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Presentation anxiety
So I have to do a presentation in my Grade 12 Chemistry course, and the teacher says a significant part of our mark will be based on preparedness and engaging-ness of presentation. Basically, what he meant is that I have to be really excited and happy up there, and be able to answer pretty much any question people ask me.
The problem is, I am super shy. When I get up there my voice goes really quiet, and no matter how prepared I am, I stutter and can't seem to remember what I was all going to say. This is going to make me look like I'm not prepared, no matter how hard I try.
Also, I am presenting with people who have naturally loud voices and exciting personalities, which will contrast me and make me seem even less prepared.
Any advice on how to deal with this?
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Just imagine that no one is there. Also, do not look at anyone, look at the wall over their heads so they think you are looking at them. Focus on what you are saying and block out everything else. Thanks for your time, I really hope I helped. Ohh and clench your fists, that might help.
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Oh boy do I know how you feel. Knowing that would you find it strange I have spent most of my adult life doing just what scares us the most. Before I retired I worked in Sale and Sales & Marketing. On any given day I could be putting on presentations from one to five times a day. Sometimes these presentations would be one on one and others to small or large groups.
The one on one presentations of course are easy. The group presentations are harder. How I overcame the problem in a group was to find that one pair of eyes that friendly and welcoming. It never failed that there would be that one pair of eyes in this room full of strangers that I could find. When I did I spoke to that person or in reality I nearly focused on that set of eyes.
You will be talking to a group of classmates. I'm positive you can find one friendly set of eyes you can focus on to talk to while giving your presentation. Focus on that friend and ignore the others in the room while making your presentation.
Once you find that set of eyes assume you are talking to him or her across a room or your talking to your grandfather who may be hard of hearing. This will help you speak louder.
Trust me when I say it works for it has worked for me. What you have is called stage fright and may well known performers have it as well. They use the same methods to get past the stage fright.
My brother in-law is a big fan of a young singer by the name of Jackie Evancho. She is I believe about 15 years old. He goes to many of her concerts flying across the country to attend. He has met her and spoken with her on numerous occasions. When she is singing he is sitting right down front where she can see him and he swears she can see him. He swears she is singing to him. What she is doing is using the trick I just explain to control her stage fright be looking him while performing.
The alternative is to talk to your teacher and tell him how scared you are to stand up in front of the class. Maybe have mom or dad call if you want.
Stage fright is real and it can be paralyzing. If you have that much anxiety then your teacher needs to be told.
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Hiya mate! The dreaded 'presentation' eh? First up, the person bubbling with confidence and more or less shouting at the audience is NOT necessarily giving an informative and prepared presentaion. Make no mistake about that! The people grading you will know that. There's sometimes going to be people who DO give a very charismatic 'performance' (which is what it is, when you come down to it) and a good presntation. Most of the group, however confident they appear, will be nervous. It's quite a challenge. We've all seen the professionals who give really engaging presentations, but you only get that good by doing it. A lot. As part of your job. The markers won't be looking for quite that degree of shine and polish. How to prepare. Write down what you want to say. Read it. To family of friends. In front of a mirror. You'll notice that what looks like pages of handwriting on A4 paper take surprisingly little time to actually say. And don't try to memorise it absolutely word for word. You can ad lib when the actual presentation comes. But you must address and cover the points you planned. Visual aids are indespensible. Might be a computer 'slideshow' or pre-prepared sheets on a flip board. Make them big and bold, whatever media. These are your cues. They should display what you are going to 'talk around'. It looks much better looking from your board or screen, then back to the adudience in turn, than looking down at some written notes in your hand or on the desk. If you trip over a few words, stop, smile and say 'ecuse me' and say it right. Then forget it, move on like the slip didn't happen. Your visual media must be in an appropriate order. Don't jump from subject to subject at random. So, that means you're talking about and around whatever is up on the screen or board at that time. Like, if you're talking about production costs of a projected new product, the slide on the screen shouldn't say 'Our Target Market'!! Rehearse the show. Over and over again. If there's a QandA session at the end, try to predict what they will ask and have some notes which will allow you to give either a direct figure, or good estimate. If you can say a fact with the air of it being an unargubale 'truth' they'll see that in you, and not challenge. Any part that could be challenged is what they'll challenge. So have something jotted down somewher to say to defend your methodology and data. It's perfectly acceptable to say 'May I refer to my notes to answer that question?'...then read it to them. Nobody expects you to keep every fact and figure in your head for instant recall. Practice projecting your voice. Standing up very straight, shoulders back, and try to visualise speaking from your chest, not your throat. That sounds a bit odd, but try it and you should see what I'm getting at. Sometimes there comes a point a when you've been talking a while, and suddenly something seems to 'switch' in your mind. And you hear your own voice going, like "waak...waak...waak...' as if it's someone else speaking. the swithch is completely in your mind, the audience neither hear or notice a thig. So just keep talking through the odd sensation, it quickly goes away again if you do. Take a deep breath and go out there. You'll look prepared because you HAVE prepared. One trick to keep and audience engaged is to move a little. I don't mean pace up and down and dance about. But try not to stand there like a statue made of marble. Animated facial expressions engage people well too. We all look at peoples faces when they speak and the expressions which appear, come and go, linger a while etc tell much. We're always 'looking for' these expressions and micro-expressions to 'weigh-up' people in fact. Don't overdo them in intesnsity or frequency though. You'll be fine. Presentations are important. You might have the best idea on earth, you may have ground-breaking theories. But unless you can communicate them to others, who will ever know about them? You've got stuff to say, your mission is to make people listen. Go for it!!
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