Do you fear public speaking?

Fathom

mr_fegelien wrote: »

Do you fear public speaking?

No

Toastmasters Kildare Town

YFlyer wrote: »

Have 2 double whiskeys 20 minutes beforehand and you be grand.

I know this is said as a joke, but for anyone who thinks that a couple of drinks will calm them, it won't.

Probably best not to drink at all before the speech and if possible try and have your speech as early in the proceedings as possible.

Then, as soon as you walk off the podium to tremendous applause, sit down and have the largest possible glass of wine, or a double whiskey and bask in the glory.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Dial Hard wrote: »

Most of that was an affectation. He started doing it to make himself appear more affable and endearing to the voting public. If you ever see some of his earlier speeches on Reeling in the Years or the like, he's perfectly articulate.

As somebody who has had him at her door canvassing when I lived in the Dublin Central constituency, I can attest to what an utter phoney Ahern is. A female housemate and I answered the door and he could not have been more patronising. Then the only male housemate arrived at the door and he straightened up and was suddenly Mr. Articulate.

yosser hughes

mr_fegelien wrote: »

Ah, yes thought I was the odd one out for taking stuff for anxiety. Propranolol I'm assuming is less addictive than benzodiazepaines?

I also take risperidone which is an adrenergic antagonist so I feel dampened anxiety but still feel it to an extent.

I assume you need a prescription for Propranolol ?

mr_fegelien

Toastmasters Kildare Town wrote: »

I know this is said as a joke, but for anyone who thinks that a couple of drinks will calm them, it won't.

Probably best not to drink at all before the speech and if possible try and have your speech as early in the proceedings as possible.

Then, as soon as you walk off the podium to tremendous applause, sit down and have the largest possible glass of wine, or a double whiskey and bask in the glory.

Why not?

There's a "threshold" when it comes to alcohol. You can't have too much or else it'll cause cognitive impairment and you'll forget your stuff but just half a beer (250ml), will definitely relax you. I've taken beer before exams and one group speech. It helped.

mr_fegelien

yosser hughes wrote: »

I assume you need a prescription for Propranolol ?

Yes but it's not addictive so you won't have an issue but knowing how doctors are in this country, you'll have to play 20 questions and even then, there's no guarantee.

Toastmasters Kildare Town

I keep reading this thread title as "Do you fear public spanking?" (to which No, it sounds exciting)

Toastmasters Kildare Town wrote: »

I know this is said as a joke, but for anyone who thinks that a couple of drinks will calm them, it won't.

Probably best not to drink at all before the speech and if possible try and have your speech as early in the proceedings as possible.

Then, as soon as you walk off the podium to tremendous applause, sit down and have the largest possible glass of wine, or a double whiskey and bask in the glory.

This is very true. At least if you're nervous about public speaking, you know your anxiety is irrational, because you probably know that you aren't a fool. The problem with drinking before a speech is that you may actually make a clown of yourself, and that really will be awkward and uncomfortable for a long time to come.

So yeah, wiser to lay off the drink. Drink is for relaxing and/or making a clown of yourself in a situation where that's part of the fun I can't even stand office drinks on a Friday. It's such a terrible idea on many levels.

Lesalare

Beta blockers are great for nervous public speakers.

I have absolutely no issues with speaking in public, it's the preparation of speech/presentation that is the pain in my arse.

It’s funny, I’ve won a few teaching awards (in 3rd level) and still feel tense before every lecture. After the first five minutes, it’s fine. There’s something to be said for ‘fake it until you make it’ as well

JupiterKid

Nope, not usually. Depends on who I am addressing and the subject of the address/talk.

I have worked as a university lecturer for 17 years and speaking to a group comes naturally to me at this stage but if I have new material to teach or especially if I am presenting a research paper to my academic peers and superiors at conferences I can be very anxious beforehand.

Strumms

Don’t take a drink to calm nerves,

don’t be hungover,

don’t be underprepared ,

Know the material you are presenting backwards,

Rehearse it over and over in front of a colleague and solicit feedback.

——————

Remember your audience need you more than you need them..

Remember to check for comprehension regularly ie. before and after breaks..

Remember to pace your delivery, don’t rush or deliver with a monotonous tone..

Some training trainers will dissuade you from cracking the odd joke, I say DO IT !