What is Presentation Anxiety?

Wednesday, 18. May 2011

Also commonly referred to as public speaking phobia, public speaking fear, public speaking anxiety, presentation anxiety, performance anxiety, performance nerves or stage fright. In many surveys, the fear of public speaking is often ranked as the number one fear. Surprisingly many people will rank the fear of public speaking higher than the fear of death.

Someone experiencing public speaking anxiety is feeling the effects of the fight or flight response. The fight or flight response is our mind and bodies natural response to a perceived threat. The perceived threat itself may be physical or psychological in nature. (e.g. making a scene, looking foolish, not being liked or accepted, appearing weak, potential physical harm etc.) When it is activated, hormones are released into the body to enable us to either deal with or escape from the dangerous situation.

The effects of the fight or flight response include an increase in our heart rate to pump blood faster to the lungs, muscles and brain. We breath more rapidly to increase our oxygen levels, our muscles tense ready for action and many functions not necessary for fighting or escaping, such as digestion or reproduction, slow or stop.

When people experience a fear of public speaking they commonly experience some of the following symptoms: excessive sweating, breathing difficulties, rapid heart rate, tingling, tightening of the throat, frequent need to urinate, feeling light-headed, ‘going-blank’, trembling, stammering, digestive problems, sense of inadequacy or inferiority.

The fear of public speaking is an anxiety, and like all anxieties it ultimately begins with your thoughts about the current or possible future situations. You may be aware of these thoughts, but often they are just outside our conscious awareness. If your mind perceives a threat then it triggers the release of the various stress hormones into the body which produces the symptoms you experience.

We react in much the same way, whether we are experiencing a real situation or just thinking about it. Simply thinking negatively about a future situation such as a presentation, performance or event is enough to to trigger the fight or flight response.

If you have experienced anxiety then you will most likely have tried to control it using will-power alone, and probably failed in the process. Due to the way anxiety works, it is very hard to fight head on. Usually the more you attempt to control and fight it, the worse it will actually get! An obvious solution is not to try to control the symptoms, but to flow with them where possible and focus on and change what’s actually causing them.

As anxiety starts with your negative thoughts about a situation, the most logical place to start making changes is with those problematic thoughts. Change those thoughts so that you stop perceiving the situation as a threat and the anxiety goes away. This is actually a much easier and quicker process that you might think, and any experienced psychotherapist should be able to help.

Common situations which can trigger fear of public speaking and stage fright can include any situation where you become the centre of attention and feel you are being judged negatively: presentations, acting auditions and performances, musical performances, meetings, interviews, wedding speeches, exams, speaking on the telephone (particularly when in front of others).

Nigel Magowan is a psychotherapist who works with fear of public speaking, anxiety disorders, IBS and phobias. Treatment for Interview Anxiety in London, Harley Street Interview Anxiety treatment in Manchester

A Great Conference Venue Can Help You Plan Your Next Event

Thursday, 5. May 2011

Planning a business conference can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be with the right conference venues. There are several things that a business manager can do to prepare for a conference without becoming overwhelmed. By booking a conference venue that offers numerous amenities and accommodations, a business can save itself much of the hassle that comes with planning a big meeting or convention. However, there are still many things involved in putting together a convention that need to be done before the convention center is booked. Organizing the guest list, determining the topics that will be addressed, whether or not there will be guest speakers, etc…are all important things to consider.

One of the first things to do to plan a conference is to figure out the goal. A conference venue won’t be much help if a business isn’t sure what they want to hold a conference for. By writing down a list of all the important things that need to be addressed at the conference and coming up with what needs to be achieved, a business will be able to decide what materials, conference venues, and guests will need to be chosen. Some businesses may require a conference to train employees on new technology; others may want an event for public awareness. The reason for the conference needs to be decided, regardless of what that reason may be.

Once the goal of the conference has been assessed, the next step is deciding what materials will need to be created. Some conferences will require many paper fliers; other types will need booklets, agendas, menus, or photo slides. There are some conference venues that can assist in the printing of these types of materials. It depends on whether or not the conference venue has a printing facility on site. It’s a good idea for a business manager to contact the facility ahead of time to see if they can help with any printing or material needs. If the conference facility that a business chooses doesn’t offer these services they likely have an audio visual department that can help set up any on screen presentations.

One of the simplest parts of planning a conference is coming up with a list of attendees. Businesses need to determine who the relevant players are in the event. Is it just for employees or is the conference part of a larger effort to attract public attention? Once that has been decided the business manager can make a list and send out invitations to guests. The best way to ensure attendance is to book a great conference venue. Conference venues with first class accommodations and luxurious guest rooms are the most likely to draw a great crowd. These types of venues are few and far between, but with a little searching they can be found.

Planning and booking a conference doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With the proper strategies and a well selected conference venue, putting together a conference can be relatively simple. Remember, many conference venues have means to help with business conferences. Some have printing/business services, catering, guest lodging, decorations, etc…so it’s good to get in touch with a venue in the first stages of planning. By choosing a great venue, much of the burden of conducting a great conference is transferred to the capable hands of the conference center staff.

Want to find out more about conference venues, then visit Snowbird’s site on how to choose the best conference venue for your needs.

Introduction To Locating Conferences In America

Wednesday, 16. February 2011

Locating conferences in America is something that needs to be done differently for each event. By comparison, European destinations are much closer together so the geography doesn’t matter as much. But the United States is a huge country with many different cities that can easily host any type of event and each city has different benefits for organizers and attendees.

Let’s consider a few examples. An event involving attendees from both Asia-Pacific and the US would be better off located somewhere on the West Coast (Las Vegas, Los Angeles or Seattle, for example). It’s even better if it can be held in Honolulu. On the other hand, an event that involves Canadian and/or European attendees should be held somewhere along the East Coast in Boston, Washington D. C. Or New York.

Similarly, Fort Lauderdale/Miami will be the top contender for an event involving attendees from the Americas. If most attendees are US residents, then the choice may be even more complicated and would need to be located to ensure the attendees need to travel as little as possible. This puts Midwest cities like Cleveland, Chicago and St. Louis into play.

Apart from geography, there are a few other things to be kept in mind. For one, the event’s theme is very important. An environmental conference may be best served if it is located in a city famous for its green sensibilities, such as Portland or San Francisco. An event for techies would likely be a hit and draw more attendees if located in the Bay Area, in or around Silicon Valley.

Then there’s the kind of facilities and prices paid by organizers, exhibitors and attendees to the convention center and the city’s businesses. To make a fair judgment call here, proposals from all possible destinations need to be considered. The event manager has to prepare an RFP (Request for Proposal) and ask all the CVBs in contention to send in their proposals.

In summary, locating conferences in America is based on the event type and the kind of attendees expected to show up. In smaller countries, the choices are limited and attendees are all roughly in the same geographic region. But in the US, the range of destination choices is enormous and the attendees may have to travel from widely differing places. This complicates the logistics and then there are price and space considerations, so the final choice of venue has to satisfy all of this.

Search for multiple meetings in the United States. Find events, trade shows, meetings, conventions and conferences in the United States’s top tradeshow directory, Events in the United States.

Comprehensive Information For Locating Conferences In America

Monday, 14. February 2011

To obtain information regarding the upcoming events, meeting and seminars worldwide, just click on the related website and get the information. It is now very easy locating conferences in America, as there are some websites, which compile all the information regarding the events. The information is easily accessible.

The main features of the conventions and events are listed in the daily programme for the assigned dates. Other features include abstract deadline, available accommodation suitable to your budgets, the registration fees etc. Most of the hotels take this opportunity to promote their locations and settings and offer accommodation at very reasonable and attractive rates. All this information is very important for participants and organisers.

The everyday advancement in technology has facilitated the availability of the relevant facts and figures regarding the events, meetings and seminars. The precise and accurate format provides the required information quickly, which is both useful for the organisers as well as the participants. The technology has made locating conferences in America very straightforward and effortless. The user friendly access to the information makes it simple for the participants.

The worldwide, large and small nationwide conference centre offer support for organising and planning the event. These provide a huge platform to a large number of vendors and organisers. The relevant information is made available to the organisers as well as participants, which makes it easy for all.

Use the services of global conference directory, which has concise and relevant information regarding the seminars, meetings etc. This makes easy for locating conferences in America, which could be academic, medical or scientific. The information includes programme details date wise and lists the planned activities during the event.

It is now quite easy locating conferences in America, as most of the information is available on the websites. The relevant information such as the programme details, keynote speakers, activities are all listed and linked through websites. One of the salient features, which have been included, is the online registration, which makes it quite easy for the participants to enrol.

Search for multiple trade shows in the United States. Find events, trade shows, meetings, conventions and conferences in the United States’s number one tradeshow directory, Events in the United States.

Conference Rooms In Hotels In UK And How To Choose Them

Wednesday, 2. February 2011

When picking conference rooms in hotels in UK for important meetings, one should be aware of their own needs first before making a choice. Making a list of these needs will prove to be incredibly useful in organizing and researching your choices.

If you are organizing a meeting, your knowledge of the business you are in will help you make a decision on the conference room that you will need. Rooms made for conferences in UK hotels are designed to nurture relationships between parties that meet to discuss partnerships and agreements. They are made to enhance the spirit of cooperation making productivity in the room progress efficiently and effectively.

Although many large well-known hotels have great conference rooms, you must remember that they are not the only ones out there that have them. You may find smaller conference rooms in hotels in UK that will fulfill your requirements just as well in smaller hotels. What you must have in mind is that the hotel you pick should be accessible to the attendees. Two other things you should look at are the price of the room rental as well as the facilities that the hotel provides for the room.

Do a head count of how many people will be participating in the event or meeting. This will give you a general understanding of how many chairs and tables you may need as well as how big the room should be. Be aware of the kind of activities that will be implemented in the meeting. The participants may need ample working space or furniture for them to be productive.

Pick a hotel that provides basic services for the meeting venue that will make the meeting move smoother. This means you may need facilities such as wi-fi connections for laptops, LCD projectors, a whiteboard, and a good sound system. With these necessities you can be sure that your clients will feel comfortable, communications will be open, and your agenda will flow as smoothly as you expect.

Also, choose a hotel that provides good food for working lunches and healthy snacks while the meeting progresses. The service should be exceptional, yet not disruptive to the meeting. With these basics in mind when choosing the best conference rooms in hotels in UK, you can be assured that your meetings and events will come out with the expected positive results that you hope for.

Enjoy a visit in a Plymouthl hotel at Future Inns. We believe in great comfort and offer great new hotel rooms at affordable prices on room only and bed and breakfast rates. Every Future Inn hotel has food and beverage services conveniently supplied by an on-site fully serviced restaurant and bar.

A Huge Variety Of Hotels In UK

Wednesday, 2. February 2011

There’s a whole range of different accommodation options when looking for hotels in UK. Establishments are arranged into five broad categories. These are determined by the type of property, services offered and sometimes the location. There’s the general ‘hotel’, which provides a full and formal service, then country house, town house, small and metro.

Country houses not surprisingly take their name from their location, usually a rural setting away from busy centres. They are historic houses set in huge sprawling gardens and grounds and are often lavish inside. Town houses are also very characteristic, but don’t always have a dining room on-site.

Small generally refers to independently run properties with less than 20 guest rooms, in any location. Some also fall within the ’boutique’ category. Metros are centrally located establishments in a city or town. They do not serve dinner, but their locations mean there’s always a wealth of eateries nearby.

Board types can vary from place to place and special rates may be available for booking meals ahead. Most places at least have a bed and breakfast tariff and some also offer half board, which includes an evening meal as well. Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is somewhat of a rarity in the UK, but there are still lots of places that give their guests this option.

Establishments are subject to star rating system which ranges between 1 and 5. The star rating is determined by the level of facilities offered and the quality of the services and staff. As a general rule the higher the star, the more luxurious the accommodation and more formal the staff.

The national tourism organisations of England, Scotland and Wales are responsible for the three countries which make up Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, the Northern Irish Tourist Board operates a similar grading system. All four work closely with the AA to grade hotels in UK and when appropriate grant special awards.

Enjoy a stay in a Bristol hotel at Future Inns. We practice great comfort and offer excellent new hotel rooms at affordable rates on room only and bed and breakfast rates. Every Future Inn hotel has food and beverage services conveniently supplied by an on-site fully serviced restaurant and bar.

Hotels In UK: What To Look For

Wednesday, 2. February 2011

Travel in and around the United Kingdom can mean something different to different people and requires that you really do some planning. Wherever you are visiting, there are tons of accommodation options to choose from. You can stay pretty much anywhere which is great, but means that you have some decisions to make based on exactly what you desire out of your trip when searching for hotels in UK.

First, you need to figure out how much money you can afford to spend on your accommodation(s) depending on the type of vacation you’re having. If the plan is to stay in one place it is easy to figure out the maximum you can spend on your hotel, but if you will be moving around you have to figure out an average per-night cost and try to find places that are within a small range of that amount.

The types of accommodations available vary as well. You might be looking for anything from luxury to budget hotels, or hostels and campgrounds it is just a matter of determining what kind of quality you can live with and what resources you would like to have available. Maybe just having access to running water is enough, or maybe you want a stocked mini bar and maid service. Knowing this can really narrow your search down.

Location is also important. The more city-central you are the more it will cost you each night but the easier it will be to explore and you may also save on transportation.

If you’re travelling by train or bus and you have a lot of luggage it may even be worth your while to find accommodations near the train or bus stations, especially if you’ll be walking to your hotel. Another option is to base your decision on the attractions you want to see. You should have more time to see the things you know you will love when you do not have to travel great distances to get there.

Finally, amenities might be an important factor in your decision. For example, laundry services are convenient if the plan is to stay a while. Swimming pools, outdoor activity options, Wi-Fi, restaurants and bars are examples of things you should consider when searching for hotels in the UK.

Enjoy a stay in a Bristol hotel at Future Inns. We believe in great comfort and provide great new hotel rooms at affordable prices on room only and bed and breakfast rates. Every Future Inn hotel has food and beverage services conveniently supplied by an on-site fully serviced restaurant and bar.

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