Brooking_is_GOD
7:12 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Do a Larry David.
Take the mic, look left then look right and say ' No, I don't think so...' then walk off the stage.
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VirginiaHam
5:30 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I was given the job of Master of Ceremonies at a global sales kick off in Fort Lauderdale. I had to deliver it in a bow tie in front of 400 people, including all the VPs and President of the business I was working for. Holy crap.
I did two things.........I picked film segments from Four Weddings and a Funeral to intro all the guest speakers, so the sales cunts were all laughing from the word go, and I printed my 'speech' out in massive font so if I forgot what I was babbling on about I could gt back on track easily. On top of that, I rehearsed the shit out of it.
In the middle of the whole thing I left the podium, which was plopped in a corner on the stage, and wandered out into the middle of the stage to tell a joke (which I nearly forgot the punch line of), at which point the audience realised I was wearing a kilt. Game over. American women swooning everywhere.
Afterwards I went for a piss and forgot I still had the microphone on my lapel turned on. Lucky I didn't go for a dump.
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Fiftiesman
1:27 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Just remember that almost the entire audience is pleased that they are not up on the stage and want you to do well.
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10thofMay
12:39 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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andyd12345
I've also got to stand up before 250 people on Thursday and give a welcome speech. Here are another couple of tips that I picked up at a course on public speaking that do work.
First of all smile. You can't talk quickly if you smile. The second is talk slowly. No matter how slow you think you're talking it won't be slow. Literally speak is if you're in slow motion.
The thid is write SMILE & SLOW on top of each page of your speech (if you're using autoque then that's not going to work unfortunately).
The fourth is to put your self into a state that says this is the best thing you've ever done in your life and you can't wait to do it. Psyche yourself up.
The fifth is practice, practice, practice and know you're stuff.
There are other things like once you're at the podium just take a few seconds to let the heart rate go down a bit .
I hope that helps.
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icwhs
12:24 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Don't stutter
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Coffee
12:17 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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andyd12345
There are some good replies on here, one or more of which will be sure to work for you.
Medication. Ask your doctor. He will understand your position and will offer you something effective. Valium calms you down, but you end up feeling sleepy all day long. Beta blockers work by inhibiting the production of adrenaline and slowing down your heart beat. They generally don't make you drowsy.
Prop. Some people find it useful to hold something in their hand, be it the lectern or even a pen if you're walking around. Just something you can fiddle with - the audience might not like that, but they can fuck off. It's their job to listen, not to tell you how to comport yourself.
Hypnotherapy. A longer-term solution. Works by 're-programming' your brain so you lose the fear and start to enjoy what you were previously afraid of. The bulk of most hypnotists' work is to do with removing irrational fears and changing behaviour. Being hypnotised is also a thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable experience.
As a couple of people have said, once you're over the beginning of the talk, you start to feel more control over yourself and your situation. This is when it can start to be fun.
Good luck!
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lowermarshhammer
12:07 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I used to work as a tour guide and speaking to a group of 6 experts could be way more intimidating than talking to 150 people with a passing interest.
Know your shit.Or you will die up there.
Keep shit jokes at a minimum if you are not a naturally funny cunt.
Have a bottle of water.
Do make a self deprecating joke at the start.
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Westham67
11:53 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I used to be the same. Once you get started its not as bad as you think it will be
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gph
11:46 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I'm rubbish at this when I haven't done any for a while.
But the facility for doing it comes back remarkably quickly. Just get over the beginning, and you'll be fine.
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goose
11:45 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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know your subject matter
keep it simple
control your breathing
what feels like an eternity up there actually goes pretty quick. take a breath to pause between comments/sentences.
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,
11:28 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Years ago now my newly privatised company employed Anderson Consulting to put us through a process called Business Process Re-engineering or BPR for short. At the beginning of the process we were given a presentation by three Americans. It took all day but these three blokes were brilliant speakers and at the end of it most of us felt like disciples of the cause.
In the months that followed by working closely with the yanks on the examination of our processes what became evident was the mismatch of these speaker's presentational qualities when measured against their actual "business heads". It turned out that wherever their MBAs came from their simplistic approach to any issue was reduce staff. That boat had already sailed though because our company had already reduced staff. One of the three told us that the only way to find our correct staffing level would be to get rid of people until we simply could not cope and then reemploy people until we could.
The moral of this is that brilliant people at work are not generally brilliant speakers so don't worry if you don't come across as the absolute best when presenting because people will judge you on more than that.
As for Anderson consulting, what a bunch of shysters they were. Back to the US they went and simply hawked our company around over there having already done the due diligence for any prospective buyer.
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RichyP
1:45 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I feel your pain, i also have an irrational fear of public speaking and have even considered hypnotherapy as in the past i have worked myself up into some right states.
The important thing to remember is that it is your natural fight or flight instinct, most people fill this anxiety but some can or have learned to cope with it better. Also remember that you over amplify everything in your own consciousness and you will always think that you look and sound more nervous than you actually come across.
I use Rescue Remedy if i'm feeling particularly nervous, always keep a stash in my draw at work just in case. I also find that holding something in my hand helps, my favourite object is a pen. I dont know why i find that helps but it does.
As others have said, know your subject and practice. Although i find that there's a balance, if i practice too much i get hung up in perfecting it which can be counter productive. Also, if you're using slides, dont put to much detail on them because there is then a tendency to read from the slides which in turn means you turn your back on your audience.
If all else fails, just type what you want to say and read it out. Fuck it, life's too short to beat yourself up over it!
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gregan
1:04 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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I'm shit at this and can't stop myself saying errrrr far too much.
My advice would be to get soo drunk you simply won't care how it goes. That might not be the best advice though.
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East Auckland Hammer
12:57 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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My old boss once told me that if he was ever nervous in a meeting, interview or presentation, he just imagined the other person or people completely naked.
Bit weird hearing that your boss has imagined you naked.
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DukeofDevo
12:54 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Don't get a boner!
Used to do presentation workshops
How long are you talking for?
Will it involve slides
Will you be taking questions during or at the end
Get yourself organised proper preparation prevents piss poor performance!
Tell them what your going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you've told them them time will fly!
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Son of Anarchy
12:53 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Unless you are a stand up comdedian its unlikley youll be heckled so just relax.
If you are asked a question but cant answer dont try and answer it and whatever you do avoid saying 'i dont know'
Reply 'great question sir, mind if I get back to you on that?'
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TonkaToy
12:50 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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1) Know your topic; Don't bullshit or waffle, every thing you want to talk about must be the truth or facts as you know them. If you slip into half truths or guesses, there will be someone who will pick you up on it.
2) Be comfortable in your style and appearance. Be yourself, not someone who you think you ought to be. If you are at ease, your confidence in your material will flow from that.
3) Keep it short, simple and to the point. You are not delivering the theory or relativity to Einstein, or are you? Try to gauge the audience ASAP. They will let you know how you are doing. And remember, you are doing something most of them don't want to do either, so most will be wanting you to do well, not be dull and will be on your side.
4) Don't read word for word off of a script, unless you have the correct forward ahead projector system, and even then try not to. Best keep a few key cards, listing the direction and content order and any Key Points that you want to make. Drop stuff as you go to keep the flow going.
5) Fucking good luck, and blow them away!
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monto
12:32 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Fucking horrific. Unless you like the sound of your own voice.
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ohgodno
12:04 Tue Jun 27
Re: Public speaking
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Pick a person in the middle of the group. Pick one to the left and one to the right. Without being to obvious about it alternate between talking to those people and ignore everyone else (unless they speak to you). Do this for the first five minutes and then start going off-piste. Don't stare at them like a lunatic. Don't go A-B-C-A-B-C. Mix it up or you'll look mental.
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Any Old Iron
11:40 Mon Jun 26
Re: Public speaking
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Be prepared and hope to God it doesn't go like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ytDCZS9oM
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BRANDED
11:09 Mon Jun 26
Re: Public speaking
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Dont fiddle with your bollocks, constantly shift your gaze to different individuals and hold it for a while then move on, speak slowly with confidence, be simple and precise and to the point.
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