Public Speaking

d3r14k · #1 10-11-2018, 05:19 PM

So I had a pretty crap experience with this today. I work in a medium sized facility with around 200 people and had to run a presentation on a pretty bland topic three different times throughout the day over two different shifts. I feel like I nailed the first two presentations, but the third near the end of the day didn't go well at all. To keep this brief, I basically have to test people on their knowledge of a certain subject for compliance, then locked up for some fucking reason and was unable to explain said knowledge when prompted to do so.

Pretty embarrassing. This happened to be the session that both of my bosses decided to attend, so idiot points were doubled in my favor.

I don't stutter, I talk clearly (at least I think so), and generally try to crack a few jokes to ease myself and the audience up a little bit.

I'm actually genuinely curious how the inhabitants of this forum are at public speaking and if anyone has any tricks to help them. Generally I don't have a problem with it, but will decline if it's optional. This time sadly, it was not.

Cecily · #2 10-11-2018, 05:29 PM

I find peppering every few words with expletives has soothing effect on the audience and makes you seem more trustworthy.

ScaringChildren · #3 10-11-2018, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecily [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I find peppering every few words with expletives has soothing effect on the audience and makes you seem more trustworthy.

This is why Trump won

Cecily · #4 10-11-2018, 05:35 PM

Believe me.

So I need a communication class to get into my nursing program. I had to choose from public speaking, small group communication, or conflict mediation. Guess which one I took?

maskedmelon · #5 10-11-2018, 05:35 PM

i have trouble remaining inside myself while being with others i don't know. passing a thought from my mind to my mouth in those situations is liek tossing a bucket of water against a wall of pumice. basically, my brain fails to serialize the objects that comprise my thoughts in those situations.

more simply put: i suck, a lot.

ScaringChildren · #6 10-11-2018, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maskedmelon [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

more simply put: i suck, a lot.

[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Cecily · #7 10-11-2018, 05:42 PM

It just happens. Maybe you could bring talking points with you on a sheet of paper.

loramin · #8 10-11-2018, 05:45 PM

Honestly it sounds to me like you just need more practice at public speaking. Obviously more preparation might have helped too, but it sounds like you knew your shit for the first two times, and just had an embarrassing brain fart on the last one.

There's no real way to avoid "brain farts" when presenting except to present so much that they either don't happen, or that you learn to recover from them when they do.

maskedmelon · #9 10-11-2018, 05:56 PM

lotta good posts here except loramin who didn't share anything about his public speaking ability or advice for others butt still managed to write the longest response.

d3r14k · #10 10-11-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecily [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I find peppering every few words with expletives has soothing effect on the audience and makes you seem more trustworthy.

Somehow I think this would have made it worse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loramin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Honestly it sounds to me like you just need more practice at public speaking. Obviously more preparation might have helped too, but it sounds like you knew your shit for the first two times, and just had an embarrassing brain fart on the last one.

There's no real way to avoid "brain farts" when presenting except to present so much that they either don't happen, or that you learn to recover from them when they do.

Like I said, I'm usually fine at it, but tripping over something you're expected to test someone else on is not ideal.

Practice is definitely better. The frequency that I have to do this is pretty low.