Prepare lightly
Keep one opener and one follow-up ready
Choose a topic you understand and enjoy. Knowing your first question reduces the number of decisions competing for attention.
Do not script the whole exchange. A full script makes unexpected answers feel like mistakes instead of opportunities.
Slow down
A pause can make your answer clearer
Take one breath before replying and speak slightly slower than nervous energy suggests. The other person is not grading your response time.
If you lose a word, say the simpler version. Clear and genuine is easier to connect with than polished and distant.
Move attention outward
Curiosity reduces self-monitoring
Listen for one thing you genuinely want to know more about. Focusing on the answer gives your mind a useful task beyond judging your own appearance or voice.
Finish the conversation by noticing one thing that went well. Confidence grows from evidence, not from demanding perfection before you begin.