Presentations

John Doe1

Any horror stories or bits of advice to reduce stress? I've had a couple of 5 min team presentations with the words in front of me for college but this year i have to do a 30min one and lead a whole seminar on my own and im bricking it.

Mickey H

Knowing your stuff and practicing are your friends here. I've seen too many college presentations where the student(s) tried bullsh1tt1ng their way through it. Never worked.

cereal-killer

Why would you want a horror story? .. but here goes.

A friend of mine got so flustered while doing a presentation in a history tutorial, when the tutor asked her to wrap it up due to time constraints she turned around and said "hold on a sec, babes".

As for leading a presentation, try to get to know your class if ya can..Then it just feels like chatting with friends. The point isn't to catch you out, it's to make sure you understand and can process the information on the course.. Good luck

TheZohanS

Practice, practice practice. Find an empty classroom and give your presentation a few times as if you had an audience. 30 mins will fly in a presentation, but try not to bore your audience to death.

Guill

Know what you are talking about and understand it, never try and explain something to someone if you don't know it yourself. Don't bulls1t 'cause that's when you'll trip up. Deep breath before hand, and pace your words so you start at a comfortable pace. A good **** before should help. I usually start by:

My name.
What i do.
Why i'm here/what i'm gonna talk about.

that should be enough talking to settle nerves.

hondasam

Practise and keep to the main points, try not go of topic, keep reminders for yourself.
make sure you have enough information. Speak loud and clear and not to fast.

Jake Rugby Walrus666

A handful of xanix and few full glasses of Brandy.
That should fortify your resolve.

Ahead of time you can try some positive visualisation and meditation.

harsea8

Years ago i was told to pick one person in the audience and focus on them. More recently i've been on some training where i was told this is the worst thing to do as you tend to freak/annoy the sh?t out of that person and alienate the rest of the audience...apparently you should look around the audience slowly while talkinh and look at each person only momentarily...this apparently makes your audience feel included

Also +1 on knowing your stuff/practicing...people can smell BS from miles away

Samich

Whatever you do don't stutter, and don't forget that everyone is focusing on you, and don't go red. yeah, don't go red.

Saila

when people are whispering in the crowd its not you they are whispering about
dont worry

Aldebaran

Stay calm, speak clearly, and most of all be prepared.

And remember, the people listening to you want you to do well too, nobody's out to get you.

gamgsam

I watch my favourite speakers before I present. Then I try to emulate their charisma and mannerisms when speaking. Had great results so far, comedians work very well for this.

If there are a number of people presenting before you, notice that they will generally adopt the same approach, stay on the same side of the room, swing their shoulders, talk to the floor. Do everything the exact opposite of them - other side of the room, chin up, speak out - and your presentation will always be remembered.

It works for me, hope it at least helps you.

Good luck!

Giselle

Make sure you don't need to pee.

More important that you might think. Believe me, I know.

John Doe1

Giselle wrote: »

Make sure you don't need to pee.

More important that you might think. Believe me, I know.

oh god, you didnt?:eek:

hondasam

John Doe1 wrote: »

oh god, you didnt?:eek:

Make sure you have a glass of water and tissues.

Roger Hassenforder

practise, if you organise a few of your (good) cronies to sit in for a practise run in the same place before you go on.
+ they're assuming you know what you are on about, so know your subject. dont use language/grammer you wouldnt normally use.

and imagine your audience is naked.

Giselle

John Doe1 wrote: »

oh god, you didnt?:eek:

Of course I didn't!




But I really, really, wanted to

im invisible

And if you get flustered, just say, 'sorry, im trying to imagine you all naked, and its just not helping my concentration'