presentation

[kipchik]

I have got to give a 5 minute presentation on thursday,It may only be 5 minutes but i am a bag of nerves,the thought of speaking out in front of a class of people is making me ill,I've only got to read my work from what i have written but its enough to turn my legs turn to jelly and i feel like i'm leaving my body,how can i relax and calm myself?I'm not a school girl i'm in my 30s and this is for a course i'm doing,has anyone got any ideas on how i can get over my nerves,thanx

[WendyS]

Firstly, start now practising deep breathing, holding your breath and breathing out slowly. If you do if often enough it WILL help to control your nerves.

Also start practising now reading your talk out loud. Find the biggest room you can and project your voice to the far side. Try to imagine that some of the people are slightly deaf. And two more important things to remember which will help you get through it:

1. Smile at your audience before you begin. This will help relax your facial muscles.

2. Speak slowly. SPEAK SLOWLY. SPEAK SLOWLY. Everybody gabbles when they are nervous and people will not fully grasp what you are saying or reading. Concentrate on pronouncing every word clearly. Enjoy hearing the sound of your own voice and you will do much better than you could have imagined. Good luck.

[Englishbird]

kipchik, have you ever sat there and listened or watched someone else giving a presentation or speech? Think of how you felt towards them, people WANT you to do well, they're on your side, their not judging you or hoping that you fall flat on your face, they're willing you to do well, will laugh at the lamest joke and clap anywhere they're told to.

Unfortunately it's a catch 22, because the only thing that makes bad speakers is nerves! Just think, to hell with it, so what if you're not perfect, it doesn't matter, people aren't judging you, they're listening to what you're saying. Try and abandon all self conciousness before you start ... what's the worst that can happen ;o)

Good Luck!!

[jjaammeess]

hello Why not face the facts about nerves.It is a bundle of energy inside yourself . No amount of telling yourself to relax or deep breathing etc. I don't think will make a button of difference. The answer is acceptance--- you have to accept that you have this bundle of energy inside yourself and there is nothing you can do by way of mantras to get rid of it .What you need is to use this energy in your presentation .Be proud of this extra energy--not ashamed of it Be dramatic put enthusiasm into your presentation and know every bit of your presentation It is then quite logical that your nerves will be used up and you will feel great.Read Doctor burns in Feeling Good handbook the eminent psychiatrist how he dealt with nerves when he had to do an important interview in front of millions on television.--- also I agree with Englishbird Good Luck

[kipchik]

Thanx guys i will study your replies and i'll let you know how i got on thursday evening,

[curiosity]

Read the text you are going to present, make sure you are comfortable saying all the words in the text, and they are something you would ordinarily use. Any big words or awkward sentences that wouldn't normally be in your dialogue, see if you need to change them to something that you feel natural saying. Also if you have bullet points or chunks of text on cards, you are bound to link these together ad lib, if this is going to throw you a bit, try writing your "ad lib" in as well. And I agree with the postitive energy bit. Yes this is stress but think of it as positive stress, and also that you have completed a good piece of work, and you are going to share that with people.
You'll feel great afterwards ...good luck

[kipchik]

Curiosity,you are so right about using words that i use every day,i've changed it to suit,i'm still terrified though but think i'll take a little 'drink' to help me on the day too,thanx for making me feel bit more positive with your words.

[Minxie]

I had similar nerves last night kipchik as I had a job interview today. I use Bach Rescue Remedy and think it helped me today. But all good advice given from others here.

Good luck. You will be great. x

[kipchik]

thanx Minxie,i'll get through somehow,,,,i hope,i think,somehow.

[Englishbird]

Good luck for tomorrow, good advice from curiosity also, I used to do public speaking and I always wrote out what I was going to say word for word, you're not supposed to, but knowing it was all there meant I didn't have to use it, because it gave me confidence. Rather than write a bullet point and look at it and go 'what the hell does that mean'.

If you do write it verbatem, don't let them see it tho as it goes against you. And if you write the whole thing out don't do the whole presentation staring at the cards!

[kipchik]

Thanx englishbird i am so nervous my stomach is in knots,i will remember all these tips and hopefully i won't faint cos thats how i'm feeling,if all goes well and i haven't run away i'll tell all tomorrow cheers!