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Public speaking is tough

speaking.io

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Re: Public speaking is tough

#21

Post by yodsanklai »

I used to be really scared when i had to give "important" talks, especially in English which isn't my native language. I was so anxious that I couldn't even work the days before. I remember my first professional talk. My mouth was so dry that talking was difficult. (tip to beginners: take a bottle of water).

Interestingly, I had much less problems when I was presenting somebody else's work.

The thing that really helped me was benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax). I took them a few days before until the day of the talk and I felt much much better. I know these drugs get a bad press, but in my case, they really helped. The side effets is that they tend to make you sleepy, but it didn't really affected me.

Now, I'm certainly not a great speaker, but I don't have any problems with public speaking.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#22

Post by themodelplumber »

nostromo wrote: post #4

Here'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…

Things that help me with public speaking when I don't wanna:

1) Extra sleep (a nap an hour before the speaking opportunity kicks in just like medication)

2) Extra preparation (50% more material than I can address in the time allotted)

3) A conversation about any nervousness with my wife (but any close friend ought to work)

4) Calming music just before the event.

(BTW, all of the above would even apply to a simple bike ride, for someone with real social anxiety)

My dad used to give public speeches about two to three times each month. People were continually inviting him to speak more about his areas of interest. I asked him how he got over his nervousness. He said that the best way is to get yourself in a position where you have to get up and do it over and over again. That made me laugh. If you have to start in front of a class rather than a "real" audience, maybe that's more comfortable, but either way you've got to accumulate the experience.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#23

Post by alan_cx »

I assume there are different reasons for people fearing public speaking. But, FWIW, my thing is to really and fully know the subject you are talking about. For me, the nervousness comes from the fear of being found out in some way. So, I find that if I know my subject, Im quite happy to waffle on to who ever wants to listen, but if I know or think the audience might know more than me and be able to some how show me up to be some sort of fraud, Im a bag of nerves.

I dont know if that works for anyone else, but my theory is that the nerves come for the fear of somehow looking a fool, and that becomes less likely the more you know about what you are talking about.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#24

Post by mcdougle »

themodelplumber wrote: post #22
nostromo wrote: post #4

Here'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…

Things that help me with public speaking when I don't wanna: 1) Extra sleep (a nap an hour before the speaking opportunity kicks in just like medication) 2) Extra preparation (50% more material than I can address in the time allotted) 3) A conversation about any nervousness with my wife (but any close friend ought to work) 4) Calming music just before the event. (BTW, all of the above would even apply to a simple bik…

Aw man, a nap right before speaking would screw me up so bad. Not even as in nervousness, but as in I'd stumble over my words and overall just do terrible. My brain just doesn't work right when I first wake up.

But your dad's right. I used to hate public speaking. One of the worst and best experiences of my life was spending a summer selling insurance door-to-door, where you have to make yourself do it or else you don't make money. It's really all just practice and getting used to it.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#26

Post by hawkharris »

Public speaking became much easier to me once I recognized that all good speeches follow a concrete formula.

It's kind of like writing. You wouldn't pick up a pen and start scribbling a lengthy essay without considering its structure.

Similarly, effective public speakers follow a pattern — not necessarily the same formula, but a formula. For example, Bill Clinton likes to...

1) Begin with a personal, visual anecdote about a specific person or small group. (e.g. A family walking miles to collect water.)

2) Relate the small example to broader theme. (e.g. Poverty is a big problem.)

3) Weaving that broader concept into the theme of the speech.

Another thing to remember is that while speeches share a structure with writing, they are not written articles. The biggest difference, I think, is that people are not capable of processing as much information.

While repeating yourself in a written piece is often bad form, most public speakers repeat key phrases to keep the audience focused. Listening is usually harder than sitting down to read.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#27

Post by bigd »

I've a talk in 30'.

Another suggestion should be "do not read suggestions on how to do talks right before giving one".

after a life in academia, what I usually suggest is: like your topic, keep it easy, and reharse, reharse, reharse.

Re: Public speaking is tough

#28

Post by bkm »

nostromo wrote: post #4

Here'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…

Betablockers are for those who want a quick emergency fix (not judging, they have been good help to me as well). A 20-50 minute aerobic workout has the same net effect for many (healthily burning adrenaline instead of using high blood pressure medication to reduce anxiety).

Be sure to check Dr. Medina's brain rules for presenters: http://www.slideshare.net/garr/brain-rules-for-presenters

Re: Public speaking is tough

#29

Post by Spooky23 »

nostromo wrote: post #4

Here'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…

Awful advice.

The best thing to do IMO is to avoid eye contact if you are nervous. Look at foreheads.

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