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Started By
Message
re: "Speaking to large groups" knower abouters
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:00 pm to Naked Bootleg
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:00 pm to Naked Bootleg
It isn’t difficult… I’ve taught 200 plus at a sitting at an SEC university. If you know the info own it
0
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:02 pm to Naked Bootleg
I previously endured a great deal of anxiety with public speaking, but now I not only excel at it, I actually enjoy it.
The benefit of your situation is that its not a surprise. You know you will have to speak, so you can prepare. No need for improv. My advice is to know your material well and go ahead an plan out your transitions. This includes your introduction, topics shifts, and ending (hand off or closing). This is usually where people stumble. Talking about your material is easier than the first and last sentences you will speak. Planning and practicing these will help you tremendously. Make sure you know who is presenting before and after you so you can design your transitions to make your material flow with theirs. I also advise coming up with a generic response to anyone that asks a question you cant answer. "That's something we haven't yet decided on" or "Thats a great point. Let me get back to you on that when I have the answer" or "Come find me after the presentation and we can discuss this more". These sentences are lifesavers to get you out of a jam without looking like an idiot.
Project your voice, look into the crowd, and smile. If you struggle with eye contact, that's okay. Just keep your eyes aimed at the direction of the crowd. When I first started making consistent speeches, I would focus my eyes so the crowd became a blur. Smiling and physically expressing positivity are huge. If you start with a blank expression on your face and a monotone or quiet voice, then the crowd will react likewise, which will hurt your confidence midspeech. Try to come off as someone that wants to be there.
When you practice your speech, do everything exactly as you would if it were the real deal. I mean every detail. If you have to walk on a stage, then practice walking into the room as if it were the stage. If there will be a podium, then use something in your home or office as the podium when practicing. If you do this, then you will identify every aspect of your presentation you didn't plan for because you didn't think of them. Removing unknown variables reduces the likelihood of stuttering, obvious nervousness, and awkward mistakes. If you don't do this, then when the real speech comes, you will be subconsciously criticizing every move you make and word you speak that you didn't practice for. "Am I walking up these stairs funny? Where should I put my hands? Do I thank the previous speaker before beginning? This takes your mind's focus away from your presentation and is the usual cause of people "freezing" on stage. If you can answer those nervous questions before the presentation, then you are much more likely to be at ease. Best of luck.
The benefit of your situation is that its not a surprise. You know you will have to speak, so you can prepare. No need for improv. My advice is to know your material well and go ahead an plan out your transitions. This includes your introduction, topics shifts, and ending (hand off or closing). This is usually where people stumble. Talking about your material is easier than the first and last sentences you will speak. Planning and practicing these will help you tremendously. Make sure you know who is presenting before and after you so you can design your transitions to make your material flow with theirs. I also advise coming up with a generic response to anyone that asks a question you cant answer. "That's something we haven't yet decided on" or "Thats a great point. Let me get back to you on that when I have the answer" or "Come find me after the presentation and we can discuss this more". These sentences are lifesavers to get you out of a jam without looking like an idiot.
Project your voice, look into the crowd, and smile. If you struggle with eye contact, that's okay. Just keep your eyes aimed at the direction of the crowd. When I first started making consistent speeches, I would focus my eyes so the crowd became a blur. Smiling and physically expressing positivity are huge. If you start with a blank expression on your face and a monotone or quiet voice, then the crowd will react likewise, which will hurt your confidence midspeech. Try to come off as someone that wants to be there.
When you practice your speech, do everything exactly as you would if it were the real deal. I mean every detail. If you have to walk on a stage, then practice walking into the room as if it were the stage. If there will be a podium, then use something in your home or office as the podium when practicing. If you do this, then you will identify every aspect of your presentation you didn't plan for because you didn't think of them. Removing unknown variables reduces the likelihood of stuttering, obvious nervousness, and awkward mistakes. If you don't do this, then when the real speech comes, you will be subconsciously criticizing every move you make and word you speak that you didn't practice for. "Am I walking up these stairs funny? Where should I put my hands? Do I thank the previous speaker before beginning? This takes your mind's focus away from your presentation and is the usual cause of people "freezing" on stage. If you can answer those nervous questions before the presentation, then you are much more likely to be at ease. Best of luck.
This post was edited on 11/3/22 at 3:08 pm
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:04 pm to Naked Bootleg
Some great advice in this thread, and I’m just here for solidarity. I hate public speaking even though somehow I always manage to do fine when I get up there. I have to give a rehearsal dinner speech in April to a room full of impressive people, and I’m already nervous 
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:05 pm to Crawdaddy
I sometimes start off with:
"They asked me to give this presentation. Said they wanted someone who was warm and friendly. Later it occurred to me warm just means not-so-hot"
"They asked me to give this presentation. Said they wanted someone who was warm and friendly. Later it occurred to me warm just means not-so-hot"
This post was edited on 11/3/22 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:12 pm to Naked Bootleg
I'm also in IT and have gone through this same thing to the point of considering quitting or just calling in sick.
Being prepared and practicing the material ahead of time is the thing that has helped me the most. A few other things that have helped:
Moving around on stage helps to easy some of the nerves.
I try to take intentional long pauses between points to slow the cadence down.
Anything I can do to make interactive also helps. Not only does this help to eat up some of the time, but I've found myself to far less nervous when answering a question. Perhaps that is because it is more like a conversation between me and the person asking the question and I just block everyone out.
I took on a new role at work and found out I have to give bi-annual training on my area of expertise so the nerves are already setting in.
Being prepared and practicing the material ahead of time is the thing that has helped me the most. A few other things that have helped:
Moving around on stage helps to easy some of the nerves.
I try to take intentional long pauses between points to slow the cadence down.
Anything I can do to make interactive also helps. Not only does this help to eat up some of the time, but I've found myself to far less nervous when answering a question. Perhaps that is because it is more like a conversation between me and the person asking the question and I just block everyone out.
I took on a new role at work and found out I have to give bi-annual training on my area of expertise so the nerves are already setting in.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:19 pm to Herschal
quote:
Ive always heard it helps to imagine yourself naked while presenting.
True Alpha males present naked
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:24 pm to Naked Bootleg
Don't freak out if you see this guy in the audience:
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:33 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Make sure you don't start crying when introducing yourself
It’s how you know you are REALLY into the material.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:34 pm to Naked Bootleg
I only want to add to some of the good advice given already.
It always helped me to have a drink or two of water nearby to take a sip whenever I needed to collect myself or if my mouth gets a little dry.
Take your time and don't rush through the information. Most people I see who are nervous in front of people either talk way too fast or talk way too slow. Keep a decent pace where you aren't trying to talk faster than your brain can go.
If you can, try to start your first few slides with your most confident information. I always do a small introduction and overview of what the presentation is about before I get into it. It helps me to ease into the presentation and get comfortable. When I was a gigging musician, we always played a few easy ones to lock in at the beginning.
I'm back and forth on jokes though. If it's a small icebreaker then that's fine. Some speakers drone on a little long on that and it can shake you when the response isn't as much as you had imagined.
I second the motion on getting a little crowd involvement. The "raise your hand if.." works most of the time. If gives you a break for a few seconds and can get you back into it if and help you connect.
The only thing that I disagree with in this thread has been to find a few people to focus on. I typically look at the spaces between and above the listeners. I have a bad habit of locking in on someone. If you don't speak often, either might work for you though.
My last piece of advice is this: Find your voice and confidence in your own way. Relax and know that unless you fail miserably, no one will care if you flub a word here or there. Just have a good attitude and you'll be fine. You have several others after you and like I used to tell people in college, just get it over with. No one will remember who went first, just who went last.
It always helped me to have a drink or two of water nearby to take a sip whenever I needed to collect myself or if my mouth gets a little dry.
Take your time and don't rush through the information. Most people I see who are nervous in front of people either talk way too fast or talk way too slow. Keep a decent pace where you aren't trying to talk faster than your brain can go.
If you can, try to start your first few slides with your most confident information. I always do a small introduction and overview of what the presentation is about before I get into it. It helps me to ease into the presentation and get comfortable. When I was a gigging musician, we always played a few easy ones to lock in at the beginning.
I'm back and forth on jokes though. If it's a small icebreaker then that's fine. Some speakers drone on a little long on that and it can shake you when the response isn't as much as you had imagined.
I second the motion on getting a little crowd involvement. The "raise your hand if.." works most of the time. If gives you a break for a few seconds and can get you back into it if and help you connect.
The only thing that I disagree with in this thread has been to find a few people to focus on. I typically look at the spaces between and above the listeners. I have a bad habit of locking in on someone. If you don't speak often, either might work for you though.
My last piece of advice is this: Find your voice and confidence in your own way. Relax and know that unless you fail miserably, no one will care if you flub a word here or there. Just have a good attitude and you'll be fine. You have several others after you and like I used to tell people in college, just get it over with. No one will remember who went first, just who went last.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:37 pm to Naked Bootleg
Ask your doctor for a prescription of Clonazepam. You won't have any problems with speech anxiety and you will be able to think very clearly. It is addictive. So only use when absolutely necessary. Give a couple good talks and your confidence up and you won't need it anymore.
This post was edited on 11/3/22 at 3:44 pm
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:41 pm to Naked Bootleg
Remember to use your hands. Hand them a sandwich.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:43 pm to Bread Orgeron
quote:
Another thing I do is find one or two people in the audience that have a non-threatening look about them and just basically present to those people only.
Even better than this, find someone you know, a trusted colleague in the audience that you are close to personally, or at least professionally, and you are comfortable with, then present to that person. Someone you are used to joking around with, going to lunch with, etc.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:45 pm to Naked Bootleg
I love public speaking, but that wasn't always the case.
Practice before hand. With family.
Practice before hand. With family.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:49 pm to Naked Bootleg
Pass a bunch of these out beforehand
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:51 pm to buffbraz
My first speech in college was how to throw a curve ball. I figured I'd start with something easy to remember in case I balked.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:56 pm to alajones
Breathing slows your heart rate down. Breathe in and count to four, hold it for three, exhale for three. Do this before speech and it will calm you down. Then just breathe deep as you speak.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 3:58 pm to Aguga
quote:
Don’t read from a script, don’t read the PP.
This. So many people that should know better just read the damn slides instead of giving a presentation and using hte slides as background/prompt.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 4:04 pm to Naked Bootleg
“Catch Covid” and give presentation via webex.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 4:05 pm to Naked Bootleg
I've never presented in front of this many people, but one of the things I do is to make sure to nail my intro. Even if I have to memorize it. I then talk it over and over without looking at notes as if I'm speaking to other people. And it doesn't need to be exact, just the gist of it... And then work on a smooth transition from the intro into the material you are going to cover. Something like..."So let's dive right in"
Once you get going into the stuff you know and can talk about, your confidence will grow pretty quickly and you can adlib, etc.
I have to present stuff a few times a year and the best way I deal with my anxiety is through preparation/visualizing and then trying to make it conversational. Think about the moment AFTER you are done or a less stressful work issue you are dealing with later that day. Don't fixate on the unknown of that moment or what you can't control.
Once you get going into the stuff you know and can talk about, your confidence will grow pretty quickly and you can adlib, etc.
I have to present stuff a few times a year and the best way I deal with my anxiety is through preparation/visualizing and then trying to make it conversational. Think about the moment AFTER you are done or a less stressful work issue you are dealing with later that day. Don't fixate on the unknown of that moment or what you can't control.
Posted on 11/3/22 at 4:08 pm to longtooth
Ive taught hundreds of training classes, I really enjoy it.
Make it fun. Use object lessons and crowd participation.
Make it fun. Use object lessons and crowd participation.
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