Public Speaking

[Bubbs]

Good afternoon BFC'ers,

So, I'm applying for a job that will see me jump up 2 pay scales to a band 5 position. The job entails updating the company website, organising events and team building days, and liaising with Welsh government on company related issues and ensuring all information is passed onto the team.

I'm confident I can do 98% of the job without too much worry however the other 2% will require me to stand up infront of around 50-60 people that have attended the events I have organised and explain what will be happening during the day, and also to introduce all the speakers etc.

Now I'm not the most confident speaker in the world, and I'm by no means the centre of attention. Id do anything to avoid speaking in public and it really does make me bloody anxious.

So that you have an idea of how anxious it makes me: I was once named best man for my mate who eventually didn't go through with the wedding and they broke up... this was such a relief that I was happy they'd broken up!! (Great best man right!)

So who here regularly has to speak infront of people and how do you prepare, and build confidence for this kind of thing. I know a lot of people find it easy so I would greatly appreciate a response from someone who has combatted this fear, however all responses are totally welcome.

I could do all the attendees up the Garry and punch them in the tits but I fear I may be fired!
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Alpha-9]

Just the simple obvious unuseful advice

Relax, introduce yourself, don't build it up in your mind, speaking to a group of people is no different to speaking to one but you have to do it louder

I have little problem being in crowds or being the centre of attention, but as soon as the pressures on I shit myself and my mind goes into spag mode, I had to do a trainers course on public presenting which was graded and it was the worst experience of it's kind in my life

I look back and think I could do so much better now.

If you feel you are bombing then do what a stand up comedian advised on something I watched and say something honest, confront the fact you're being nervous and you'll find you're a lot less nervous and people are more forgiving

"Wow, a lot of people here, no pressure hey "

Being confident in what you're saying makes it a lot easier too, if you're talking shit you don't believe in it'll be a lot harder

The only option is to do them up the tits and punch them in the garry
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Fzr-600 1999

[map]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

The first few times I'd take a crib sheet. You'll have already done the countless rehearsals
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[Alpha-9]

Don't over plan, practicing doesnt work for me as it feels stupid unless i've got someone to practice to, but feeling stupid is part of the nerves and getting better really

The most you want is some notes with lines you need to get to and talk around it.

In my course I did a pretend training course on using google (yeah derp, was meant to be derp) I wrote out loads that almost turned into a script, it was utterly useless when it came to it.

All you need is a list with the important points that you went to get across, a basic structure to your presentation (beginning, middle, end) then at the end recap and tell them what you've told them.

So first you tell them what you're going to tell them
Then you tell them
Then you tell them what you told them



If you're the host a good starting ground and ice breaker is housekeeping rules, nearest toilet, tea breaks, introductions

Not really enough info about what you're doing to go into depth, there's a whole science behind public speaking, some people are naturally charismatic, others need training.
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Fzr-600 1999

[daemonoid]

I've done it a few times, try to start small. Introductions are a nice easy start - keep it simple, don't try to wow on your first attempt. Just a short, sweet here is...

Once you're used to being there and giving just the facts from the sheets you can spice it up a little.
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[Slacker24seve...]

I've done a fair bit of this recently, and it wasn't something that comes naturally to me, but I have got a lot better since I first started talking in small team meetings.

The point where I think I got 'good' at it was when my boss dropped me in it with a 'developmental opportunity' (I should have known better at this point). I had to go and speak to the Probation Service about something, I was assured it was a 'small team meeting' - on getting there I found it was a meeting for the whole of West Mercia Probation Trust. Full on lecture theatre full of em. I nearly shat myself.

Anyway, after pulling myself together I ditched my speech and just wrote a few key things to talk about - I found this much more natural and far better for inviting further discussion in a Q & A at the end.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[mistergixer]

Start off with "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking..."

Straight away, you've got 'em by the jaffers.


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[bazza]

"Good morning. Before we go any further, I'd like to confess that this is my first time at speaking to such a large gathering of distinguished guests. Unfortunately, I followed the old advice of imagining the audience naked, as a way of reducing my nervousness. Although it has worked to a certain extent, I regret to have to inform one of you that I may be following you home later."
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'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[Cunnington]

I had to do a presentation as part of my professional exams, and managed to blag some formal training from work. It involved being videoed whilst going through the presentation. The first time I went through it was cringeworthy, the second was marginally better but by the end of the day I was far more confident.

It let me see that I used my notes (printed and stuck onto postcards) to hide behind, but at least it gave me something to do with my hands.

What is the worst thing that could happen? It is not life and death, therefore don't stress over it.
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'82 C50, '81 CB100, '84 GS125, '95 NTV650, '00 Bandit 600, '06 SV650, '56 Z1000, '89 NTV600
The Shaggy D.A. wrote: "You are invisible. Those who can see you are trying to kill you."

[stinkwheel]

[Ariel Badger]

My job is basically standing in front of people and talking but I do it in my spare time as well. with kids you need to manage behaviour etc and differentiate to engage all of them and they can be a hostile audience!
I talk about bikes to mainly old blokes and they listen intently and classroom management does not come into the equation but I struggle with them as I do not get the in your face feedback I get from kids. If I am crap at school one of a class of 30 will tell me I am crap, adults will just be polite. What I do with grown-ups is question them to engage with them and start a two way conversation. Try and learn about them a little, put names to faces and learn a fact to put to that name so you can engage that way.
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[Carl_steveo]

Haven't read all the advice because there's loads. But I always find that having a walk around before hand and introducing yourself to a few people makes it easier. You won't be talking to a room full of strangers then because you have spoken to maybe ten of them before hand. It just takes the edge off a bit.

Edit: also means you can get a rough idea as to what kind of crowd they will be like. That way you can know wether to throw a few dirty jokes in and have a laugh, or to be dead serious and straight to the point.
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Luke "cant be arsed to read your post, but suck my balls anyway."

[Ariel Badger]

If it is big people I lay off the smut, with the right kids it works like a dream........Four stroke cycle... Suck, squeeze, bang and blow. I had fun last year trying to convince a Y7 class I was gay, it was funny, very off topic but we engaged and the lesson was far better once we got back on topic.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[SQL]

Start speaking looking at something else i.e the clock,door summing above the people you are talking to, then slowing starting looking at people.

Works for me

[titan666]

I worked at a tourist park afew years back(big bird park as a keeper)
On my first 2 months of the job they threw me in the deep end!

I had to talk to 50-200 people about bloomin penguins!

I had no bloody idea what to say!,i was given 10 minutes to try and learn about these critters before i was chucked out with a head mic ,then talk shit about these nasty biting little gits:)

I did ok considering! but jesus was i fucked when i stepped out!

Just look over them, and when you feel better start to lower your gaze but the most important thing is learn whatever it takes to avoid those silences!.

do your home work,write cue cards you can place on the table in front of you(or in your hand)and make a joke to break the ice!

My ice breaker was when i stepped out on the enclosure a penguin walked up to me and bit my ankle several times.

I didnt think! and gave it a light helping hand back into the water with my foot!

Everyone laughed and commended me for not swearing infront of the kids and after that the kids where trying to spot the bird that got me!

They enjoyed it! and i basically made a light hearted chat about these birds and their habitat/ food etc and that humans where a treat !! joking that they only seem to have a taste for me!..

But it was bloody terrible having to deal with that many eyes on me!(even in school i was shit at that stuff)
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love my susuki gz 125 maraurder 1998

[Ichy]

Some very good advice to which I can add very little. I regularly speak to groups with as little as 2 people up to a couple of hundred. My record this year was six thousand in 2 days . At first I absolutely hated it, sweating, panic attacks and even blurred vision but now I almost enjoy it, almost. What works for me is to actually know what I'm talking about helping to make it all seem natural. I will plan the speech content but only as an overview. I then rehearse the presentation in a quiet room to check content and timing. You don't have to work to any constraints so it just gets easier.

One very important lesson I learnt early on was that if you don't know then say so. There are far too many smart arses who will try to catch you out / back you into a corner and it undermines the rest of your talk. Just tell them that you will be available to answer their questions directly after the main presentation. Nine times out of ten they aren't interested without an audience.
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[Bubbs]

Belated, but thanks for all your advice. I have my first public speaking task on Monday. I've been trying not to think about it all week but failed miserably.

It should be pretty easy and straight forward as long as I keep my nerve.

Will let you know how I get on when I get back.

Anymore last minute advice would be appreciated.


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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[hellkat]

Try not to keep looking at the same person as you talk (it makes them nervous).

Its REALLY difficult not to keep staring at the person with the zit on their forehead, or the bird with the shortest skirt.

Your eyes will naturally rest upon either the oddest person, or the most empathetic-looking person in the room.

But randomly switching your attention to other people to talk to (or at), so that it seems like you are engaging everyone, helps you get over fixating on just one person.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Nexus Icon]

Don't practice it endlessly; Jeez it needs to sound fresh, not like you're reading it off an autocue.

I've done a few big presentations to my peers, on behalf of mutual suppliers, and the best tips I can give are these...

1. Believe what you're saying and know more about the subject matter than you need to impart to your audience.

2. Make eye contact with various members of the audience while you're talking. Hold each moment of eye contact throughout a sentence then move on.

3. If you're using PowerPoint or similar don't over complicate the visuals. Under pressure it's as likely to confuse you as it is the audience. Think of them as being as much of an aid to you (better than cue cards) as they are to the audience.

4. Don't be afraid to make a lame joke if the opportunity arises but scripted jokes sound awful if forced.

5. Have a piss before you start or your 15 minute presentation will last about a hour in your head and 5 minutes in reality.

6. Although the pressure will be on to only have new material don't be afraid to answer a question (at the end) by mentioning something you've already spoken about in the main body of the presentation. There's a chance the asker didn't take it in at the time.
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[Flatbadger]

Ask members of the audience where they came from, and then take the piss out of that place based on stereotyped characteristics.

Oh wait..

OK maybe look at some Youtube vids where people have given lectures and presentations - they'll have their own styles but it should give you some idea of what might be expected.
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Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[Skudd]

I used to have to give talks to 40-50 people at a time. the first few times I was being monitored and that made me more nervous, as soon as I had the room to myself I just came alive and felt free to just talk. I became very relaxed.
What I always made sure was that I was well prepared, I knew my subject, Times and dates you can write down and openly refer to them, even aying that you are doing so, no one will mind. I'm crap wth names, so had an index card with names on to refer to and was never ashamed to show I was refering to it.
If there are any questions at the end of it and you don't know the answer, say so, but also say that you will find out and get back to them, make sure you do too.
The biggest thing is the preperation before hand though. Even if it is a sit down for half an hour just to collect yourself together.
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[Bubbs]

Well it went ok. Stumbled over my words for the first 10 seconds but the chilled out and relaxed into it.

Thanks for all your advice, you really helped.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[krarkol]

I used to be in a band at school playing lead guitar, bit different I know but was very nerve racking as I had to play in front of a 1000 people or more a few times!

Don't think about it too much, just try and enjoy the buzz! The wait is the worst thing, once you are up there it does feel awkward for the first minute or so but you eventually get used to it and start to enjoy it

In time you'll probably begin to love doing it, I never got to the point where I wasn't nervous any more but I do really miss the buzz!
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