I can't speak in-front of people!

[theprodigalrebel]

Know what you are going to speak. Once you are confident that you won't stutter or have any long pauses, start programming yourself with this:
"I'm the master - a golden god - and all these other people are idiots who have no option but to listen to my words of wisdom!"

Enter that state of mind - "I will talk and the world will have no option but to listen and applaud." Practice in front of a mirror. Look at all the idiots with video-blogs on YouTube. Tell yourself, "Duh, I have stage-fright issues and even I can do better than these idiots!" If you have a video camera (or even a mic on your computer), record yourself over and over again until you think even you would hire yourself as a talk show host.

 

[Winchester]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I am the same way.
Here's what works for me.

Know your subject matter thoroughly.
When you are speaking concentrate on what you're saying, not on the fact you're speaking publicly.
Generally you'll be okay after the first few minutes.

QFT.

 

[iroast]

"Know your subject matter thoroughly" rates the highest on my list of tips.

Another advice would be to dress well. If you feel that you look sharp, then that's one less thing you'll have to worry about.

 

[Tiamat]

In grade school, I was like that. It gradually decreased as I got into senior year in high school. Once I hit college, presentations are no problem. At this level, if you haven't already, you realize that you've put so much effort into your project that there is no way that anyone in the class knows more about it than you do. You end up teaching the class about the subject matter and if you did your research right and can read your class right, then you can force a nice discussion at the end of the talk. At this level, the people in your class have similar fundamentals that you have in the subject matter. In high school and below, everybody lacks focus and its very difficult to present to an unfocused audience.


In grad. school, I have to give 25 minute presentations every other semester. I only fear the tough questions from my advisor who knows more about the subject matter than I do.

 

[KoolAidKid]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Ryan
I do the same thing - the only sure fire cure is get used to doing it, public speaking takes confidence, most of all, experience.

That's what I did. I took a speech class to force myself to do it. I don't have a problem with it now.

:thumbsup: Practice is the only way. I am in a profession that requires a lot of public speaking, and in my opinion there is no substitute for experience. I used to get really nervous before speaking, now I just get a slight jitter.

A public speaking class should be required in high school, IMO. Being a good public speaker is an invaluable skill that can only help you in whatever career you choose.

 

[FoBoT]

join toastmasters

 

[suicidalpigeon]

I usually pick three points going left, center, and right (all being an object IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM). When I present, I alternate glances at each point rather than staring at people. This helps me present properly without looking at facial expressions that causes people to sink.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: leftyman
Do you pee your pants too?

<Bily Madison> Peeing your pants is the coolest! </Billy Madison>

Seriously though, I had the same problem and I just forced myself to deal with it. I volunteered to tech some computer classes for old people (who gives a fvck what they think anyway, I'm likely to outlive them!).

At first, I got really flush, hot, and lost my train of thought so that I veered off track and seemed to babble. What I did in my case was I started asking the group if they had questions, which everyone did. It relaxed me 100%. It then turned into a discussion and before I knew it they were having to ask me to stop because I went 45 minutes over my one hour alloted time.

From there I've had no problems.

You gotta realize that if you ALLOW the panic to set in then you will fail. If you can overcome and control that panic, catch it before it really sets in and do what you need to calm yourself (square breathing, etc.) then you're good to go.

Xanax helps too

 

[kranky]

If you join Toastmasters, you will solve your problem.

If that can't be done for some reason, then I'd advise you to not focus on whether you are nervous. Accept that you will be nervous, and do it anyway. Don't think, "I can't do this because I'm scared." Think, "I'll do it scared."

Practice is how you overcome fear of public speaking. Toastmasters will do that, but if you can't do Toastmasters then look for more opportunities to speak in front of people. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

 

[UncleWai]

I think being well prepared with the material is not really a cure to the problem, but rather it's just a temporarily fix. The problem has to deal with self-confidence. Just trust the words you speak, casual listening usually are not critical of what you said. When I was in high school, I was absolutely horrid with presentation, because I spoke broken English and I lacked self confident. You just have to throw yourself out there and get used to public speaking. Having been a TA for a year now, I can just throw BS at my students and make them sound convincing. I don't like the people that memorize everything that they are going to say and then recite them out. Being able to present an idea on the spot in front of group of people is really important.

 

[skace]

This happens to me. I have gotten better but have never gotten over it. My sister used to speak a lot more in public than me, and she actually used to take drugs to calm herself before large speeches. What can you do. Oh and she was well prepared, presenting thesis type material /etc.

It makes sense to freeze up when your trying to bullsh!t your way through something you don't really know, it is especially frustrating when it is somthing you know very well.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Taking communications class in college was absolutely one of my worst fears. I dreaded the day I had to start that class.

Back then what helped me was taking my glasses off, starting off that way, then slowly as I get interaction from the group I will try to put them back on and that did help.

If you can try to take the focus off of yourself and onto others, by asking questions periodically and/or getting the group to either agree or disagree with a topic or issue.

I once posted up a picture of my bunny, went and asked "awe, isn't she cute?" and nobody bloody hell answered me, so I looked at all of them and said "c'mon guys, repeat after me...1...2..3....awe!!!" and they all did and we had a great laugh. After that I had a blast with that presentation, because I felt so comfortable and confident I didn't even needed my notes anymore and just gunned it. Felt awesome.

Each time you face your fears you'll come out ahead one step at a time.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

I had a professional responsibility class back in undergrad that required the students to pick three days and teach the material on each day. I'm terrified of public speaking, but I made it through. My recipe for success:

1.) Read the material, and read it again, and again, and again
2.) Create an outline of what you are going to say...keep it brief and use it to get your bearings during your talk
3.) Have one beer right before your presentation. This was the most important step for me. Calmed me right down.

I ended up making an A in that class. Still terrified of public speaking, however.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
I had a professional responsibility class back in undergrad that required the students to pick three days and teach the material on each day. I'm terrified of public speaking, but I made it through. My recipe for success:

1.) Read the material, and read it again, and again, and again
2.) Create an outline of what you are going to say...keep it brief and use it to get your bearings during your talk
3.) Have one beer right before your presentation. This was the most important step for me. Calmed me right down.

I ended up making an A in that class. Still terrified of public speaking, however.

More importantly, figure out what works for you. For me, I have essentially no outline. I gave a 40 minute presentation last semester and had a total of about 12 words on five lines on a notecard. I simply stand up and start talking. It seems to work for me. Other people have five page outlines and do great. Just figure out what is best for you.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: nLinked
I get very nervous if I am asked to talk or read out loud in-front of people such as in-front of my class. I continously worry what I look and sound like when I'm speaking and my words come out stuttering, bouncing on words, mumbling or merging words together, and I get red hot! When I look up at people, some have smirks on their face bacause of the way I'm reading out. I keep worrying abut what I look like to them and blush and sweat hard.

I really need to break this problem. I've been doing this forever and now I'm in university! I get a shortness of breath and don't breathe enough. If I breathe deeply, it's too obvious and people can see that I'm trying to get my breath back to prepeare for the next sentence.

I find that if I whisper something that I'm reading, I can do that easier and my words come out smoothly. But when I actually talk, the stuttering begins, and after a few paragraphs the back of my throat starts to ache.

I'm a very quiet person and tend to blush easily. I'm too conscious about the way I appear when I do something in front of people that I end up messing it up and go red. My written English is A-grade, but my speaking in-front of people is terrible. I can imagine the way I want to be, but I just can't do it on-front of people.

Join your local Toastmasters Club.

 

[BoomerD]

I get more concerned BEFORE giving a presentation than I do when I actually have to get up in front of people. For me, knowing my material THOROUGHLY makes a huge difference. If you can talk with a small group of friends without a problem, then speaking to 1000 people shouldn't be a problem either.
Once upon a time, the concept bothered me a LOT, (what if I totally FUBAR this up?) but once I realized that knowing my material well enough to speak about it confidently eliminated the chance of screwing up the WHAT I had to say, actually doing it wasn't so tough. Just keep in mind that they're only people you're talking to, and if you stumble, it's no big deal...make the correction and just keep going.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

And if anybody during question period happens to get you fumbling for the right answer, simply say "I'll have to look into that and get back to you later"

 

[Caminetto]

You are not alone, as statistics show that most people fear public speaking more than any other event in life.
Clint Eastwood, of all people, had the same problem. After some research he found that Beta Blockers, a heart medicine, also blocked the fear response to such things as public speaking.
After trying them, and after giving a speech, he found the medicine so effective that he was quoted as saying "I couldn't shut myself up".

Might be a rather drastic step to take for public speaking, but others have used them to overcome their "fear of flying". They are apparently only used to help one get acclimated to that which evokes fear.

 

[frostedflakes]

I actually used the beta blockers some. I wouldn't even consider them to be very drastic, they're pretty harmless I believe. They don't actually stop the anxiety, but they inhibit the bodily responses associated with it, such as shaking, sweating, etc. So you'll probably still feel as nervous before going up to do a presentation or whatever, but when you get up there at least you'll be able to do it without looking like you're nervous.

 

[Squisher]

My wife and I were just talking about that today. She said she's got problems talking in front of groups of more than 50 people, and that it's probably holding her back in her career.

 

[clamum]

Know the material well beforehand.
Take some shots of vodka.