Public Speaking

lahalane · 01-12-2013 05:08PM #1

Are you comfortable addressing a crowd?

I had to give a speech yesterday and I didn't look out to the crowd once. Just kept my head down and read as quick as I could. I was shaking a bit when I was on the stand and even for a few minutes after I sat down. Usually when speaking to crowds I kind of stutter but managed to avoid that thankfully. I'm glad I done it now but **** me, it doesn't half scare the crap out of me.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 01-12-2013 05:11PM

Hitler was good a public speaking. I am not good at public speaking. 2 + 2 = 4.

hungry hippo 4 · 01-12-2013 05:12PM

id rather fight mike tyson than give a speech! no joke! Its my kryptonite.

Sunnyisland · 01-12-2013 05:13PM

Had to do it a few times,not great at it and for me at least it can be a bit nerve wrecking.

Have seen people doing it and not a bother on them.

lycan238 · 01-12-2013 05:20PM

lahalane wrote: »

Are you comfortable addressing a crowd?

sort of. I read at mass for a month a year so that helps me. Also have done a lot of presentations recently. In saying that I would prefer to walk around if i was speaking. Was at a function with the youth club once and one of the speakers had a headset on and walked around during his speech using hand gestures to there full extent to make relevant points during his speech.

The next speaker was behind the stand and was to be honest not as interesting as the first.

Micky Dolenz · 01-12-2013 05:26PM

Depends. If I'm prepared I'm grand. If I'm not, it can be hairy.

Talib Fiasco · 01-12-2013 05:29PM

Yeah preparation is key. I'm a confident guy anyway and even though I'm nervous while doing it, loads of people have remarked on how calm and powerful I appear while speaking. If it's something you'd like to improve on OP check out Toastmasters.

tommyboy2222 · 01-12-2013 05:29PM

lahalane wrote: »

Are you comfortable addressing a crowd?

I had to give a speech yesterday and I didn't look out to the crowd once. Just kept my head down and read as quick as I could. I was shaking a bit when I was on the stand and even for a few minutes after I sat down. Usually when speaking to crowds I kind of stutter but managed to avoid that thankfully. I'm glad I done it now but **** me, it doesn't half scare the crap out of me.

Did you just read out your speech ? Cheater !!

aziz · 01-12-2013 05:39PM

I remember reading somewhere that most people have more
of a fear of public speaking than death.
So in other words,if they were at a funeral they would rather
be in the coffin than giving the ulogy.

Mint Aero · 01-12-2013 05:43PM

I barely speak to one person week to week

odds of me ever addressing a crowd of more than three is 2.784 million to 1

PizzamanIRL · 01-12-2013 05:46PM

Just picture the crowd as skeletons, because that's all they are with skin and flesh on them.

If I'm confident in my knowledge of the topic I'm talking about then I'm grand.

McPete · 01-12-2013 05:49PM

lahalane wrote: »

Are you comfortable addressing a crowd?

I had to give a speech yesterday and I didn't look out to the crowd once. Just kept my head down and read as quick as I could. I was shaking a bit when I was on the stand and even for a few minutes after I sat down. Usually when speaking to crowds I kind of stutter but managed to avoid that thankfully. I'm glad I done it now but **** me, it doesn't half scare the crap out of me.

Just imagine everyone naked. All those peniles and vageens in the room !

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 01-12-2013 05:49PM

I don't panic or stutter, but it's a chore. I have to address issues and answer questions from a group when I'm at work, and they can be aggressive enough with their questioning.

Meangadh · 01-12-2013 05:54PM

I've no problem public speaking. Quite enjoy it actually. I can understand why people find it daunting but I've been doing it for years now so the more I did it the easier it got.

Miaireland · 01-12-2013 05:56PM

I hated it when I was in school and I had a teacher in 4th year who spotted that and made me do public speaking at any opportunity. I now have no bother speaking in front of people whether it is a speech I had time to prepare or having to speak on a topic off the top of my head.

Legs.Eleven · 01-12-2013 06:08PM

There's probably nothing that scares me more tbh although I get up in front of adults everyday and teach. I think the fact that teaching is more interactive and not just talking AT people (or at least it shouldn't be when you're teaching a language).

PhlegmyMoses · 01-12-2013 06:18PM

Was fine throughout school and college. In college I'd present to over 100 at a time. Got to work and things changed. Began to become quite self-conscious and anxious about it, to the point that I started to avoid it.

Decided that immersion was the best remedy, so offered myself up to do stuff like that as much as I could. Now I'd say I'm 90% comfortable speaking in front of any size group, whether it's new people or people I know.

It was daunting at the start but I'm glad I did it. Avoidance builds these things up in your head, even though it's never as bad as you would imagine. If you want to move up in most workplaces you've got to get used to it, so work at it as much as you can.

martinedwards · 01-12-2013 07:25PM

given the choice between going to a meet and greet with 10 of people who know each other but I don't know them.......

and addressing a hall of 3000 with 5 bullet points on a card?

gimme the card ANY DAY!!

Overheal · 01-12-2013 07:27PM

I just am about finished up with a few college credits in public speaking so yeah I'm OK with that

anncoates · 01-12-2013 07:29PM

I'll do it if I have to but it scares the life out of me.

Femme_Fatale · 01-12-2013 07:32PM

Sh1t myself at the thought of it, but then actually doing it I relax. I find the best approach is to be light-hearted, bring in a bit of humour - and bingo, ice broken and there are less expectations. I know that's not always easy though. Prep is important but ad-libbing a bit rather than just sticking rigidly to reading cards helps relax you too.

The One Who Knocks · 01-12-2013 07:38PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Prep is important but ad-libbing a bit rather than just sticking rigidly to reading cards helps relax you too.

Hahahah you just reminded me of a speech where some lad was using about 100 cards consisting of about 5 words per card.

"Hi my name is John-"

*Shuffles for a good 2-3 seconds*

"Doe. Today I am"

*Shuffles again*

"going to be talking to you about"

Painful experience

Wurly · 01-12-2013 07:44PM

I am a voice coach who specialises in public speaking fears. Fear of public speaking has been cited as one of the top fears ever. Scarier than death for some. The people who are afraid of public speaking tend to listen to their own internal bully who tells them that they're crap and that people will judge them. They are acutely aware of every person in the room looking at them. Whereas, skilled public speakers tend to speak from a place of passion. This distracts them from their own internal dialogue and allows them to become lost in the story they're telling. They therefore come across as more relaxed and sincere to their audience.

Agricola · 01-12-2013 07:49PM

Miaireland wrote: »

I hated it when I was in school and I had a teacher in 4th year who spotted that and made me do public speaking at any opportunity. I now have no bother speaking in front of people whether it is a speech I had time to prepare or having to speak on a topic off the top of my head.

I had a lecturer in 1st year who was of the same opinion. I think that approach works for the majority of people as they just need practise to get over nerves. But for some people, public speaking is the same as going infront of a firing squad and no amount of practise makes it massively better.

I remember losing control of my voice and shaking doing it in school. I got by in college on the few times I had to do it, and the last time was a funeral reading. Its silly really to think people are focused on you in that situation but all rationality goes out the window. I find its just a matter of gritting your teeth.

Micky Dolenz · 01-12-2013 07:51PM

I'm to do something tomorrow evening and am completely unprepared. Stupid thread is stupid

Say Your Number · 01-12-2013 11:15PM

I had to do a few presentations as part of a course I was doing earlier in the year, while I found the though of doing them daunting I discovered if I found the relevant information on the topic and memorised it well enough it wasn't much of a problem, I would be fairly shy and low on confidence but I'd no problem looking around the room and making eye contact with the audience, if I have to do any in future it wouldn't worry me that much.

BillyMitchel · 01-12-2013 11:30PM

Ever see Bertie speaking?! If he can do it anyone can. That gimp gets paid for it.

I used to suffer from panic attacks and had serious public anxiety issues and always looked for a way out of public speaking. Got into serious trouble before for missing them. Nearly failed University.

8-10 years later I've zero nerves or anxiety and probably over confident when speaking in public. A little nerves can be good.

RikkFlair · 01-12-2013 11:34PM

Hate public speaking, wouldn't it be great if you could just do a little dance instead or something.

BillyMitchel · 01-12-2013 11:38PM

RikkFlair wrote: »

Hate public speaking, wouldn't it be great if you could just do a little dance instead or something.

The rick flair dance? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Femme_Fatale · 01-12-2013 11:42PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Sh1t myself at the thought of it, but then actually doing it I relax. I find the best approach is to be light-hearted, bring in a bit of humour - and bingo, ice broken and there are less expectations.

Looks like I'm talking about a weird sex act.

BillyMitchel · 01-12-2013 11:48PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Looks like I'm talking about a weird sex act.

Thats your own filthy mind! You sure you're not meant to be on the dirty talk in bed thread?!

Public Speaking

Comments