Public speaking is tough
speaking.io
Public speaking is tough
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Re: Public speaking is tough
#2Here is related post by Zach http://zachholman.com/posts/github-speaking-culture
Re: Public speaking is tough
#3Practice at Toastmasters meetings.
Re: Public speaking is tough
#4Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work.
1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor.
2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too.
Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in the face, then I practice some more. If you experience a fight or flight response, your brain cannot think straight, but you can fall back on something that has become rote long enough for you to regain your footing.
After 30 seconds or so, your body will start to calm down, you just have to make it through that 30 seconds without pulling a Michael Bay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tqRyzTvNKE
Ask HN: I was thinking the other day, someone should make an Oculus Rift app that is just a giant conference room of people staring at you. People with stage fright could use this to practice public speaking and hopefully improve.
Re: Public speaking is tough
#5As someone in your audience, I beg you, please do not tell me what you're going to tell me, then tell me, then tell me what you just told me.
Re: Public speaking is tough
#6Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work. 1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor. 2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too. Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in th…
You're advising medication mixed with alcohol to help people speak better in front of a crowd??
Re: Public speaking is tough
#7Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work. 1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor. 2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too. Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in th…
Also I should point out, that combining Beta-Blockers with Alcohol isn't good for your health[1][2], your blood pressure can drop dangerously low[2]. Also I should point out I'm not a doctor [3].
[1] https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/treatments/medications--...
Re: Public speaking is tough
#8Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work. 1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor. 2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too. Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in th…
Also I should point out, that combining Beta-Blockers with Alcohol isn't good for your health[1][2], your blood pressure can drop dangerously low[2]. Also I should point out I'm not a doctor [3]. [1] https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/treatments/medications--... [2] http://texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Meds/betameds.cfm [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=valarauca1
Oops, yeah, certainly don't do both!
One is for less-formal speaking engagements, and one is for professional situations.
Re: Public speaking is tough
#9Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work. 1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor. 2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too. Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in th…
Beta-blockers and alcohol are a shim, they don't help you get better at it. It's scary, but you can use the adrenalin if you let yourself.
Yesterday I gave a talk - the first one I've ever given that wasn't a research talk. 30 minutes. I didn't pre-write it at all - just laid out the slides the day before. On the day of the talk I looked through the slides in the afternoon and thought about the main points I wanted to make and some funny stories and jokes I could slip in. Then I forgot about it until the evening, when I gave it. It was easily the best talk I've ever given, and people were coming up to me for the rest of the evening to thank me.
I did have a small drink before the talk, and that definitely helped with the first 30 seconds of fear. But apart from that, it was the adrenalin that drove me the whole way. It felt really good. I absolutely don't agree that you have to memorize lines.
Re: Public speaking is tough
#10Here's two pieces of public speaking advice nobody will tell you about, but actually work. 1) Beta-blockers. Ask your doctor. 2) Alcohol. Obviously, be careful with this. :) But having a drink really will take the edge off. This works better when giving a toast as a best man than it does at work. It could probably work at a conference too. Other than this, for a big talk or pitch, I just practice until I'm blue in th…
You're advising medication mixed with alcohol to help people speak better in front of a crowd??
Isn't that how everyone prepares to give a presentation? I thought it was standard operating procedure.