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How do I become more confident about talking in front of people?
I've just realised that I've got an assessed 20 min presentation to do for one of my modules at uni and I'm getting nervous already!
I'm really scared of talking in front of people in a formal situation and even though the presentation will only be in my seminar room with probably 4 people watching I'm still so scared.
Whenever I do presentations I always end up losing my way and saying "erm...erm...oh hang on..." ect and I know that doesn't help or is very professional either. It also doesn't help that everyone else is so super confident that they just breeze up to the front, say their piece perfectly, no shaking at all and then sit down as if it's been a wonderful walk in the park.
Argh please does anyone have any tips to make me feel more confident about doing presentations and not cocking them up?
Oh, and btw saying "just rehearse it with a friend/learn it properly/run through it by yourself" won't be news to me cos I already do that lol
Thanks so much
I'm really scared of talking in front of people in a formal situation and even though the presentation will only be in my seminar room with probably 4 people watching I'm still so scared.
Whenever I do presentations I always end up losing my way and saying "erm...erm...oh hang on..." ect and I know that doesn't help or is very professional either. It also doesn't help that everyone else is so super confident that they just breeze up to the front, say their piece perfectly, no shaking at all and then sit down as if it's been a wonderful walk in the park.
Argh please does anyone have any tips to make me feel more confident about doing presentations and not cocking them up?
Oh, and btw saying "just rehearse it with a friend/learn it properly/run through it by yourself" won't be news to me cos I already do that lol
Thanks so much
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Imagine that everyone in the room is naked.
Dont worry so much about saying umm, err etc. While it seems like a huge no-no to you and you feel like your screwing up, other people dont notice it as much.
Also, instead of saying umm..err.. Take a pause instead, looks more professional (dont stop talking for like 5 mins though!)
Do you know the 4 people?
Also, instead of saying umm..err.. Take a pause instead, looks more professional (dont stop talking for like 5 mins though!)
Do you know the 4 people?
sarforaz
Do you know the 4 people?
Do you know the 4 people?
I know them in the sense that we are in the same seminar group. I mean it's not like they are, oh I don't know, lecturers who are giving the grades. If they were lecturers i'd probably be less nervous- maybe i'm scared of embarrassing myself in front of peers? Oh this is getting a little deep for sunday morning!
I usually start out ok but then lose it cos I get confused, but this is because I tend not to read off the page like a robot- I try and make it seem more natural...like I'm not just reading, head down, what i've written.
This is probably what trips me up
Is is better to appear more spontaneous or just read it off the notes?
This is probably what trips me up
Is is better to appear more spontaneous or just read it off the notes?
Personally I'd say more spontaneous, but you'll probably get others saying something else anyway, so just pick and choose at the advice until you find something that seems to work for you. Perhaps instead of taking the full thing in on a piece of paper, just bullet point the topics you want to cover, and just talk around them without sticking to a set script. Or if you feel this may still be too distracting, don't use any notes and do it off the top of your head, just make sure that you know everything that you're going to want to talk about before you go in. Whatever helps you best I guess.
Try.not.to.rush
Nervous people always give it away by rushing.
Also, maybe try some jokes, or group interaction. Ask questions, make comments, get replies.
I used to give tours round uni to groups of 30 people, 3 times a week for 2 years... thats alot of presenting! It does get easier with practice.
Nervous people always give it away by rushing.
Also, maybe try some jokes, or group interaction. Ask questions, make comments, get replies.
I used to give tours round uni to groups of 30 people, 3 times a week for 2 years... thats alot of presenting! It does get easier with practice.
Practice, preparation and a swig of vodka.
But no, seriously - those first two. If you know your stuff, it will be easier to come across naturally and if you practise speaking in public you will quickly improve at it.
But no, seriously - those first two. If you know your stuff, it will be easier to come across naturally and if you practise speaking in public you will quickly improve at it.
Im usually the same as you but yesterday i had to present my dissertation to a room of around 15 people.
So i will tell you how i managed.
First of all think positive.
Also, practise your presentation to yourself.
Then practise infront of a friend and each time look at what you done well rather than what went wrong.
If its a powerpoint presentation maybe have some extra information on cards so your not just reading off the screen.
Dont worry about getting tounge tied and take your time.
If you find yourself going a bit blank take a sip of water.
Hope this helped
So i will tell you how i managed.
First of all think positive.
Also, practise your presentation to yourself.
Then practise infront of a friend and each time look at what you done well rather than what went wrong.
If its a powerpoint presentation maybe have some extra information on cards so your not just reading off the screen.
Dont worry about getting tounge tied and take your time.
If you find yourself going a bit blank take a sip of water.
Hope this helped
dress nice so you feel confident, that always works for me...and take it slowly, it doesn't matter if you make a mistake aslong as you don't lose it after making teh mistake...and practice! If you be confident form the start its easier to remain confident..and don't go in nervous chill out and relax before you start
Cortez
How do you go about faking it? (genuine question)
Edit: Not talking about presentation confidence .. just confidence in general.
Edit: Not talking about presentation confidence .. just confidence in general.
Just start to think about things like how you stand (head up, etc), think a sentence through before saying it so that it sounds more fluent and you're not umming in the middle, speak loud n clear. Once people start to think you are confident, you will feel it and become confident. Worked with me.
SillyFencer
Just start to think about things like how you stand (head up, etc), think a sentence through before saying it so that it sounds more fluent and you're not umming in the middle, speak loud n clear. Once people start to think you are confident, you will feel it and become confident. Worked with me.
Cheers. I think not speaking loud and clear is probably my main problem... I talk quite quietly esp when there's a few people in the room. I think I have quite a boring voice too, so monotone, but I'm not like that at home which is weird.
I have a problem with speaking in front of groups. I find that I start off poorly - nervously and sometimes with a slight stammer, that is - but grow into the role and gain confidence only by continuing to speak. For me, the best way is to practice, in that you have to do the thing in question in order to become confident in doing it. There's no way of re-creating the situation, so you'll just have to get on with it. You might embarrass yourself, but you probably won't, and in all likelihood most of the people watching are more worried about themselves than they are about you.
I honestly cannot remember anything of anyone else's "educational speeches" throughout my entire life.
I honestly cannot remember anything of anyone else's "educational speeches" throughout my entire life.
I used to have real problems talking in front of people (I had/have a slight stammer that shows when I'm nervous and talk really fast anyway)
What really helped me was just realising the people who are listening *want* you to succeed as they want to her what you have to say. It's why they're there - you have there support already - sorted :-)
Breathe. Pause to look round the room at the people every so often. If you stumble, breathe, pause, smile and go again!
What really helped me was just realising the people who are listening *want* you to succeed as they want to her what you have to say. It's why they're there - you have there support already - sorted :-)
Breathe. Pause to look round the room at the people every so often. If you stumble, breathe, pause, smile and go again!
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