Public speaking, does it make you nervous?

[AlCzervik]

I have been asked to speak about something at a local school, on one hand my immediate reaction is Uh-huh, no frigging way on the other hand i was asked specifically to try and shed some light on this subject and to try and help the listener get a feel about how to address this subject should it come up. I really would like to help someone possibly help another person but public speaking makes my mouth dry up and my face turn red. so what do i do? Are there any tricks to public speaking to make the speaker less likely to need to breathe into a bag?

[EFerrari]

1. Practice so much that you can say it in your sleep with a gag on.

When you get there, focus on the people there, no on yourself. I used to feel that way before every class I taught. A friend put it this way, "Be interested, not interesting."

Works pretty good! Good luck!

[AlCzervik]

2. there will be a Q & A as well and that part does interrst me and i think i could

do ok with that part.

[EFerrari]

4. If you reverse engineer it and think of your solo part as just prep

for the Q&A, that works, too. :)

/oops

[AlCzervik]

5. thats an excellent suggestion and you're right because i have to lay out the background

for them so they'll be able to think of questions to ask me.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. Oddly enough, in terms of difficulty...

I find Q & A's definitely much easier than extemporaneous speaking.

[AlCzervik]

11. i am really interested to hear what questions they'll up with.

[AllegroRondo]

3. It doesnt really bother me

but I spent years as a professional musician, so getting up and performing in front of people just became part of everyday life.

know your subject, inside and out, and what you want to say about it.
imagine you are talking to just one person, someone you know.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

6. For the short term?

You could write it out, and hold onto the lectern like a life raft as you read your speech. For the long term (if you wish to improve this area of your life) get involved with Toastmasters International, the public speaking club. They have been around for 80 years, are everywhere and is a wonderful organization (I'm a Toastmaster). :)

[AlCzervik]

7. This is probably a one time thing, i guess after it's over they'll let me know if

they want me back. I will write it out for sure, no way will i go up without at least notes.

[bigwillq]

8. Nope

I have to do it sometimes for my job and it doesn't bother me.

It use to but I got over it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. I love it! But I understand that puts me in a distinct minority.

Fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears. There are a few things you can do though.

Have notes or a written text. There is no reason why you can't read something you've prepared ahead of time. That's a far cry from extemporaneous speaking which IS tough and I don't care for that myself unless in a pinch.

Find a couple of friendly faces you can focus on while you speak. Find them in different areas of the room so as you sweep back and forth to make eye contact it looks like you're speaking to everyone.

Don't chew gum!

Good luck.

[EFerrari]

12. Notes or an informal outline is a great idea. Keeps you focused.

If you get lost, you have a map.

:)

[bleedingheart]

13. no

I am a known blabbermouth....I view it as an opportunity to blabber to everyone all at once...

I also think that I never speak about stuff I am not confident about...there is nothing worse than speaking to an audience about a topic you are unfamiliar with...

[AlCzervik]

16. it's based on an experience from my life so the subject matter isn't a problem

but i really want to do a good job, it's really important to me that they git it.

[deadparrot]

14. Practice, practice, practice.

Use note cards, and practice with them until you know it backwards and forwards. When it's finally time to speak, you'll just go up there, and even if you freak out, you're on autopilot.

I'm an awful public speaker, and that's what I do whenever I have to give a speech or presentation for class.

[jpgray]

15. I think everyone has some anxiety with public performance--some enjoy the fear, though

Practicing is good advice. Just don't practice to the point that it's totally dead in your mouth. And please, no one take that last sentence out of context.

[hippywife]

17. It does make me nervous.

I've had to do it more in the more recent past than anytime in my life. On one hand, I love being able to have a hand in being an influence, but on the other hand, it does make me nervous.

I try my best to be prepared and have at least an outline so I won't wander and get lost. Bullet points of the path you want to take helps. I also can't look directly at anyone while speaking. I usually focus just above the audience's heads and look around the room so it looks like I'm making eye contact without actually having to do it.

Good luck to you!

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Sure

But not so nervous that I can't do it, nor even that I don't enjoy it.

The trick for me was learning to write such a kick-ass speech that I could go up there with the confidence that the audience would enjoy it.

Well, that and practice. :D (I got it in Jaycees.)

The earlier post about Toastmasters is a good one. I'm not a member, but they know the tools.

[Nickster]

19. Honestly? There are no tricks really. You are psyching yourself WAYYYY out.

You said you know the subject, so it's not that you don't know what you're talking about. Your audience is sympathetic, they know they wouldn't want to be in your shoes. Just act like you're talking to a bunch of friends, because you really are. Would it be any different if you were talking about the subject to a bunch of friends at a party and they all gathered around you to hear what you said? Just think of it like that. Most speakers do so much work up in their head that they get petrified before they even get to the lectern.

Get your outline together

Practice a few times

Envision yourself giving a great speech

Take a few deep cleansing breaths

Just DO IT!

[ganeshji]

20. It used to make me nervous.

There are a few things that have helped me. I practice in front of a mirror a few times, just to know I don't look stupid because that is what is at the root of my fear. If it is at all possible, try to visit the actual location where you will be speaking. It's not so uncomfortable if you are at least slightly familiar with where you are going to be speaking. Put yourself in your audience's place. If you were listening to this speech, what kinds of things would you want to hear about? Use the ideas that you have for your notes or at least as a general plan. I don't know if that is any help at all.

[MANative]

21. I relish every opportunity!!

Seriously - that's what I do for my about 70% of my job. THE single most important thing is to know your subject inside out. Don't worry about writing out a script - that's probably the worst thing that people try to do. It's not practical to memorize that much information, and if you make one little goof, it's much harder to get back on track.

It's usually simpler to create a few bullet points on note cards and use those as reminders of the key things you want to talk about. I use my PowerPoint presentation for the audience as my own reminders!

also, remember that they don't know what you're planning to say, so if you do make a little goof, chances are astronomical that they'll never know. It's your little secret. ;) If you speak from your heart and from your knowledge, you'll do just great.

Good luck!!

[Bake]

22. No substitute for preparation.

Even if you know your subject matter, think about what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Notes/outlines are extremely helpful, but they're no substitute (either) for preparation.

The more prepared you are, the more relaxed you'll be.

Oh, and I'm a lawyer and do this for a living.

Bake

[SPKrazy]

23. Nervous, yes

panicked nooooooooo

I used to be panicked about that

now just nervous


how did i overcome panic? doing it over and over and over until i was able to not panic and just be nervous :P


(taught a DWI class on Saturdays once a month years ago at 7 am to around 70 or 80 people who hated my guts was also a factor in learning to get over it)

:rofl: