Please send good thoughts this way... - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

My Sophia · 04-18-2011, 07:13 PM

I have a problem speaking to a group also. A few things I've found that have really helped me get through:

one, I pick a person on the right side of the room and a person on the left and that's who I direct my speech/presentation to. Knowing that when I look up I have specific people that my eyes are going to go helps me keep my place in the notes. I switch out and look left first and then right first but always to the same spots and then back to my notes.

Two, and this helped sooooo much, don't look them directly in the eye. That's what really intimidates and distracts me, is looking so many people directly in the eye. Instead, as you are looking across the room from one side to the other, look at the middle of their foreheads. from a few feet away it looks like you're making eye contact and they'll never know the difference, but it'll take that intimidation factor out of the situation.

Three, plan when you're going to look up from your notes. Put a little asterisk * or some little symbol or note to yourself, leave a space, whatever, that at such and such a point you'll look up. Especially helpful if you plan these spots at the end of a note card. Can't lose your place if you look up between cards instead of in the middle of one. If you're using full sheets of paper, leave a big gap at the points where you are going to look up so it's easier for you to find your place again when you come back to the notes

Four, unless it's inappropriate for the topic of your presentation, smile. It does help you to relax.

Good luck. You're not alone, fear of public speaking is the #1 phobia out there.

Patti · 04-18-2011, 07:22 PM

I will keep positive thoughts for you to give a great presentation. I know how you feel I have the same fear/anxiety. I do much better if I sit down, as soon as I have to stand and present I'm a wreck.

Armani Alexis · 04-18-2011, 07:23 PM

Good thoughts coming your way from New York City...

MyPann · 04-18-2011, 08:47 PM

sending good vibes your way!
I know how you feel I used to be terrified I would blank but my counselor in h.s. made me take a public speaking course and that helped so much, he told me either you sign up for it voluntarily or I'm going to sign you up for it. best thing I think he ever did for me, I've been nothing but grateful since.

107barney · 04-18-2011, 09:02 PM

I hope all goes well!

roseylovestosho · 04-19-2011, 06:31 AM

About an hour until my presentation...

Thank you all for your thoughts.

roseylovestosho · 04-19-2011, 08:49 AM

Just finished.
I lost my place several times, got extremely nervous, and wasn't able to be as extemperaneous as I wanted to be, BUT my paper is good! I should be getting an A on it (not sure about what grade I will get for my presentation though lol)

Cha Cha · 04-19-2011, 08:54 AM

YAY! I knew you could do it.

yorkieusa · 04-19-2011, 10:14 AM

I'm glad it's over for you.

celstu1 · 04-19-2011, 10:25 AM

GOOD LUCK! I hate public speaking for sure too... I hated it in class and I hate it at work. I can sit at my desk or seat and speak to a room of people but I can't stand up in front of them and speak. Makes me so nervous! Good Luck today though!

Patti · 04-19-2011, 01:46 PM

I am so glad it is over for you.

yorkietalkjilly · 04-19-2011, 01:53 PM

Whew! Thank goodness it is behind you now! Hope you get the A!

roseylovestosho · 04-19-2011, 02:15 PM

Update: My professor approached me by the elevator a couple of hours after the presentation and he said "you didn't look nervous during your presentation"

I said, "Are you kidding? Of course I did."
He said, "Okay you're right, but not more nervous than the average person."

THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ME!!! On my evaluation letter last semester, the department wrote that they were incredibly happy with my research, but that I needed to work on my presentation skills...that I have difficulty expressing my ideas...

And NOW no comment about my inability to present ideas, only that I was a little nervous. You do not understand how happy this makes me! I'm making progress...slowly but surely!

deonk1 · 04-19-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseylovestosho

Update: My professor approached me by the elevator a couple of hours after the presentation and he said "you didn't look nervous during your presentation"

I said, "Are you kidding? Of course I did."
He said, "Okay you're right, but not more nervous than the average person."

THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ME!!! On my evaluation letter last semester, the department wrote that they were incredibly happy with my research, but that I needed to work on my presentation skills...that I have difficulty expressing my ideas...

And NOW no comment about my inability to present ideas, only that I was a little nervous. You do not understand how happy this makes me! I'm making progress...slowly but surely!

See it eventually gets better

Glad it went well for you.

yorkieusa · 04-19-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseylovestosho

Update: My professor approached me by the elevator a couple of hours after the presentation and he said "you didn't look nervous during your presentation"

I said, "Are you kidding? Of course I did."
He said, "Okay you're right, but not more nervous than the average person."

THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ME!!! On my evaluation letter last semester, the department wrote that they were incredibly happy with my research, but that I needed to work on my presentation skills...that I have difficulty expressing my ideas...

And NOW no comment about my inability to present ideas, only that I was a little nervous. You do not understand how happy this makes me! I'm making progress...slowly but surely!

Practice makes perfect.

04-18-2011, 07:22 PM	#17
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I will keep positive thoughts for you to give a great presentation. I know how you feel I have the same fear/anxiety. I do much better if I sit down, as soon as I have to stand and present I'm a wreck. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

04-18-2011, 07:23 PM	#18
Armani Alexis My Sweet Cupcake Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 4,390	Good thoughts coming your way from New York City... __________________ pam & armani the more you celebrate your life ~ the more there is in life to celebrate until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened

04-18-2011, 08:47 PM	#19
MyPann Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 883	sending good vibes your way! I know how you feel I used to be terrified I would blank but my counselor in h.s. made me take a public speaking course and that helped so much, he told me either you sign up for it voluntarily or I'm going to sign you up for it. best thing I think he ever did for me, I've been nothing but grateful since. __________________ Pann!

04-18-2011, 09:02 PM	#20
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I hope all goes well! __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

04-19-2011, 06:31 AM	#21
roseylovestosho Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: #4 PRIVET DRIVE Posts: 1,685	About an hour until my presentation... Thank you all for your thoughts. __________________

04-18-2011, 07:13 PM	#16
My Sophia YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 467	I have a problem speaking to a group also. A few things I've found that have really helped me get through: one, I pick a person on the right side of the room and a person on the left and that's who I direct my speech/presentation to. Knowing that when I look up I have specific people that my eyes are going to go helps me keep my place in the notes. I switch out and look left first and then right first but always to the same spots and then back to my notes. Two, and this helped sooooo much, don't look them directly in the eye. That's what really intimidates and distracts me, is looking so many people directly in the eye. Instead, as you are looking across the room from one side to the other, look at the middle of their foreheads. from a few feet away it looks like you're making eye contact and they'll never know the difference, but it'll take that intimidation factor out of the situation. Three, plan when you're going to look up from your notes. Put a little asterisk * or some little symbol or note to yourself, leave a space, whatever, that at such and such a point you'll look up. Especially helpful if you plan these spots at the end of a note card. Can't lose your place if you look up between cards instead of in the middle of one. If you're using full sheets of paper, leave a big gap at the points where you are going to look up so it's easier for you to find your place again when you come back to the notes Four, unless it's inappropriate for the topic of your presentation, smile. It does help you to relax. Good luck. You're not alone, fear of public speaking is the #1 phobia out there.

04-19-2011, 08:49 AM	#22
roseylovestosho Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: #4 PRIVET DRIVE Posts: 1,685	Just finished. I lost my place several times, got extremely nervous, and wasn't able to be as extemperaneous as I wanted to be, BUT my paper is good! I should be getting an A on it (not sure about what grade I will get for my presentation though lol) __________________

04-19-2011, 08:54 AM	#23
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	YAY! I knew you could do it. __________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee

04-19-2011, 10:14 AM	#24
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	I'm glad it's over for you. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

04-19-2011, 10:25 AM	#25
celstu1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 10,534	GOOD LUCK! I hate public speaking for sure too... I hated it in class and I hate it at work. I can sit at my desk or seat and speak to a room of people but I can't stand up in front of them and speak. Makes me so nervous! Good Luck today though! __________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz

04-19-2011, 01:46 PM	#26
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I am so glad it is over for you. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

04-19-2011, 01:53 PM	#27
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	Whew! Thank goodness it is behind you now! Hope you get the A! __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

04-19-2011, 02:15 PM	#28
roseylovestosho Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: #4 PRIVET DRIVE Posts: 1,685	Update: My professor approached me by the elevator a couple of hours after the presentation and he said "you didn't look nervous during your presentation" I said, "Are you kidding? Of course I did." He said, "Okay you're right, but not more nervous than the average person." THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ME!!! On my evaluation letter last semester, the department wrote that they were incredibly happy with my research, but that I needed to work on my presentation skills...that I have difficulty expressing my ideas... And NOW no comment about my inability to present ideas, only that I was a little nervous. You do not understand how happy this makes me! I'm making progress...slowly but surely! __________________