How do you deal with public speaking? On Thursday I have to give a presentation to about 40 fellow Speech-Language Patholgists in the district. They have all been doing this for a loooooong time. I AM FREAKING OUT!!! Right now...just as I type this...my breathing is all out whack. I have a major headache...and I just want it to be over. I have been working feverishly on my presentation. I have down just about every word I'm going to say (I know, I should only have an outline...but that doesn't ever work for me).
Any suggestions?
Picture them naked?
Fake confidence?
Wadda I do??
How did I get myself into this?!
ARE ANY OF YOU GOOD AT THIS???
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
Being able to sympathize helps...a little. 
MY VOICE GOES AWAY!!! AND I TURN INTO THIS LITTLE MOUSE THAT CAN'T BREATHE...I HATE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY VOICE GOES AWAY!!! AND I TURN INTO THIS LITTLE MOUSE THAT CAN'T BREATHE...I HATE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
I always sound soooooo good saying it to my wall. Then when I get in front of eveyrone...I stink!
This thread is helping me out though...venting is good!
This thread is helping me out though...venting is good!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
i've done it a lot, spoken to bar associations and academy classes. it never bothers me. you are already freaking yourself out, you'll be a basket case if you keep imagining the worst. start visualizing how relaxed and confident you will be. when you start to speak about a subject in which you are familiar you should just flow. keep it on point, don't digress, or try to be a comedian, be yourself. be brief. look at people as though it was one on one. you will soon feel comfortable and less self-conscious. it's only people just like you, not a room full of axe murderers. i bet you'll surprise yourself at how well you will do! it's hard to tell someone how to speak to a group, my best advice is to VISUALIZE yourself as doing well. and i am sure you will!
and i am sure you will!Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
LC, you strike me as one of those individuals who aren't intimidated by anyone. Maybe because you HAVE dealt with axe murderers?
You are right though...no sense in getting all freaked out about it. I have tried the other approach though...just taking it as it comes...and then when panic sets in...when I am in front of people...it seems to hit me like a truck...because I wasn't expecting it!
I liked your advice about talking to the people like it is one on one. This is a good point.
okay...i'm visualizing...right now...gonna keep visualizing....breathing and visualizing.....
You are right though...no sense in getting all freaked out about it. I have tried the other approach though...just taking it as it comes...and then when panic sets in...when I am in front of people...it seems to hit me like a truck...because I wasn't expecting it!
I liked your advice about talking to the people like it is one on one. This is a good point.
okay...i'm visualizing...right now...gonna keep visualizing....breathing and visualizing.....
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
[QUOTE=hotsauce]How do you deal with public speaking? On Thursday I have to give a presentation to about 40 fellow Speech-Language Patholgists in the district. They have all been doing this for a loooooong time. I AM FREAKING OUT!!! Right now...just as I type this...my breathing is all out whack. I have a major headache...and I just want it to be over. I have been working feverishly on my presentation. I have down just about every word I'm going to say (I know, I should only have an outline...but that doesn't ever work for me).
Any suggestions?
Picture them naked?
Fake confidence?
Wadda I do??
How did I get myself into this?!
Dale Carnegie's original course was a public speaking course. He realized that this was the public's number one fear, even ahead of death. lol
His first rule was Earn the right to talk. Meaning, Know your subject matter?
You're the expert. Believe it yourself and you'll have your audience believe it, too.
Keep your talking points simple. I've watched Whoopi Goldberg prepare for a standup performance. She just repeats her basic topics out loud to herself, over and over. "Let's see, I want to talk about the president and his etc. etc."
Tell the audience when you go on, I'm going to talk about this, this and this. If there's a blackboard type thing there it's good to write these things down, because you might forget them.
Have your host give you a good intro. I've always found that if I'm introduced with some flair, it inspires me.
One drink, not 2, might calm you just enough.
Just be you. You are great. You are fine. You are in your living room with a few friends just talking, about the Mets or speech pathology. You know more about speech pathology than the Mets. So talk about what you know. Talk to one person with 40 heads.
Have fun with it. Life's too short not to.
peace
Rik(Former Carnegie teaching assistant)
Any suggestions?
Picture them naked?
Fake confidence?
Wadda I do??
How did I get myself into this?!
Dale Carnegie's original course was a public speaking course. He realized that this was the public's number one fear, even ahead of death. lol
His first rule was Earn the right to talk. Meaning, Know your subject matter?
You're the expert. Believe it yourself and you'll have your audience believe it, too.
Keep your talking points simple. I've watched Whoopi Goldberg prepare for a standup performance. She just repeats her basic topics out loud to herself, over and over. "Let's see, I want to talk about the president and his etc. etc."
Tell the audience when you go on, I'm going to talk about this, this and this. If there's a blackboard type thing there it's good to write these things down, because you might forget them.
Have your host give you a good intro. I've always found that if I'm introduced with some flair, it inspires me.
One drink, not 2, might calm you just enough.
Just be you. You are great. You are fine. You are in your living room with a few friends just talking, about the Mets or speech pathology. You know more about speech pathology than the Mets. So talk about what you know. Talk to one person with 40 heads.
Have fun with it. Life's too short not to.
peace
Rik(Former Carnegie teaching assistant)
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
wow...nice relaxed information...you are right...I am the expert. also, one drink certainly would not hurt.
I'm going to talk about this, this and this...I like it...jotting that down right now!
I know a heck of a lot about the Cardinals...but not the Mets.
Thanks for the soothing advice!
I'm going to talk about this, this and this...I like it...jotting that down right now!
I know a heck of a lot about the Cardinals...but not the Mets.
Thanks for the soothing advice!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
we expect a full report young lady! .....when you know your subject you will sail right through. you will forget the "self" and NOT PANIC. you will be confident and smiling. you will charm and impress the audience. repeat this mantra hourly or PRN.
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
charm...impress...charm...impress...hourly...got it
charm...impress...
thanks!
charm...impress...
thanks!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
I spoke in front of about 2,400 people my first time, at a black CHURCH!! It was a rally in defense of Yolanda Huet-Vaughn, the anti-war/soldier activist in the early 90's. There were a dozen groups there with speakers and I was the 2nd last! I thought I was gonna barf! All that waiting!!!!! The waiting for my turn and when my name and group were announced were the very worst parts. I was completely numb. I looked just above the audiences' heads and after I got out my first paragraph it was fine! My confidence came back and it was over so fast! I have spoken to several groups since (not that large though) and still get most nervous in the hours leading up to the event. You'll see, if you believe in your material, it'll go smoothly after you get started. You'll be fine.
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group that believes you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas millionaires, or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." [font=Arial Narrow][/font]
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Nov. 08, 1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Nov. 08, 1954
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
hotsauce wrote: ARE ANY OF YOU GOOD AT THIS???
I am an expert at it. Most of my colleagues consider me the greatest orator in our district. I'm fiery, animated, convincing, and enthusiastic. Better than TV.
I'll give you my tips when I get in tomorrow....it's 9 at night and I need to get home. (I just finished teaching my night school class, and that makes for a 16 hour day.)
I am an expert at it. Most of my colleagues consider me the greatest orator in our district. I'm fiery, animated, convincing, and enthusiastic. Better than TV.
I'll give you my tips when I get in tomorrow....it's 9 at night and I need to get home. (I just finished teaching my night school class, and that makes for a 16 hour day.)
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
You get better with practice which doesn't help to begin with. Rehearse what you are going to say, actually give your presentation to someone or to the dog if you have to then it will feel familiar. Slow down, most people speak more rapidly when they are nervous. Most of the people in the audiencewill be sympathetic having been there themselves, the ones that aren't don't matter.
I'm having to do this kind of thing more and more and I'm scared shitless most of the time for me it is not a natural thing but talking to others those who are good at it have all had to work at it.
I'm having to do this kind of thing more and more and I'm scared shitless most of the time for me it is not a natural thing but talking to others those who are good at it have all had to work at it.
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
The greatest orator in the district! Yay! Bring it!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
OK, here goes....first of all, et me say that public speaking is like swimming and braces. it's something you should begin trying when you are young, because it really sucks to learn it when you are older. That's why I require it for my night school class.
I was once taken cliff diving by my friends. I froze at the top. i didn't want to die. My firends yelled every catcall in the book at me. Finally I jumped off. It was a blast! I was up at the top as fast as I could run to do it again! My point is that the first time is by far the worst, after that it gets easier and easier, since you can tell yourself, "Hey! I did it before and I didn't die!"
So now to the tactics: THINGS TO DO:
Make sure your speech is clear and well-written. I frown on "reading" a speech word for word. it will sound stilted and unnatural. Instead, give yourself an outline of clear notes. Allow yourself to improvise and talk normally about what you believe.
Be passionate. Get excited about what you are speaking about, it will make it so much easier. You want to tell these people about your material. They need it! Understand that these people are just like you. they may have more education, more experience, and may even be ahead of you in the command structure....but they are still human beings just like you . No more no less.
1. Hand gestures - The most difficult and yet critical part of a presentation. To get an idea of this, watch an actor on TV or in a movie. Their hands are always moving as they speak. to help you with this and make it seem more normal, try to get away from the podium. Walking back and forth helps give the audience your body language as well as your voice. have you ever seen a professional motivational speaker? They do this constantly.
Hotsauce, you are a speech pathologist and you do this every day without thinking about it, so you have this skill already. Don't let the artificial environment of a presentation shut you down. Get up, move around. Use hand and arm gestures. Be animated. It's engaging and fun to watch for the audience.
2. Eye contact - look around the room. Try to get eye contact with each person at least once or twice. When you are looking at them, pretend you and that peson are the only ones in the room. You are conversing with them just like you do many times a day. The problem with this is losing your place or forgetting what you are about to say, so here are the tricks that the News Anchors use:
A. Keep your speech in your right hand (if you are right handed) as you go down the page, slide your thumb down to the line you are on. Then, when you look away and come back, you can find your place again easily and quickly.
B. Read the sentence and the paragraph, until you come to a point where the rest of the sentence, or the end of the paragraph, is all in your mind. Then look up and say the last few words. For example: In the sentence previously, I would have looked up at the audience right when I got to the words "is all in your mind". Especially do this when there is something you think is important.
3. Diction / Vocabulary - Make sure that the words you use in your speech are ones that you are comfortable with. For example I never use the word, "anecdote" because I feel funny using it. Instead I use "short story" Of course you should never talk down to people, but taking over everyone's head is just as bad.
4. Enunciation - speak clearly, and the biggest impediment to this is talking too quickly while speaking (more on that later.)
5. Emotion - Get excited about the exciting parts! Get sad at the sad parts, get serious at the serious parts. Don't speak in a monotone. Smile a lot! Use humor!
THINGS TO NOT DO:
Watch out for personal nervous habits. Do no touch your hair or play with it constantly. don't speak in a monotone. Don't hold the paper in front of your face. Absolutely DO NOT put your hands in your pockets. Don't touch your face, except to make a thinking gesture.
The worst habit, by far, and one that will instantly label you as unintelligent is using the words "Umm" and "Ah" in between pauses while you are thinking. Practice ahead of time until you can say your entire speech without saying Umm or ah once.
Avoid slang and vernacular unless you are trying to make a point about it. Don't call people "homies" for example, unless you are trying to be funny. And avoid the word "like" like the plague unless you are impersonating a Valley girl.
Avoid casual clothes. Dress up! The clothes make the man, or in this case the woman. Want to be taken seriously? Wear serious clothes.
And last, but by far not least....slow down. Most people begin to speak more and more wuickly as they get more nervous. Force yourself to slow down.
There you go! with those tactics YOU (jives points directly at hotsauce and looks her in the eye) will be a fiery and engaging orator! I GUARANTEE IT! (jives slaps the table with his palm, then crosses his arms , then stares confidently at hotsauce)
I was once taken cliff diving by my friends. I froze at the top. i didn't want to die. My firends yelled every catcall in the book at me. Finally I jumped off. It was a blast! I was up at the top as fast as I could run to do it again! My point is that the first time is by far the worst, after that it gets easier and easier, since you can tell yourself, "Hey! I did it before and I didn't die!"
So now to the tactics: THINGS TO DO:
Make sure your speech is clear and well-written. I frown on "reading" a speech word for word. it will sound stilted and unnatural. Instead, give yourself an outline of clear notes. Allow yourself to improvise and talk normally about what you believe.
Be passionate. Get excited about what you are speaking about, it will make it so much easier. You want to tell these people about your material. They need it! Understand that these people are just like you. they may have more education, more experience, and may even be ahead of you in the command structure....but they are still human beings just like you . No more no less.
1. Hand gestures - The most difficult and yet critical part of a presentation. To get an idea of this, watch an actor on TV or in a movie. Their hands are always moving as they speak. to help you with this and make it seem more normal, try to get away from the podium. Walking back and forth helps give the audience your body language as well as your voice. have you ever seen a professional motivational speaker? They do this constantly.
Hotsauce, you are a speech pathologist and you do this every day without thinking about it, so you have this skill already. Don't let the artificial environment of a presentation shut you down. Get up, move around. Use hand and arm gestures. Be animated. It's engaging and fun to watch for the audience.
2. Eye contact - look around the room. Try to get eye contact with each person at least once or twice. When you are looking at them, pretend you and that peson are the only ones in the room. You are conversing with them just like you do many times a day. The problem with this is losing your place or forgetting what you are about to say, so here are the tricks that the News Anchors use:
A. Keep your speech in your right hand (if you are right handed) as you go down the page, slide your thumb down to the line you are on. Then, when you look away and come back, you can find your place again easily and quickly.
B. Read the sentence and the paragraph, until you come to a point where the rest of the sentence, or the end of the paragraph, is all in your mind. Then look up and say the last few words. For example: In the sentence previously, I would have looked up at the audience right when I got to the words "is all in your mind". Especially do this when there is something you think is important.
3. Diction / Vocabulary - Make sure that the words you use in your speech are ones that you are comfortable with. For example I never use the word, "anecdote" because I feel funny using it. Instead I use "short story" Of course you should never talk down to people, but taking over everyone's head is just as bad.
4. Enunciation - speak clearly, and the biggest impediment to this is talking too quickly while speaking (more on that later.)
5. Emotion - Get excited about the exciting parts! Get sad at the sad parts, get serious at the serious parts. Don't speak in a monotone. Smile a lot! Use humor!
THINGS TO NOT DO:
Watch out for personal nervous habits. Do no touch your hair or play with it constantly. don't speak in a monotone. Don't hold the paper in front of your face. Absolutely DO NOT put your hands in your pockets. Don't touch your face, except to make a thinking gesture.
The worst habit, by far, and one that will instantly label you as unintelligent is using the words "Umm" and "Ah" in between pauses while you are thinking. Practice ahead of time until you can say your entire speech without saying Umm or ah once.
Avoid slang and vernacular unless you are trying to make a point about it. Don't call people "homies" for example, unless you are trying to be funny. And avoid the word "like" like the plague unless you are impersonating a Valley girl.
Avoid casual clothes. Dress up! The clothes make the man, or in this case the woman. Want to be taken seriously? Wear serious clothes.
And last, but by far not least....slow down. Most people begin to speak more and more wuickly as they get more nervous. Force yourself to slow down.
There you go! with those tactics YOU (jives points directly at hotsauce and looks her in the eye) will be a fiery and engaging orator! I GUARANTEE IT! (jives slaps the table with his palm, then crosses his arms , then stares confidently at hotsauce)
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
WOW!! Jives...those are some tips! :yh_worshp I guess you didn't get to your rung on the administration ladder by being a bumpy schlub...now did you?
Man, I really wanted to start by saying "what's up...homies?" I just crossed that off the intro...rewriting it now.
I liked the sliding the hand down the page trick...I always lose my place and panic...that is when the "umms" and "ahs" kick in.
I am going to practice until there isn't an "um" or "ah" in the entire 90 minutes. I need a dog collar...I could have my friend zap me each time I let out one of these unintelligent noises.
Hand gestures and animation...important...you are right. The best speakers I have seen use these freely...it helps show their excitement for the material as well. Okay...I have homework to to!
Thank you all for your wonderful tips! You rock!
Man, I really wanted to start by saying "what's up...homies?" I just crossed that off the intro...rewriting it now.
I liked the sliding the hand down the page trick...I always lose my place and panic...that is when the "umms" and "ahs" kick in.
I am going to practice until there isn't an "um" or "ah" in the entire 90 minutes. I need a dog collar...I could have my friend zap me each time I let out one of these unintelligent noises.
Hand gestures and animation...important...you are right. The best speakers I have seen use these freely...it helps show their excitement for the material as well. Okay...I have homework to to!
Thank you all for your wonderful tips! You rock!
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
I RULE!!!!
I would like to say I rule because I knocked the presentation outta the park. (Most of it I did.) However, I rule more because I made it through.
I was totally calm before I got up there...I wasn't sweating it a bit. I was trying to be cool, calm, and collected. I also took an herbal combination one of my friends at school gave me to calm my nerves. I was doing great!
Once I stepped up to the front, my ears were ringing so loudly I could hardly hear myself talk. I did pretty good for a few paragraphs...and then I saw blank looks...and my voice started shaking...like there were a thousand butterflies in my throat. I stopped and actually said out-loud (didn't mean to say it out-loud)..."I need to catch my breath". I looked at my friends and they were smiling at me...everyone else was shifting in their seat...they felt uncomfortable for me...and that irritated me. Ughhhh....no sympathy!!!
I continued and from that moment on...knocked it outta the park. So, I knocked about 3/4 of my presentation outta the park. That is pretty good... huh? I got a 75%...that isn't soooo terribly bad.
I had people tell me afterwards that I made them think about stuttering in ways they hadn't before (good). I also made them laugh out-loud two times...everyone laughed...so I know they were paying attention...or they were just laughing because eveyone else was laughing. I also answered questions thoughtfully...and didn't have to say I would "get back to them afterwards"...so I could think of an answer.
I moved around the room...I moved my arms...I did the finger slide...never lost my place. The opening was really rough though.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE! IT REALLY HELPED TO TALK THROUGH THIS! YOU HAD GREAT SUGGESTIONS TOO!
Now, I'm going to a minor league ballgame...I'm going to enjoy the rest of the week. I'm on a major high...can't tell if it is because I am happy with my performance...or if I just have a huge weight off my shoulders. Maybe a bit of both?
I would like to say I rule because I knocked the presentation outta the park. (Most of it I did.) However, I rule more because I made it through.
I was totally calm before I got up there...I wasn't sweating it a bit. I was trying to be cool, calm, and collected. I also took an herbal combination one of my friends at school gave me to calm my nerves.
I was doing great! Once I stepped up to the front, my ears were ringing so loudly I could hardly hear myself talk. I did pretty good for a few paragraphs...and then I saw blank looks...and my voice started shaking...like there were a thousand butterflies in my throat. I stopped and actually said out-loud (didn't mean to say it out-loud)..."I need to catch my breath". I looked at my friends and they were smiling at me...everyone else was shifting in their seat...they felt uncomfortable for me...and that irritated me. Ughhhh....no sympathy!!!
I continued and from that moment on...knocked it outta the park. So, I knocked about 3/4 of my presentation outta the park. That is pretty good... huh? I got a 75%...that isn't soooo terribly bad.
I had people tell me afterwards that I made them think about stuttering in ways they hadn't before (good). I also made them laugh out-loud two times...everyone laughed...so I know they were paying attention...or they were just laughing because eveyone else was laughing. I also answered questions thoughtfully...and didn't have to say I would "get back to them afterwards"...so I could think of an answer.
I moved around the room...I moved my arms...I did the finger slide...never lost my place. The opening was really rough though.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE! IT REALLY HELPED TO TALK THROUGH THIS! YOU HAD GREAT SUGGESTIONS TOO!
Now, I'm going to a minor league ballgame...I'm going to enjoy the rest of the week. I'm on a major high...can't tell if it is because I am happy with my performance...or if I just have a huge weight off my shoulders. Maybe a bit of both?
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
i knew you'd do fine
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
Yay! I'm very proud of you, hotsauce. That's an extremely difficult and trying thing to do. But you came through with flying colors!
Now...remember what I told you, when you have to do this again, you'll look back at this time and realize, "Hey! I did great last time! This isn't so tough!"
(The first ride down the hill on a bike is the hard one, every one after that is fun!)
I declare you "Oratorius Fantasticus" and award you this medal of meritorious conduct.
(Jives pins the medal to hotsauce's....umm...chest, backs up a step and gives her a smart salute)
We, the Vernacular Voices of the Linguistic League, salute you, Lieutenant Hotsauce, for your courageous enunciation in the face of danger! :wah:
Now...remember what I told you, when you have to do this again, you'll look back at this time and realize, "Hey! I did great last time! This isn't so tough!"
(The first ride down the hill on a bike is the hard one, every one after that is fun!)
I declare you "Oratorius Fantasticus" and award you this medal of meritorious conduct.
(Jives pins the medal to hotsauce's....umm...chest, backs up a step and gives her a smart salute)
We, the Vernacular Voices of the Linguistic League, salute you, Lieutenant Hotsauce, for your courageous enunciation in the face of danger! :wah:
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Public Speaking Makes Me Want To Vomit!
:p
Again, Jives? I was trying to ignore you when you said that before. Okay...we will see.
You all are swell...thanks so much for the support!
Again, Jives? I was trying to ignore you when you said that before. Okay...we will see.
You all are swell...thanks so much for the support!