Public Speaking

[Future_KingKong]

How many of you shy away from public speaking? I have been asked to make a speech in class and I am thinking of bunking that class. I am so very nervous.

How do you get rid of your nervousness?

[housejohnson]

Being a martial arts instructor I often had to speak in front of large groups, not only of students I knew but seminars. The best advice that I can give you is to have a thorough knowledge of your topic. I never read any prepared speech, I simply spoke from knowledge and experience.

[LatsMakeTheMan]

Yea I figure that as long as you know what you're talking about you'll be fine. If you don't.....well yea, that sucks trying to make stuff up in front of a crowd.

[trevman]

Imagine them all in their underware with rabbit ears and red noses. Not sure where I got that from, didn't work for me but try it anyway hehe.

[sculli]

If you do it enough it gets easier. I never liked it when I was in school but now it's a piece of cake. I got a lot of experience at it in the military. Due to my rank I'm always in front of people giving briefings, classes, or just telling them what to do etc.

[Viking22]

Realize that 90% of them aren't listening to a word you're saying...

[housejohnson]

Originally Posted by Viking22

Realize that 90% of them aren't listening to a word you're saying...

Ha. True, true.

[Rocky Barbella]

Imagine them sat on the toilet with diarrhea.

[Snoopis]

Alcohol?

Best thing though is to know what you're talking about.
And don't have a word-for-word speech prepared, just have an outline and practice going from that. Whenver I had a word-for-word speech, I would get lost at a certain point, then it's hard to get back to where you were before, trying to find the exact words and all. But if you're just sort of winging it from an outline, you still know where you are. I hope that makes sense.

[lowkey122]

I had to take that class in college and that was the worst class of all, not to shake you up tho. I just despise speaking in front of groups. I would always get nervous and develop a tremble in my voice that was incredibly noticeable when I would begin speaking and my nose would start to run for some reason. As the speech went on, I would lose the shaky voice and relax but no matter how many speeches I gave I would start out with that damn tremble in my voice. I had to get up and give a speech (impromptu) recently and there was that damn tremble. That was an important speech where tone and delivery were just as important as the words and I was extremely emberassed. Some people get over it, apparently I'm not one of them.

[Grant73]

Have you looked into joining toasmasters? It is a public speaking group.

[Hartski]

It's easier when you're drunk.

[Skrape]

Try to relax as much as possible.

If you're speaking from a podium, take with you a picture of something that would make you more comfortable.

I find it easier to pretend that you're simply having a conversation with only one person. Try to focus on one of your friends in the audience and pretend that your speech is simply you explaining him your topic, and ignore the rest of the audience.

Also prepare an outline for your speech, and then elaborate on your points from your own knowledge, and not reading off a sheet of paper. Chances are, that if you're already nervous you'll just bury yourself into the paper, make your speech boring, and likely to get a bad grade. Try to move around a bit and you'll feel more relaxed.

You might get a bit nervous at the beginning of the presentation, but you will then gain momentum and forget all about your nervousness and anxiety.


I used to be very afraid of public speaking, and used to skip classes and assemblies in which I had to give a speech or presentations, but then my friend gave me this advice, and I no longer have any problems with public speaking (though I still try to avoid it whenever I can )

[benz0118]

When I was younger, I was extremely shy and reserved, and when speaking in front a people I would panic. I avoided working in jobs that required a lot of public contact (I was a technical editor for a while). Somehow I decided I needed to change and got in to retail sales and gradually into sales that required cold calling, this was over about 10 years. I'm a construction manager now (you should hear me pounding my subs) and also teach part time at a local community college. For me it's about pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and through repetition your zone becomes larger and larger. You'd be amazed at what you are capable of if you push yourself outside of your comfort zone again and again. It kind of like adding 2-1/2 lb plates to your 225 lb squat each workout and before your know you'll be pushing 400+ lb squats. Everyones nervous speaking in front of large crowds, but the more you do it the easier it is.

[Ruthless4Life]

Confidence is the key to every success.

I used to be shy in front of a group of people. But then, I realized that I was only shy because I had a lack of confidence in myself. Now, I see every public speaking opportunity as a way to show everybody who really owns the place. If I speak with enough confidence in front of the audience, I virtually enforce my power on all the others in the room. I become the influence.

Also, I tell myself that the more I am nervous, the more likely I'm going to mess up. Therefore, I purposely tell myself not to give myself any pressure. A question I often ask myself is: Is being nervous going to help my speech? The answer is "No". And that's good enough for me.

[Marv]

I really don't mind speaking in front of people at all. I usually can't shut up when I'm talking anyways, so I guess speaking in front of people just comes naturally.

[JustBrowsin]

the best advice i can give is to just say **** it and go up there and start talking. Tell yourself you're not scared and then run up there and pretend it doesnt bother you. I did this with my firwst speech in my public speaking class and after that each one was easier and easier and no longer have that anxiety. Instead of thinking about how embarassed you'll be or how dumb you'll look if you mess up, think about how much of a badass you'll be when you go up there wtih confidence and show everybody that it's no problem for you

[Pump that iron!]

As far as the presentation part goes, I am fairly comfortable. I seem to be more worried about what I've prepared and the quality of what I'm about to present. I'm worried too that people aren't listening. lol

[EliteLifts]

Originally Posted by Future_KingKong

How many of you shy away from public speaking? I have been asked to make a speech in class and I am thinking of bunking that class. I am so very nervous.

How do you get rid of your nervousness?

You can drop it if you want but eventually you will be in a class where you will have to make a speach....and I am not just talking about an oral comm class either.

[Future_KingKong]

Originally Posted by lowkey122

I had to take that class in college and that was the worst class of all, not to shake you up tho. I just despise speaking in front of groups. I would always get nervous and develop a tremble in my voice that was incredibly noticeable when I would begin speaking and my nose would start to run for some reason. As the speech went on, I would lose the shaky voice and relax but no matter how many speeches I gave I would start out with that damn tremble in my voice. I had to get up and give a speech (impromptu) recently and there was that damn tremble. That was an important speech where tone and delivery were just as important as the words and I was extremely emberassed. Some people get over it, apparently I'm not one of them.

I feel exactly the same way mate. I am scared.

[Future_KingKong]

I am not able to make that speech in front of the mirror. I am too conscious of the fact that I am about to make a speech.

Alcohol doesn't sound like a good suggestion. If they smell wine on me, I have had it.

I have been reading some motivational books like Dale Carnegie, when I just learned that Dale committed suicide trying to change the world.

[AzBadass]

Originally Posted by Future_KingKong

How many of you shy away from public speaking? I have been asked to make a speech in class and I am thinking of bunking that class. I am so very nervous.

How do you get rid of your nervousness?

You have to have complete confidence in your speech giving abilities. Practice your speech in front of your friends/relatives. Practice makes perfect.

[Future_KingKong]

Originally Posted by Viking22

Realize that 90% of them aren't listening to a word you're saying...

EXactly what I am going to hope for. I am comfortable in addressing a small group of 4 - 5 without any problems. I usually do that before we start a climb *rock climbing*. HOwever speaking in front of a class of 30-50 students is giving me the jitters.

[xiled]

Originally Posted by Future_KingKong

EXactly what I am going to hope for. I am comfortable in addressing a small group of 4 - 5 without any problems. I usually do that before we start a climb *rock climbing*. HOwever speaking in front of a class of 30-50 students is giving me the jitters.

How many kids do you know on a personal level in that class? Who cares what they think? Just make your speech, and make it good. Your mark counts more than what the other kids think.

[Future_KingKong]

Originally Posted by xiled

How many kids do you know on a personal level in that class? Who cares what they think? Just make your speech, and make it good. Your mark counts more than what the other kids think.

I know about 10 - 11 of them.

[xiled]

Originally Posted by Future_KingKong

I know about 10 - 11 of them.

There you go. That lowers the "care" factor from 30-50 kids to about 10-11. Should be easy.

[C Hall]

Here's the best advice for this situation:

Tell your teacher that you CANNOT give a speech. Explain why. Chances are he or she will understand and let you make it up somehow.

Don't give the speech. I'm warning you. If you are very nervous now, imagine how you'll feel when you're standing in front of strangers.

DON'T DO IT!

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by Future_KingKong

How many of you shy away from public speaking? I have been asked to make a speech in class and I am thinking of bunking that class. I am so very nervous.

How do you get rid of your nervousness?

Most people aren't nervous about public speaking, they're nervous about public ad-libing/improvising

Practice it until its programmed

[Future_KingKong]

Originally Posted by xiled

There you go. That lowers the "care" factor from 30-50 kids to about 10-11. Should be easy.

I am going to go for it.

Worst case scenario, I am going to admit to the folks, that if I stumble on the speech or something its cos I am feeling nervous.

that should make things easy for me.

Wish me luck

[Future_KingKong]

Hey folks,
I made that speech. It wasn't that scary.

Thanks for u r support.

Cheers,
F K K