. Acknowledge the three audience truths

Prior to speaking, tell yourself:

"This audience believes I am the expert."   The audience perceives you as a recognized authority simply because you're the one speaking, she explains. "Plus, you know more than they do about the topic."

"They want me to succeed." Audiences are rooting for you. They want and expect you to add value; to be interesting, engaging, and informative otherwise the presentation is a waste of their time, says Price.

"They don't know what I'm going to say." If you make an error, don't announce it or apologize, just keep going. "The audience will never know."

11. Exercise lightly

In a private setting beforehand, do some light stretching, a few knee-bends, or take a brisk walk down the hall and back. "This rids the body of excess energy and sends oxygen to the brain," she says.

12. Assume a standing position in the five minutes prior to speaking

If you're the host or only speaker, you'll be standing anyway. However, if you're one of several speakers on the agenda, and your turn is coming up in five minutes, simply step to the back of the room and stand, or stand up if you're backstage.

"The sitting position is motionless, passive, and inactive. By standing, you summon energy ahead of time, give your body a chance to warm up, and place yourself in a posture ready for action."

While you're at it, strike a "power pose."

Harvard psychologist Amy Cuddy describes power poses as expansive and open stances where you take up a lot of space and hold your arms and legs away from your body, reports Business Insider's Rachel Gillett. 

When you expand your body, Cuddy tells Business Insider , "your mind starts to feel more confident and powerful — it starts to see those challenging situations not as threats but as opportunities."

13. Avoid your phone

Don't scroll through social media, read the news, or listen to voice messages minutes before your big presentation. It may  seem like a good distraction, but if you see, hear, or read something upsetting, for example, it might throw you off. 

14. Focus on giving

Did you get overwhelmingly nervous the last time you gave a birthday gift to a friend? Probably not. You may have felt anticipation, excitement, even joy, but not anxiety, Price says.

"As a speaker, think about your presentation as a gift to the audience; a nicely wrapped package full of valuable information, helpful ideas and meaningful content. The mental attitude of giving empowers you and frees you. It takes your mind off of yourself and puts the focus on helping others."

Maintain a positive, pleasant expression on your face in the moments before you speak.

"Smiling actually relaxes the body. Physiologically, smiling emits endorphins in the brain that calms the nerves, creates a pleasant attitude, and promotes a sense of well being," she says.

Plus, a smile conveys confidence and self-assurance. It shows your audience that you're happy to see them and enthusiastic about your message.

• Main content

How Not to Be Nervous for a Presentation

Table of Contents

Do you have a presentation coming up at work? Is the mere thought of getting up and speaking in front of other people keeping you up at night? 

Just imagining the situation where all your colleagues are watching you while you struggle to get through your presentation is enough to get your heart pounding and palms sweating.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

In this blog post, we will go over why you feel nervous for presentations, and offer some tips and tricks on how to better manage your nervousness.

Why do you get nervous before presenting?

If you are nervous before a presentation, you likely have a fear of public speaking .

This is a widespread fear, affecting up to 75% of the population . As Mark Twain once said:

“ There are two types of speakers: those who get nervous and those who are liars ”.

Of course, some people have it worse than others. In some cases, people can just be a bit nervous, but ultimately be able to get over their fear and speak in front of others.

In other cases, this fear can be debilitating. 

The phobia of public speaking is also called glossophobia . 

Some of the signs of glossophobia can include:

• Perspiration,
• Shaky hands,
• Heart palpitations,
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure, and
• Intense anxiety and panic.

People who have this phobia will avoid public speaking at all costs. This can have a negative impact on their quality of life. They can lose out on opportunities, such as good jobs, because of their fear of any kind of public speaking. 

For example, people who suffer from extreme glossophobia may quit their job if they get assigned tasks that involve public speaking. Also, they can have meeting anxiety and opt out of meetings if it involves having to speak.

If you suffer from extreme glossophobia, you should reach out for help. Mental health professionals are trained to help people who are suffering from phobias. 

Free team communication software

Try Pumble, a secure, reliable, and easy-to-use communication tool.

FREE FOREVER • UNLIMITED COMMUNICATION

Is it normal to be nervous before a presentation?

It’s believed that public speaking is a fear rooted in prehistoric times.

Our ancestors relied on their tribe to survive, and getting rejected from the group meant bad news. 

Speaking in front of people opens you up to just that — judgment and rejection.

Here’s what Linda Whiteside , a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, has to say about this fear:

“Public speaking is a skill, and just like every skill, once you keep doing it you become better at it, and eventually it becomes second nature. It is normal for us to be nervous when we are subjected to a task that we are not accustomed to, we tend to become agitated as the act is alien to us. Fear is a natural response. However, if it leads to being unable to perform our activities of daily living, it would be prudent to consult a professional.”

The most dreaded aspect of public speaking is the brain freeze . 

This happens when our bodies release stress hormones that affect the brain. The frontal lobe is the part of the brain responsible for memories, and with an influx of stress hormones, it shuts down. This makes us freeze and forget what we were about to say.

The fight or flight response also plays a role.

This response protects us from threats — we can quickly react to danger without thinking about it. This was essential to our survival when we were constantly in danger of predators.

However, in modern times, this response can be engaged in situations that aren’t life-threatening, such as public speaking. This causes the brain to freeze and leaves us panicked.

The fear you feel when speaking in public is a biological response that we cannot control.

However, we can control our reaction to fear and how we deal with it .

How to cope with presentation nerves

Now that you’re aware of the biology behind this fear, let’s look at some of the ways you can manage it.

We’ll go over some tips and tricks on how to cope with your nerves before , during, and after a presentation .

There are some practices you can implement in your life for long-term stress and anxiety management, as well as tips and tricks you can use at that moment. 

How to cope with nerves before the presentation

We’ll start with tips on how to better prepare for a presentation and ways to decrease stress and manage anxiety long-term.

Step #1: Reinforce your knowledge

The first step towards an anxiety-free presentation is to be prepared.

Make sure that you completely understand the topic you’re covering by researching as much as possible. 

Also, try to think about questions that people could potentially have for you. This way, you will be ready to answer any questions that may arise. 

Thoroughly knowing your material will leave you with one less thing to worry about during your presentation.

Step #2: Organize your presentation

Another important step in preparing for a presentation is to be organized.

Make sure to prepare a good slide presentation, with points that you can elaborate on freely. Organize it into distinct sections, and memorize the sequence of your talking points to always know what’s next.

Also, think about the technical details. Get to know your surroundings and the equipment you’ll be using to avoid any mishaps.

If you’re doing a presentation online, clear your desk of any clutter, and remove any distractions.

Taking care of these details will reduce your anxiety and make your presentation flow smoothly.

Step #3: Practice your presentation

Another way to decrease nervousness is to practice your presentation beforehand.

Go over your presentation fully, as if you’re already in front of an audience.

Imagine the audience in front of you, and talk as if they’re there. Although it may feel awkward at first, it will help you feel more comfortable when the day of the presentation comes.

You can stand in front of a mirror to observe your body language and make corrections if needed.

If you’re doing a presentation over a video call , another great tip is to turn on your camera app and practice your presentation this way. 

Picturing your audience in front of you while you practice will help you visualize the atmosphere and get you used to the feeling of presenting.

Practicing will also help you locate the weak points of your presentation and correct them.

Step #4: Breathe/meditate

Breathing exercises and meditation are habits you can implement in your everyday life as a stress relief tool. 

Meditation has been proven to decrease stress and anxiety levels, as well as help with other mental health issues. Meditation is an amazing tool to have as a part of your everyday life.

However, if you don’t feel like meditating is for you, you can get some of the benefits from meditation practices such as breathing exercises.

You can do some breathing exercises right before your presentation to calm your nerves and clear your head. 

Step #5: Turn nervousness into excitement

Another way to ease nervousness is to rewire your brain to interpret nervousness as excitement.

One way to do this is to learn to differentiate between good and bad anxiety. 

Anxiety is there for a good reason — sometimes you need to listen to your gut to get out of a bad situation. 

However, if you’re anxious about a presentation at work, you can turn this anxiety into excitement.

For example, you have a big presentation at work tomorrow and your brain is running at full speed with thoughts such as: “ I’m so nervous, I’m totally going to mess this up. Everyone is just waiting for me to make a mistake ”.

This is the moment you can take control and rephrase your inner thoughts to a positive stance such as: 

“ I’m excited to show everyone what I’ve been working so hard on. I’ll use all of this energy to deliver a great presentation and my coworkers will be stoked to learn something new ”.

This kind of positive thinking goes a long way to make you feel better about yourself.

If you keep this up for a long time, eventually you will rewire your brain to instantly interpret anxiety as excitement. 

Step #6: Accept fear

We all experience fear, and we can all choose how we will deal with it.

Rather than trying to fight your fear of public speaking, try accepting it.

Fear is a normal part of life, and while it’s not always comfortable, it can serve as motivation rather than intimidation.

Fighting your fear or denying it altogether will only make it worse. 

Instead of saying “ I’m scared, and I can’t do this ”, try telling yourself: 

“ I’m scared, and I’m doing it regardless ”.

You can be scared and still do it.

Step #7: Avoid coffee

A practical tip for all the nervous people out there — avoid caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it increases your alertness and energy. However, that also means you can get side effects such as:

• Restlessness and shakiness,
• Fast heartbeat, 
• Nervousness, and
• Trouble sleeping.

You can see why nerves and caffeine don’t go well together, so avoid coffee before your presentation.

If you generally suffer from anxiety, you should try ditching caffeine altogether, as this can positively impact your anxiety levels.

💡 Pumble Pro Tip :

For a more detailed analysis of how to prepare for presentations, take a look at our blog post:

• How to prepare for a presentation

How to cope with nerves during the presentation

You’re on stage now. The show is about to start. 

Is there anything you can do to cope with nerves during your presentation? Of course there is. 

Here are a few bits of advice on how to stay calm while you’re presenting.

Step #1: Drink water

While you’re talking, always keep some water near you.

When you talk for extended periods, your throat can get sore and dry, and drinking a few sips of water will help. 

Also, taking the time to drink water will help you relax and slow down during your presentation.

So, always keep a water bottle at hand.

Step #2: Focus on the topic, not the audience

When you’re on stage, your goal is to pass on knowledge.

Focus on your topic and try not to think about the audience as much. They aren’t thinking about the shirt you chose to wear or the fact that you stumbled over your words during the previous slide. 

The audience quickly forgets any mistakes and doesn’t obsess over them like you do.

Furthermore, remember that the majority of the people listening to your presentation would also be nervous while presenting. So, even if you do make a mistake, they will relate to you, rather than judge you.

The bottom line is that they are not here to judge, they’re here to learn.

Step #3: Slow down

When people are nervous, they tend to speed up their speech. This, in turn, makes them run out of breath and get even more nervous, which leads to panic mode.

Learn to talk at a moderate pace. Don’t be afraid to pause if you feel yourself picking up speed. It’s better to have a few seconds of silence than to stumble over your words because you’re talking too fast.

Remember to take deep breaths and try to sound conversational rather than rehearsed.

Step #4: Remember the 3 audience truths

Positive self-talk will boost your confidence — you can practice it in your daily life to get the full benefits. 

Positive self-talk includes phrases and mantras that you repeat to yourself to: 

• Feel more confident, 
• Reduce anxiety, or 
• Alter your thought process in any other way that benefits you.

Here are the 3 audience truths that even public speaker experts use to calm their nerves:

• They believe you’re the expert — don’t doubt yourself,
• They want you to succeed — they are on your side, and
• They won’t know when you make a mistake — don’t announce it.

Here’s what Barry Maher , an author and speaker, had to say about public speaking:

“ First of all, realize that it’s completely normal to be nervous before a presentation. I’ve been a professional speaker for over 20 years, and I have been nervous before almost every one of them. In fact, if I’m NOT nervous, I’ll try to make myself a bit nervous. It helps get my energy level up.  Second, remember, nobody but you knows what you’re supposed to say. If you say it wrong, they’ll never know. Things go wrong all the time in my sessions. Maybe I’ll make a joke about it, or maybe I’ll just ignore it. Either way, the audience is fine. Your audience wants you to succeed. They’ll only get uncomfortable, if you become uncomfortable. ”

Evidently, he shares the same outlook defined in these 3 audience truths.

You can repeat these phrases to yourself before and during your presentation to beat your nerves.

Step #5: Don’t fear pauses

Pauses are a great tool to use when speaking in front of an audience.

A well-timed pause can be used to emphasize your point by giving the audience time to think about what you’ve said.

Also, learn to use pauses as a way to quickly collect yourself and calm down before continuing. A deep breath only takes a few seconds, but it will give you enough time to gather your thoughts.

Pausing is also a way to connect with the audience.

When you pause during a presentation, it gives people time to ask questions and relate to the speaker. 

Embrace pauses and use them to your advantage.

Step #6: Maintain eye contact

Although it may feel daunting, maintaining eye contact with the audience is key to a confident speaking experience.

When you lock eyes with a member of the audience, you build rapport and increase engagement .

It can also be beneficial to pick a couple of people to focus on at a time. This will make you feel like there are fewer people in the room and ease your nervousness.

In a room full of people, it’s easy to get distracted. Maintaining eye contact with individuals will help you concentrate on your presentation. 

Good eye contact is also a sign of confidence. If you look people in the eye, they will believe your message and respect you as the authority figure.

Step #7: Practice confident body language

Body language can tell you a lot about a person. 

Stand up straight, open your arms, and put on a smile. This will not only make you appear more confident, but it will also make you feel better about yourself. 

You can also use a power stance a couple of minutes before your presentation to gain confidence. Power stance is typically associated with:

• Chin tilted upward
• Lifted chest
• Hands on the hips
• Feet hip-width apart

Also, don’t be afraid to use your voice . 

Increase the volume of your voice to emphasize key points and to appear more assertive and persuasive . 

Another way you can battle nervousness on stage is by moving your body .

You can slowly walk across the stage or use your arms and hands to gesticulate while talking. 

Moving around creates visual appeal for your audience and makes them concentrate on your presentation more.

Also, walking around will expend some of that nervous energy in a beneficial way.

However, do be careful when doing this, and move only in deliberate ways to avoid annoying your audience with too much movement.

To learn more about body language and how to improve it during virtual meetings, check out our blog post:

• 10 Tips for improving body language during virtual meetings

How to cope with nerves after the presentation

You’ve just finished your presentation, but you’re still full of that anxious energy. What can you do to shake it off?

Follow these steps to decompress and relax after the stressful situation.

Step #1: Recognize your achievement 

First of all, take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on successfully finishing your presentation.

You deserve the praise you get from your coworkers, friends, and family, but don’t forget to pat yourself on the back as well. 

Furthermore, treat yourself to something you enjoy. Go to that restaurant you like, or plan a movie night with loved ones. 

Success deserves to be celebrated.

Step #2: Don’t obsess over mistakes

After celebrating your accomplishment, you can self-reflect.

Are you satisfied with your performance, or are there details you can improve upon? 

This is the time to think about your presentation and analyze your mistakes to better prepare for your next speaking event.

However, analyzing your mistakes shouldn’t turn into obsessing over them and catastrophizing them in your mind. 

Analyze, but don’t obsess!

Step #3: Ask for feedback

As part of your evaluation process, you should also be open to hearing opinions of others.

Ask the members of your audience what they liked and disliked about your presentation, and use it to improve yourself. 

Ask trusted, experienced coworkers for their feedback , and don’t take it personally when you receive criticism.

Constructive feedback is paramount to growth. 

Step #4: Take your mind off the presentation

When everything is said and done, take a break.

Take your mind off the presentation by enjoying your favorite activities.

You can exercise to release all the pent-up energy or watch a movie to decompress.

Another beneficial tip is to disconnect. This can do wonders for your mental health .

Turn off your work phone and mute your email notifications after work to let your mind rest after the stressful experience. 

Secure, real-time communication for professionals.

Should you disclose that you’re feeling nervous?

There is an ongoing debate in the sphere of public speaking on whether you should tell your audience you’re nervous.

On the one hand, people think you shouldn’t mention your nervousness. 

It’s believed that you gain nothing from disclosing this and that you risk getting even more anxious. It’s said that once you disclose your nervousness to the audience, they’ll go looking for it and will be more likely to find it.

Furthermore, you’ll make the audience focus on your behavior, rather than the material.

On the other hand, some think it can be beneficial to be honest about your nervousness. 

It’s believed that being upfront about your fear will reduce it by having the brain let go of the facade of confidence. A common recommendation is to deliver the admission with a humorous remark, as a way to connect with the audience. 

In general, you want to appear confident, so it would probably be best to avoid talking about your nerves. However, in some situations, it may be a good icebreaker .

You need to consider your audience, type of presentation, and other factors, and then decide which approach fits your situation more. 

Pumble can help you cope with nervousness before a presentation

As you have seen above, you have to do a few things if you want to cope with nerves before the presentation. 

Due to the various communication features it offers, Pumble can help you in a mission of dealing with nervousness.

First, thanks to DMs and channels , you can connect with your colleagues or even professionals from outside of your workspace — thanks to guest access — and check in with them to get some feedback on your ideas or rough presentation drafts.  

And don’t worry about losing precious data or messages — everything you write in communication channels will stay there forever, thanks to Pumble’s unlimited message history . So, you can always go back and fetch important messages or files .  

Furthermore, you can practice your presentation by scheduling a video conference or audio call with your closest colleagues. They can give you their opinions or simply go over the presentation with you, thanks to the screen sharing option in Pumble.

Finally, if you’re worried about forgetting to mention something during your presentation, you can set reminders to jog your memory and help you not forget anything important.

And remember — nervousness before any public speaking event is completely normal.

But, we ultimately have control over how we deal with our fears. So, deal with them, knowing that Pumble will be there for you every step of the way.

Milica Vucicevic is a communication author and researcher at Pumble, focused on team communication in remote work environments. Through her posts, you’ll learn more about professional communication, workplace culture, and tools and techniques for better team communication.

What's on your to-do?

START COLLABORATING

with Pumble

Related posts

Out of ideas try improving how your team collaborates.

Learn effective strategies for boosting innovation through streamlined collaboration. …

Harness the Power of HR Hilarity: 60+ Funny HR Memes for 2024

Like any other job, HR has its ups and downs, with plenty of humor to be found on either end of the spectrum. These funny HR memes should prove our po…

60+ Absurdly Funny Meeting Memes to Share With Your Work Buddies

The next time you’re stuck in a meeting that has no end, feel free to peruse our compilation of funny meeting memes. …

10+ Tips for Conducting an Effective Job Interview 

Learn how to conduct an effective job interview and improve a candidate’s experience with expert tips. …

60+ Hilarious Quips to Use As Your Joke of the Day for Work

Looking for the perfect joke of the day for work? Here are 60+ hilarious jokes for work. …

Who Gets a Write-Up at Work and Why? Everything You Need to Know

Our guide to dealing with a write-up at work will help you understand the disciplinary process better….

Need better team communication??

Pumble is an all-in-one team collaboration app. Send messages and files, and start video conferencing with one click, and reduce emails. Free forever.

Free team chat app

Improve collaboration and cut down on emails by moving your team communication to Pumble.

Unlimited users • Unlimited chat history • Free forever

< Go back to Login

Forgot Password

Please enter your registered email ID. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

8 Tips Ahead Of Your Big Day: The Big Presentation Tips

Are you preparing for your next big presentation? Aside from preparing, writing, and practicing your speech, there are certain other actions you should do to ensure you are truly prepared for the big day.

Nothing is more stressful than having an impending big day that you are meant to carry and feeling unprepared for it. 

It causes feelings of anxiety and can impact your day-to-day, as the pressure starts to build up. 

Well, like anything in work and life, anything big and hairy needs to be broken down into smaller chewable, digestible steps. 

In this blog, we’ll reveal 8 amazing big presentation preparation techniques that will take you through the process of preparing for a big presentation. 

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a scared newcomer to public speaking, these tips can help you feel confident and self-assured when it’s time to face the audience.

Let’s discover the important stages for preparing a big presentation.

Step By Step Process To Prepare For a Big Presentation

Now, let’s have a look at some of the major steps in creating a big presentation, from topic selection to presentation delivery, so you can learn how to create a big presentation:

Choose Your Presentation Topic Wisely

Know Your Audience

Brainstorm Ideas

Prepare A Solid Presentation Plan

Decide What Will Be Presentation Format

Build Your Presentation Slides

Make Sure You Do Enough Practice Before Delivering The Big Presentation

Don’t Forget To Check Out The Setup

Choosing the correct topic for your presentation is one of the wisest things you can do for a big presentation. 

A broad topic definition is likely to raise the expectation of doing justice to all the areas covered under that broad topic while a narrow one can impact the very idea of it being a big presentation. The key point is that definitions you are likely to come up with run the risk of missing the mark.

It is important to recognize what people are looking for from your big presentation. This will allow you to refine the topic and speak to the audience when setting the agenda for the meeting. Make a data-driven presentation based on the most recent information on an interesting issue, as well as your professional opinion or research.

Building on the previous topic, asking people their expectations from the meeting is a good idea. Yet it is not enough, it is important to know your audience as well. This may be easy if you have been interacting with the people you would be presenting to. If not, it is recommended you get insights about the key players in the audience, their backgrounds, pet peeves,  etc. Understanding who you’re presenting to and the likely dynamics in the room will help you stay grounded, and ensure your messages are apt to what the audience is most amenable to receiving. 

Brainstorming is an important next step in our series of preparation tips for a big presentation. The reason why we think this is an important step in the early stages is that as a presenter you are likely to have your blind spots, and as a human, you are likely to have your own biases. A good quality brainstorming session allows you to identify those and make course corrections early on in the game. 

Consider brainstorming with your team members, members of the intended audience, or even unconnected people, just to see how the ideas resonate and whether they are making common sense to a lay observer.

It’s now time to put together your presenting strategy. This is where you organize your thoughts from your planned agenda, audience insights, and brainstorming into a basic outline.

An excellent approach to achieve this is to use what experts call horizontal logic to look across your slides for the main storyline. Each of these parts of the story will eventually become distinct sections of your big presentation. 

Each of these sections becomes placeholders for you to build the “Vertical Logic”. This is where you put key bullets with facts, quotations, and statistics. 

You should have a solid notion of the content of your slides at the end of this procedure. This is an important component of preparing for a big presentation.

At this time, an important decision to make is how you are planning to present. Part of it may be related to the content itself but part is also dependent on what type of a presenter you are. This step will allow you to know how you will deliver the presentation: Storytelling, Facilitation, Analyst style, Instructional, etc. 

Refer to our blog Ten Presenting Styles. What Kind Are You? for more details.

The decision on the presentation format will ensure you put the right type of effort into designing the slides.

Here are a few more helpful design tips for your next presentation:

• Stick to the story and logic. Focus on making each part believable with the right evidence.
• Avoid too much gimmickry in terms of heavy graphics or animations. 
• Don’t go overboard trying to cram too much information on each slide. Make use of minimal data, text, and pictures on each slide; usually, a good rule of thumb is one message per slide. 
• Pay attention to vision science aspects on how the audience receives and reacts to visual inputs. Choose shapes, sizes, fonts, proportions accordingly. For example, polygon shapes are very well suited to describe futuristic ideas, square shapes tend to work well with communicating methodical approaches like project management. Some fonts types are harder to read than others. Take a look at the SlideUpLift blogs on vision science to get more ideas on this topic.

If you would like to take advantage of templates that already address these needs, use templates from slideuplift.com. Once on the site, you can choose free PowerPoint templates and google slides templates for your presentation. This will help you concentrate on your content rather than worrying about graphic design aspects.

When you’re satisfied with your slides and have prepared for questions, it’s time to practice your presentation. This is where you practice your presentation completely, using both your presentation script and the slides.

Pay attention to anything difficult to speak about while you practice. Make proper modifications to your script and presentation slides. On the big day, you don’t want to be tripping over your words.

Some people prefer to practice alone, but a few friends or trustworthy coworkers can serve as a test audience. It’s an excellent technique to ensure that your information is clear and understandable. Decide whether you will script everything or speak extemporaneously. Know that extemporaneous speaking is different than impromptu speaking and tends to get the maximal audience’s attention.

Continue to practice until you feel you hit the sweet spot in terms of sounding and being natural in delivering your messages This practice will come in handy when delivering a flawless presentation.

When considering how to rehearse for a big presentation, some individuals ignore one aspect: the presentation venue, if it’s a physical venue. If feasible, check it out well in advance of your presentation.

Whether the venue is physical or virtual, one aspect to consider is the presentation gear. You may using a laptop and screen, a projector and screen, or speak on mobile. It is critical to familiarize yourself with the presenting technology so everything works as planned.

You must test everything out so there are no shocks on the big day if you do this.

Few Templates To Get Started

Project Kickoff

Source: Project Kickoff by SlideUpLift

30 60 90 Plan For Managers

Source: 30 60 90 Plan For Managers by SlideUpLift

Executive Summary

Source: Executive Summary by SlideUpLift

Wrapping It Up

It’s now your time to get ready for a big presentation. You’ve learned several important presenting techniques, such as the significance of creating a presentation strategy and practicing your presentation. You’re all set to begin.

Table Of Content

Related posts from the same category.

2 Jul, 2020 | SlideUpLift

3 Most Important Presentation Tips To Make Your Presentation StandOut

Building an effective PowerPoint presentation is part art and part science. This article discusses the three most important PowerPoint presentation tips that form the basis of every successful presentation. In

10 Nov, 2021 | SlideUpLift

PowerPoint Presentation Tips: How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation

A well-crafted PowerPoint presentation can have a lasting impact on your audience. However, creating an effective presentation can be daunting, especially if you are unsure how to make it engaging

11 May, 2023 | SlideUpLift

6 Types of Presentation You Must Know (+ Tips)

Are you tired of giving the same old boring presentation, using the same format every time? Have you ever wondered if there are different types of presentations to achieve different

2 Aug, 2021 | SlideUpLift

Public Speaking Demystified: Tips To Successful Workplace Communication

We live in a world where we are overwhelmed with content, and communicating information effectively to others is more important today than ever before. Public speaking is a great way

1 Sep, 2021 | SlideUpLift

The Golden Rules of holding the audience attention in presentations

There are innumerable ways to structure PowerPoint presentations based on the context and the requirements. However, presentations, not unlike other forms of communication, do have some ground rules that are

24 Apr, 2024 | SlideUpLift

17 Tips On How To Make A Professional PowerPoint & Google Slides Presentation

A PowerPoint presentation is a fantastic tool for communicating vital information. Even though people think it's simple to put all your content together and make a presentation, arranging and preparing

14 Oct, 2022 | SlideUpLift

How To Create Your Perfect Webinar Presentation

Webinars are becoming an increasingly important tool for businesses to connect directly with their customers — to educate and inform, maintain relationships and even build a brand. They're also excellent

20 Aug, 2021 | SlideUpLift

Storytelling Tips to Change the Way You Present Ideas

A piece of oft-given advice surrounding making presentations is that in order to engage an audience, your presentation and speech need to have a narrative. And we wholeheartedly agree with

3 Oct, 2020 | SlideUpLift

5 Tips to Deliver Winning PowerPoint Presentations using PowerPoint Templates

To deliver impactful PowerPoint presentations, you need to tell a gripping story that will captivate your audience. However, a captivating story is not everything. We often forget about the visual aspect

15 Oct, 2020 | SlideUpLift

The COVID Remote Working Series: Tips To Conduct Successful Virtual Meetings

In the wake of the current situation, countless people have suddenly been thrust into the world of remote work. And with increased encouragement to maintain social distance, there’s a distinct

Forgot Password?

Privacy Overview

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Help! I have a presentation tomorrow & I am not prepared

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation

If you have a presentation tomorrow & you are not prepared, you can start off by assessing the criteria around the presentation. Then you can create a simple structure and start gathering information. Do not write down your entire speech, use pointers or keywords. You can use a template for the PPT and end with a practice run to assess how things go.

Preparation is key when it comes to presentation and there are many ways to do it. Practicing can go a long way in making your presentation successful and anxiety free, among other benefits (check here for ways you can practice). Now that you do not have much time with an upcoming presentation tomorrow and are not prepared, your options may be limited but they’re still there.

We will delve straight away into what you can do now & then we will cover some tips that can help you in this situation.

What can you do now to make the presentation a success?

This would include assessing the criteria around the presentation, creating a simple structure, gathering information quickly, using pointers rather than writing the entire speech, making PPT in no time, and practicing. 

Assess the Criteria

There are a few things you’d want to keep in mind when going ahead to avoid making a mess:

• Pre-specified format for presentation
• Time-limit when presenting
• Any materials or other resources you need to carry to the presentation
• Your main objective

Some of these might not be applicable to you but if they are, missing them out can waste a lot of time later. These are usually easily accessible on pages or documents like event info/course plan/presenting details. Better to be mindful of these right when you’re starting!

Create a Simple Structure

Creating a basic outline is simple- introduction, main body, and conclusion . How you subdivide these areas will depend on the information but there is no need to complicate it. Always make sure to focus on your main objective. If, for instance, your objective is to explain the benefits of exercise, you could create different sections in the main body for each benefit and then substantiate it.

If you have slightly more time on your hand, you can either 1. Refer to how it is typically done (such as this one for scientific presentations), or 2. Find information and structure on the basis of that.

If you want to delve into more details on presentation structure, check out this article .

Gather Information Quickly

To gather information, go for a few reliable sources in your field rather than many unreliable ones. The latter can take a while to figure out what is good and what isn’t.

You may also use ChatGPT or other AI tools for this purpose as it can make the process much quicker, but make sure to double-check the information it gives you.

Write Pointers, Not Entire Speech!

Since you have less time, do not try to prepare complete speeches by writing them down. Speaking word-to-word from a paper does not look good anyway. Instead, prepare pointers and keywords that can act as nudges for you to speak the whole thing. These can be present in the PPT itself or you can use a small chit.

Even when you’re writing the pointers, try not to focus too much on things you cannot remember, like figures and facts. You can put those on the PPT for the audience to look at themself. Focus only on easy-to-remember pointers that you can describe in good detail.

Make a PPT in no time!

Now that you have your information in place, it’s time to make it visually attractive using a PPT. When information is well organized and attractive to view, it makes the audience more engaged.

You can use templates from sites such as Canva , SlidesCarnival , and Slidesgo . They allow for a lot of customization on top of the elements that are already there, which can come in handy on short notice.

Last, but not least, rehearse your presentation at least once. Have a timer, pretend it’s the actual thing, and go for it. This is the most important part, and you’ll realize if any edits on the PPT or changes in the speech need to be made on the basis of this. Do not pressure yourself to make things perfect, try to do the reasonable best in the time constraint you have.

There are effective techniques for memorization, such as mnemonics, that can help you learn things quickly. Additionally, the use of cue cards can assist in retaining important information, including topics and terms.

Other Tips to Help You Last-Minute

This would include being confident, being ready to improvise, and focusing on the main objective.

Being Confident

Practice helps the best with confidence. Additionally, keep in mind that if this was a last-minute thing, there may be some things you missed. Do not be surprised when this is discovered, aim to correct it on the spot through your speech. Apart from that, you can also:

• Take a bunch of long deep breaths before the presentation
• Engage in a power pose and shrug off any tension so your body language appears comfortable
• Remind yourself that you know your material and can manage what you do not

Don’t aim to be perfect

Some things can go wrong and it does for many presenters, such as technical issues or the audience not answering. This might especially be the case when you’re not prepared. Know that it’s normal and there is no need to do it perfectly.

You can also use light humour to defuse any tension or point things out instead of covering for them. E.g., when the audience doesn’t answer, you could smile and say, “I get that most of you are not even interested in this topic but wow! Moving on!”

When there is a Q and A section to your presentation and you do not know the answer to something, feel free to add that you’ll get back about it. If that is not an option, be honest and tell them you’re not sure. It’s understandable not to know everything. 

Focus On Your Main Objective

What are you trying to do through this presentation? Inform others? Persuade? Entertain? It could be anything. Keep that in mind and focus on that when you’re presenting. Without this, other relatively less important things can distract you and make you lose focus on what’s important.

Check out this article for some more tips.

We covered what exactly you can do when you have a presentation tomorrow & are not prepared along with some practical methods and resources that you could use. We also covered some tips that can help you ace the presentation. 

Presentations involve public speaking, which is a skill that you can master. Public speaking coaching can help with that.

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

Lost Voice? Here’s How to Recover Sore Throat and Speak Again

7 Keys to Emcee Like a Pro: Unlock Your Hosting Potential

8 Ways to Rise Above the Noise to Communicate Better

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

Kindly drop your contact details so that we can arrange call back

Select Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria AmericanSamoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Rwanda Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe land Islands Antarctica Bolivia, Plurinational State of Brunei Darussalam Cocos (Keeling) Islands Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Cote d'Ivoire Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Guernsey Holy See (Vatican City State) Hong Kong Iran, Islamic Republic of Isle of Man Jersey Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Lao People's Democratic Republic Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Mozambique Palestinian Territory, Occupied Pitcairn Réunion Russia Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sao Tome and Principe Somalia Svalbard and Jan Mayen Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tanzania, United Republic of Timor-Leste Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S.

• PlayStation 3
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series
• More Systems
• Ok...I have a big presentation tomorrow and I'm kinda nervous.
• Topic Archived
• Page 1 of 2

More Topics from this Board

• 2.5L I4 engine vs 2.7 L V6 engine 1 post, 5/14 8:07PM
• Work sucks. How do you guys manage to stay at a job for a while? 37 posts, 5/14 9:37AM
• I've got about 70k to invest, wat do I do? 32 posts, 5/14 6:11AM
• Want to change department at my job. Can I talk to HR? 3 posts, 5/13 10:32PM
• Exposure to world news and impact of mental health 8 posts, 5/5 1:10PM

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Present to an Audience That Knows More Than You

• Deborah Grayson Riegel

Lean into being a facilitator — not an expert.

What happens when you have to give a presentation to an audience that might have some professionals who have more expertise on the topic than you do? While it can be intimidating, it can also be an opportunity to leverage their deep and diverse expertise in service of the group’s learning. And it’s an opportunity to exercise some intellectual humility, which includes having respect for other viewpoints, not being intellectually overconfident, separating your ego from your intellect, and being willing to revise your own viewpoint — especially in the face of new information. This article offers several tips for how you might approach a roomful of experts, including how to invite them into the discussion without allowing them to completely take over, as well as how to pivot on the proposed topic when necessary.

I was five years into my executive coaching practice when I was invited to lead a workshop on “Coaching Skills for Human Resource Leaders” at a global conference. As the room filled up with participants, I identified a few colleagues who had already been coaching professionally for more than a decade. I felt self-doubt start to kick in: Why were they even here? What did they come to learn? Why do they want to hear from me?

• Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

Partner Center

Watson Commencement 2024: Grads urged to dream big, have courage and build a better tomorrow

More than 400 undergraduates and nearly 400 graduate students earn their diplomas; vit chancellor govindasamy viswanathan awarded honorary degree.

• share via twitter
• share via linkedin
• share via email

More than 400 undergraduates and nearly 400 graduate students gathered with family, friends, faculty and peers to receive their diplomas at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science Commencement ceremony Friday, May 10, at the Binghamton University Events Center.

University President Harvey Stenger told the graduates that he hoped Binghamton unlocked their passion for learning, no matter which path is ahead.

“We live in a world that needs engineering professionals who can think critically, analyze precisely, address complex ideas and solve difficult challenges,” he said. “We live in a world that is full of puzzles and finding answers will always be difficult. I am confident that the Class of 2024 will rise to these challenges, because I have seen as students how you’ve worked across disciplines as committed and engaged engineers.”

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Hall praised graduates as “truly remarkable students who have brought your intellectual curiosity, work ethic and sense of humor to bear throughout your time here.

“As you graduate from Binghamton, you will take with you what you have learned in your classes, through your internships and practica, from the student organizations you participated in and from the thousands of personal interactions you have had with those around you,” he said. “You will take all that you have experienced here and become change-makers.”

Watson College Dean and Distinguished Professor Krishnaswami “Hari” Srihari encouraged the Class of 2024 to be courageous and to continue learning as they head out to their careers or further education.

“Have the courage to pursue your passions, even in the face of uncertainty,” he said. “Have the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it’s not easy. And have the courage to fail, for it is through failure that we learn, grow and ultimately succeed.”

Srihari, who will step down as dean at the end of May, offered his gratitude to faculty, staff and especially students — whom he calls “our principal customer” — for their support during his 15-year tenure. He will return to the Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering faculty in fall 2025.

“Thank you for making Watson what it is,” he said to graduates. “Your impact as a student on our campus extends beyond the grades you achieved or the projects you completed. The time you spent in the classroom and outside of the classroom make Watson and our university great. And you will continue to do that as alumni of this premier institution. You will continue to thrive.”

Stenger praised Srihari’s leadership and achievements at Watson College, where graduate enrollment has increased by 103% since 2009, total enrollment is up 49% and the total faculty count has grown by 41%. He presented the dean with the University Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Binghamton University.

“Dean Srihari has been a tremendous leader, mentor and friend to so many at Binghamton University,” Stenger said. “This award is given to recognize truly great achievements and excellence and a distinguished commitment to the University.”

Govindasamy Viswanathan, founder and chancellor of the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in India, received a State University of New York (SUNY) honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the ceremony. He was honored for his strong background in educational administration as well as his humanitarian efforts and entrepreneurship.

In 1984, Viswanathan established the Vellore Engineering College, which became VIT in 2001. VIT now has four campuses and serves over 88,000 students from across the globe.

At Commencement, Viswanathan praised the joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and collaborative publications and initiatives that “have not only expanded the horizons of our academic endeavors but also fostered a spirit of global learning and understanding.”

“The endeavors, initiatives and contributions of Binghamton University to the higher education landscape has been quite impressive,” he said. “It has been a great pleasure meeting and interacting with the top leadership, faculty members and students of this amazing university. As chancellor of VIT, I know the importance and positive impact of collaboration and partnerships, and I am confident that such interactions will facilitate continued academic engagements.”

Viswanathan also discussed VIT’s many programs to uplift India’s underprivileged regardless of caste, creed or religion.

Alumni Association President Cara Treidel ’16 recalled how she felt when she graduated eight years ago and encouraged Binghamton’s newest graduates to remain connected to the campus.

“Our alumni community has been a tremendous source of support for me,” she said. “It’s why I’ve continued to be engaged with the University, and it’s why I encourage everyone else to be involved.”

Undergraduate student speaker Clara Rodriguez ’24, a biomedical engineering major with a Spanish minor, said her time at Binghamton has been “full of adventures.”

In fall 2021, Rodriguez was part of the inaugural cohort of the Watson College Scholars Program, which aids economically disadvantaged undergraduates with priority for applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds. She also was one of Binghamton’s first two Beckman Scholars and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar.

Rodriguez looked back on how she and her classmates — even during the COVID-19 pandemic — not only survived but thrived. Even when faced with tough classes and daunting exams, they made friends, gained mentors and shared experiences they will treasure.

“Looking to the future, there are many more adventures waiting for us,” she said. “Moving deeper into the unknown isn’t easy, but let’s not forget where we’ve come from and who we are. Every time you look in the mirror, you will see someone with the potential to change reality.

“We are the leaders of the future, budding professionals, daring dreamers and trailblazers. We change reality by bringing the world into a better tomorrow.”

Graduate speaker Basel Sultan, MS ’24, earned his degree in industrial and systems engineering through a research assistantship with the Watson Institute for Systems Excellence (WISE).

Originally from the Palestinian city of Hebron, Sultan is planning to pursue his doctorate and eventually teach at a college or university.

He offered heartfelt thanks to those who helped him and his classmates during their time at Binghamton.

“I am certain that you have had a mentor in your life,” he said. “Let us take a moment to express our gratitude to them and reflect on those moments when we truly needed their guidance and support, and they were there for us. Thanks for believing in us, for inspiring us and for guiding us on this incredible journey.”

Watson College’s PhD candidates graduated at a separate ceremony on Thursday .

Related Stories

Geomagnetic storm hurtles into Earth's atmosphere, brings danger of power grid interference

Read the latest on the northern lights this weekend: Saturday's forecast says parts of U.S. could see auroras .

A geomagnetic storm that's now hurtling into the Earth has been classified as "extreme," or a G5 storm, the highest level, the Space Weather Prediction Center said Friday evening. It's the first G5 storm to hit our planet since 2003.

Due to the extreme storm, power grid irregularities are possible, along with potential impacts to HF/VHF/UHF communications, GPS, satellite navigation, and other technologies, the prediction center said. Critical infrastructure operators have been notified.

The last extreme (G5) event occurred in October 2003, which resulted in power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.

See the amazing photos: The northern lights were on full display across US, Europe on Friday

Aurora borealis might be seen over much of the U.S.

Skywatchers get ready: Thanks to the unusually strong solar activity, the aurora borealis should be coming to the skies above a large portion of the United States this weekend, space weather forecasters said Friday.

Federal forecasters from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said that during previous solar activity of this magnitude, the "aurora has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California." NOAA experts said the aurora might be visible Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights.

"This is an unusual and potentially historic event," said Clinton Wallace, director of the Space Weather Prediction Center, in a statement .

Coronal mass ejections coming from the sun

The spectacle would be courtesy of a series of at least seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, which are forecast to reach the Earth early this weekend and produce the geomagnetic storms that trigger auroras. A rare G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm watch remained in effect for Saturday, May 11, NOAA said.

Friday afternoon, G4 conditions were observed by the Space Weather Prediction Center , and "significant to severe geomagnetic storming is likely to continue," the center said.

More details will be known about the severity of the event and the possible extent of the aurora later Friday evening as the first CME approaches the Earth, Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster at SWPC, told reporters Friday morning during a news briefing.

The northern lights are the most benign result of solar activity. Strong solar storms – including G4s – can also disrupt some radio communications, harm satellites and even knock out power systems, forecasters warned.

Storm watch upgraded to rare G4 − the first since 2005

"This weekend's geomagnetic storm watch has been upgraded from  G2  (Moderate) to  G4  (Severe)," according to astronomer Tony Phillips, writing on SpaceWeather.com . "Why? Because giant sunspot AR3664 keeps hurling CMEs toward Earth. Following  today's X2.2 solar flare , there are now at least 4 storm clouds heading our way," Phillips said.

The Space Weather Prediction Center only rarely issues "severe" storm watches. The last time such an alert was issued was January 2005. "Watches at this level are very rare," the center said.

The colorful aurora forms when particles flowing from the sun get caught up in Earth's magnetic field. The particles interact with molecules of atmospheric gases to cause the famed glowing green and reddish colors of the aurora.

More details: When could you see the northern lights? Aurora forecast for over a dozen states this weekend

Auroras are notoriously a fickle forecast

The aurora can be fickle to forecast, so some caution is warranted before adjusting your weekend plans. Unlike terrestrial weather, scientists who forecast space weather – which includes the aurora – must rely on observations of the 93-million-miles-away sun to make their predictions.

"There are so many uncertainties, it makes it difficult to predict," Bill Murtagh, the program coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center, told USA TODAY last year . And as hard as it is to forecast weather here on Earth, "we are decades behind the forecast capabilities of our colleagues in meteorology," he admitted, referring to space weather.

Solar maximum is here

The northern lights, aka the aurora borealis, have been appearing more frequently in the night sky over the United States recently. In April 2023, for example, a stunning aurora display was seen as far south as  Arkansas in the South and Arizona in the West.  

So why the uptick in aurora sightings? And is this expected to continue? Well, if you love the aurora, you're in luck, as it may be coming to a sky near you more often over the next few years thanks to the "solar maximum," which is expected to peak this year.

"There have been an increase in aurora seen in general on Earth,"  Shannon Schmoll, the director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University  told USA TODAY last year. "The sun has been more active, resulting in more solar storms that cause solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME).

Tips for viewing the northern lights

"Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights."

The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.

There may be aurora in the evening and morning, but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing, NOAA said.

Where will the weather cooperate for aurora viewing?

The best viewing conditions for the aurora are expected across the northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest, where mainly cloud-free conditions will lead to great views of the night sky, AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada said.

"Clouds will be a bigger issue for folks across the Northeast and part of the Midwest, although there could be a pocket around the Ohio Valley where breaks in the clouds will allow some views of the aurora," he said.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

• LISTEN & FOLLOW
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Amazon Alexa

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

• space weather
• solar flares
• solar storm