How good are you at...

[virus]

How good are you at standing infront of a large group of people and presenting information and talking and all that stuff?

I personally am horrible with words and standing infront of people talking (although i'm not shy, i'm just not a solid or good talker.). I've taken alot of classes that are suppose to help your presentation and speech skills and NONE help.


Great for me cause today in my Business class I have to present a 20 minute PowerPoint that I made to the class as a mock of requesting a loan request for a small business we plan to open up.

I'm nervous cause my performance not only effects my grades but the grades of the people in my group. We all have dedicated alot of time into this project.

Anyone got any good advice or pointers?

Edit - and yes I have actually tried to picture the audience naked, hahaha. It doesn't work and I don't think it works for anyone haha.

[MindFreak]

dude, i have to give presentations at work. i'm a terrible speaker also but i have to do it sometimes. best advice i can give you is try to be funny somehow if you can. but it has to seem natural. if you try to be funny and everyone can tell you are trying too hard it will make it worse. try not to sound too rehersed (sp?) either. the more natural the better. im not really that good at it either like i said so im probably not the best for giving advice.

[ktinspired]

public speaking is definately on of my strong points.

the best advice that i could give you is know your stuff. Be mentally confident that you know what you're talking about. IF you just study a speech...you'll be nervous of messing up your speech. But if you have a solid base of your subject there is no reason to fear messing it up. You could say the bottom line is confidence. If you ernestly believe what you are saying so will your audience.
And dont try to be someone your not.

[CubanChick]

I give presentations about 2-3 times a year. Its more of a training session, but I have to get up in front of about 10-15 new hires, go over slides, bladdy bla, answers questions, etc. I am always paired up and usually get stuck doing most of the presenting, since the others in my group are so shy. Its no biggie because it is pretty casual and these people are all new to the company, so if I mess up they don't know what the heck I am talking about. LOL.. I always volunteer for it..

A few years back I was volunteered to present gifts at our corporate xmas function. That was a bit bizarro at first, because there were over 400 people there, but I had a few glasses of wine in me, so it turned out okay!

[RoyceDa59]

Take your time, there's no rush, just try to focus on breathing consistently. Practise runs can help, focus on being clear and concise at a reasonable tempo, this can easily be self trained by going doing a mock run by yourself. Just don't try to over-complicate things, keep it simple and importantly be in control and you will do well.

[mitchcumstein]

Originally Posted by ktinspired

public speaking is definately on of my strong points.

the best advice that i could give you is know your stuff. Be mentally confident that you know what you're talking about. IF you just study a speech...you'll be nervous of messing up your speech. But if you have a solid base of your subject there is no reason to fear messing it up. You could say the bottom line is confidence. If you ernestly believe what you are saying so will your audience.
And dont try to be someone your not.

Right on. I have no issues with public speaking and ive found that the only times i ever have a problem is if im fumbling for words or ideas cause i dont know the material well enough. Being prepared is 90% of the battle.

[jennyd]

Being Prepared?
I cannot help out on this subject because although I know it VERY well, I start to sweat and get lightheaded just having to say my name in front of a large group of people.
I want to vomit just thinking about it.

[fitme]

Try to look at people directly into their eyes. Try not to stare at the back wall! I know easier said than done. Good luck though.

[musclesntx]

well said Mitch. Preparation is everything. If I know I'm the expert, then it's easy. While I could probably talk about anything and do ok in public, it's cake if I think I know more about the topic than anyone else. My job is to be in front of people all the time and I've kind of embraced speaking to groups.

More people fear public speaking than anything else. Amazing, eh

[hrpiii]

I teach/educate several classes a year on what our team does at our company. It's about 2.5 hours long, very detailed and I look forward to it. If you know your stuff, you always feel comfortable telling others about "whatever".

[RJSMuscle]

never liked speaking in front of large groups

[musclesntx]

Originally Posted by hrpiii

I teach/educate several classes a year on what our team does at our company. It's about 2.5 hours long, very detailed and I look forward to it. If you know your stuff, you always feel comfortable telling others about "whatever".

I thought your team was responsible for the puff and fluff? You talk for 2.5 hours about that sh!t?

[virus]

Dang two and half hours? Mine is 20 minutes to maybe 30.


I feel confident I know the material well. I have several index cards prepared and some bottled water to take with me. Humor is about the only thing I can rely on and have some lines i'm going to throw in during certain spots of the speech that should get them smiling atleast. If they laugh I will feel 100% at ease and will be able to be more fluent with my words.


Some good pointers here though. All have been read and taken into consideration. So now the suite is on and the tie (for the love of god I need to buy a clip-on tie cause these are too complicated) and time to head to class.

Wish me luck ya'll... I don't think i'll need it, least not until the first stutter or slur lol.

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by musclesntx

I thought your team was responsible for the puff and fluff? You talk for 2.5 hours about that sh!t?

I have a lot of fluff to talk about. What can I say. I open my mouth, and that sh*t just flies out.

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by virus

Dang two and half hours? Mine is 20 minutes to maybe 30.


I feel confident I know the material well. I have several index cards prepared and some bottled water to take with me. Humor is about the only thing I can rely on and have some lines i'm going to throw in during certain spots of the speech that should get them smiling atleast. If they laugh I will feel 100% at ease and will be able to be more fluent with my words.


Some good pointers here though. All have been read and taking into consideration. So now the suite is on and the tie (for the love of god I need to buy a clip-on tie cause these are too complicated) and time to head to class.

Wish me luck ya'll... I don't think i'll need it, least not until the first stutter or slur lol.

Just relax, don't put any additional stress on yourself. have fun with it, and you will enjoy it even more.

[roehrigs01]

I hate that crap... had to do it numerous times.. still hate it... I'm not a people person.. also, I am blunt and to the point...

[RRAdam]

I love it. Theres always nervousness but its kind of a rush. I have no problem with it at all. When I tell people I have to give a presentation, they always feel sorry for me... but I like it. Take a couple shots of bourbon before the presentation and you can talk for hours.

[RRAdam]

That reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:


A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.

After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.

The monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. if I start to get nervous, I take a sip."

So next Sunday he took the monsignor's advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink. He proceeded to talk up a storm.

Upon his return to his office after mass, he found the following note on the door:

1. Sip the Vodka, don't gulp.
2. There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3. There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4. Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5. Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6. We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J. C.
7. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the Spook.
8. David slew Goliath, he did not kick the **** out of him.
9. When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey,don't say he was stoned off his ass.
10. We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."
11. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper he said, "Take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say "Eat me"
12. The Virgin Mary is not called "Mary with the Cherry,"
13. The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, yeah God.
14. Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St. Peter's, not a Peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's!