Public speaking

[Smiley]

Hi, I'm in my third year at uni, and we have to give a number of presentations. I cannot speak in front of a class... which is ironic considering I will be a teacher. I just have no confidence in presentations, I jumble up my words, feel faint and go all sweaty. It scares me, and I dont know what to do about it. Does anyone know of anything to help with speaking aloud, presentations, such as books, or remedies to calm and give you confidence? or any tips/ Thanks

[woofgang]

If you feel strongly about what you are speaking about and really want to communicate with your audience, I find that the nerves go away. In other circs, rescue remedy!

[kaktus]

Look at something else than those listening, e.g. find a spot on a wall or something just above their heads and try to forget that they're there. Otherwise, as Woofgang says, if you feel strongly about it, it gets easier, and be well prepared! I find it very helpful that you don't have to be nervous about the subject itself but "only" the presentation itself.

[CiderMonkey]

i am exactly the same as you. Teachers at school told me it would get easier the more i did it.. but it didn't for me. It continued into Uni and I am still like that at work when i speak in meetings.

It's strange because in a social situation, i have no trouble at all. If i am out with freinds, i can speak in front of a large group (or stand on a chair in TGI Friday and have the whole place sing happy birthday to me!), but i crumble when it comes to formal situations. I find it helps to try to play it down in my mind and try to speak to people 'as if' they were my freinds. I tell myself that i do know what i am talking about and there are people there who DO want to listen.

Good Luck!

[penona]

People say preparation is the key. Put down key points on pieces of coloured cards so your mind won't go blank and you have something to guide you along. Try taping yourself as well and listening back, remember to breath and take your time. Alternatively, get a few friends over and do a few test runs, and present to them, they can give you feedback on what is working and what isn't.

Good luck

[rampart]

Penona's comments are excellent.

Most folks get nervous giving presentations, so don't feel alone! Here are some more ideas that I hope will help.

It is very important for you to rehearse repeatedly. I strongly suggest, however, that you not memorise your paper - but know it inside and out. The more you know your topic, the better. You should not memorise because if you do and somebody interrupts with a question, you will certainly get out of whack. So penona's idea of the cards comes in handy here.

Have your cards or your outline at your fingertips, and on it, have the key points you need to cover - not the details, just the key points. The cards are a great idea, because as you make your points, you can put that card on the bottom of your stack. Just glance at the word or phrase on the card, look up and talk about that point. Then go to the next card.

Another wonderful thing that has worked for me (I've given many presentations to directors at board meetings) is to have things to keep them busy. So have hand outs with graphs and photos with lots of text. But don't hand them out until just before you start your presentation. They'll shuffle through papers while you get yourself collected and begin. They will have their eyes down when you start.

If you can have a slide show (Power Point, overhead projector, old fashioned slides), it will also make them look up at a screen rather than you, and often the lights are down lower.

I hope you do quite well! Good luck!

[scubadiver]

I speak in front of large (50+) groups a lot as part of my work.

My favorite tips - prompt cards- as other have said, they are a great idea. Limit them to bullet points and I find it useful to punch a hole in the top corner, then thread a "T-Tag" through them, to stop them getting out of synch (T-Tags are small lengths of green cord with a metal t-bar at each end- you can but them cheaply from Staples etc)

Slow Down - nerves make you speak faster. Make a conscious effort to slow down your speech.

Slides/Powerpoint etc. Again, I prefer to use bullet points and then talk around them. If you put every bit of information on the slides, firstly, they look incrediby busy and difficult to read and secondly, you might as well not be there as you could merely get someone to forward on to the next slide after everyone has finished reading each one.

With regards to handouts - here I have to disagree with Rampart. I find it best to hand these round at the end. Otherwise, it is instinctive that the audience will pay more attention to these than to what you are actually saying - if you have taken the time to prepare a presentation and be there in front of them, then you should at least have the benefit of their attention.

Most importantly, rehearse, rehearse rehearse - in front of a mirror to start with. You will feel like a pratt, but it will definately help on the day, if you have already got your mouth around the words several times -you won't find yourself desperately grasping for words on the day.

Finally, something that a couple of my colleagues use and swear that it helps with their nerves - picture the audience naked as you talk to them!

HTH

[Morrisonker]

this probably isn't the most sophistcated way to combat this, but have a drink before hand.  If you know your limits it can be really halpful.  For example I know that a large glass of wine will relax me enough to make public speaking a bit less nervewracking.  Obviously don't go into the class completely steaming, that won't do you any favours!

[mattie]

I gave a speech at my wedding last October.

It was the first, and hopefully the last, time that I have spoken in public. My dad, a retired airforce officer, and in retirement a public speaking teacher, gave me some quick lessons.

He took me to the reception venue, stood at the back, and got me to run through my speech, speaking loudly enough for him to hear me, but without shouting.

In the end, however, I used a microphone, so if you have that option, I would definately take it.

Preparation is the key, run through your presentation out loud, with someone else listening, and remember to breathe.

[Hgrove]

Also try Bach Rescue Remedy which I find very helpful.

[chompu]

 Some very good advice here but I would strongly advise against picking a spot on the wall or wherever and pretending the audience is not there. A sure way of losing their attention. You should look directly at your audience moving your eyes from person to person, at random, making brief eye contact with them. Practice and more practice. Cue cards, excellent idea but if you practice enough you probably wont use them much but they will give you confidence.