If you get nervous before a big presentation, it might be comforting to know that the world’s greatest athletes share the same feelings before taking to their stage.
In her Masterclass on tennis, Serena Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, acknowledges that before a match she still has “a lot of self doubt…a tremendous amount of nerves.” And yet, when Williams walks on to the court, spectators see the ultimate display of confidence and determination. “My greatest strength is my mental game,” says Williams.
In her video tutorial, Williams offers instruction on all the technical aspects of the tennis game, from advanced net play to controlling the court. But it’s the chapter on developing mental toughness that offers valuable insights for business professionals who have to perform their best when the pressure is on.
Successful business professionals put a lot of pressure on themselves, especially when it comes to public speaking—a type of big game performance in front of an audience. And, like Williams, many are nervous before walking on stage. Some are downright terrified. There are ways to overcome your anxiety and perform with confidence. Here are three methods that work for Williams.
1. Practice under pressure
Practicing in ‘real-world’ conditions is a great mental method to rehearse presentations, too. Put some pressure on yourself even if you’re alone. Stand up, take the clicker in your hand, and imagine an audience. Better yet, practice your presentation in front of peers or a small group of friends.
2. Stay in the moment
Williams says many athletes tend to unravel when they’re behind. She’s been there and has learned to harness her mental powers to rally to victory.
In Wednesday’s second-round match at the US Open, Williams lost the first set to 17-year-old Caty McNally. Williams rebounded, won the next two sets and advanced to the third round.
How does she do it? She stays in the moment. “Even if you’re going through something in life, you can’t rush through it instantly. Take it one moment at a time. It’s the same on a tennis court. You have to take it one point at a time.”
In other words, Williams doesn’t dwell on her mistakes and she doesn’t look too far forward. The only thing she can control is the here and now. The next point.
“Another thing that makes me play poorly is if I’m thinking too much about my last match. I might have won it, but not happy with how I won it,” says Williams. “If you get really upset at mistakes, the best advice I’ve ever been given is to forget about it. You can’t rewind time, you can’t take back that mistake, but you can make it better and not do it in the future.”
I’ve met countless business professionals who let past mistakes interfere with their current performance. A presentation may have fallen flat and they’re left deflated and demoralized because they replay it over and over in their mind. Some speakers get anxious because they’ve put everything on the line. They begin to think too far ahead—and not all of it is positive. They’ll say to themselves:
If I don’t do well, I’ll be passed up for a promotion.
I can’t afford to lose this next pitch. I’m running out of money.
These statements aren’t exactly the kind of thoughts that will help you present with confidence.
There’s only one thing you can control—the here and now. The next point.
3. Don’t get too caught up in what people say
Serena Williams won’t read this article. She hasn’t read articles about herself in years. Williams believes if articles are glowing, an athlete might get full of herself and complacent. If the article is too negative, “It can destroy your confidence.” Williams doesn’t want to change who she is based on someone else’s opinion. That’s good advice for all us.
I recently met a financial executive who was terrified of public speaking. She wanted to grow in her career, but had avoided speaking opportunities which would have elevated her visibility. Why? The executive had read a negative comment on a survey—ONE negative comment.
Psychologically, we tend to focus on the bad more than we do on the good. There may have been ten stellar comments on the survey, but this executive focused on the one snarky remark. The person who wrote it might have been having a bad day or was jealous of the speaker’s competence. Don’t let one negative opinion drown out your confidence.
Peak performers leave clues to their success. Regardless of how far Williams gets in this week’s US Open, she’s proven that her greatest strength is her mental toughness. She’s also provided a roadmap we can all follow to improve our own mental game.