To hate doing presentations?

[googlenut]

I hate it so much and because of that it takes hours of my time in preparation because I get so nervous.
Anyone got any top tips or anyone enjoy them and tell me how they get around not being nervous?

[ArbitraryUsername]

They usually aren't listening in seminars either. Either the PGs people are desperately trying to think of a question to ask that will make them look clever or they're thinking about lunch/going home/the pressing demands upon themselves that are not being addressed because they're at a seminar.

[googlenut]

Playg - that women has got a great presenting style. So confident but likeable as well.

[Lueji]

You don't have to dumb down, but present the subject as if the audience doesn't know about it, as some won't.
Just keep saying "as you know" and explain it anyway. :)

Take long breaths and short pauses to think. And try to mover around, looking at different people. It will sound more conversationalist.
Also change your tone of voice to emphasise some words or expressions.

Start with a long presentation, if you must, then start cutting and rearranging to keep only important info.
Try to work in groups of 3 points, then subdivide into threes as well.
So you don't make it too complicated.

[googlenut]

Was hoping I would be first up and I have been placed last. How do you cope with nerves while waiting to go on?

[Lomaamina]

Oh! that's annoying. I'd focus on taking notes on the others' work so that you can weave in a mention of one or two of them in your own. There's nothing like stroking other's egos for getting them on side (and of course there may be people you genuinely want to connect with ).

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm a huge introvert, and find social situations hard work. But weirdly, I love presenting for work, and am apparently very good at it. It helps that I am fanatical about my subject.

I keep my powerpoints very simple - they are there to summarise and keep me on track, not as entertainment. Cos thats my job

Def fake it till you make it - great big smile when you get on stage, thank the moderator enthusiastically, and smile at the audience.

Move around if you have a radio mike, and look at the audience - move from left to right, front and back.

You can def over rehearse imo - they can look very false.

And for short talks I hate the 'tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them it, then tell then what you told them' approach. Takes up valuable time, and is clunky. Don't say your title either - people can read that. If you were talking about images of motherhood on internet forums, you could take time saying that or get straight in with 'You might wonder why this matters, but in our virtual world, the portrayal of women is diversifying etc'. Much more engaging

[googlenut]

Speaking this morning!

[ParsingFancy]

Good luck! You go wow them!

[Mondrian]

As well as all the great advice given so far you might want to look into underlying issues too. How is your self confidence in general, if it needs some then address that. Lots of info available out there but a good step is starting doing things for yourself coz you are worth it, spa, buying something for yourself, thinking positive etc.

[MrsHoarder]

How did it go?

[lljkk]

.

[Ahhhcrap]

Try some breathing excercises (look them up on the net)

Also distract yourself, in all fairness you won't be able to concentrate on what's being said so try to do something like unpacking your holiday suitcase in reverse. Concentrate on what you'd unpack when arriving at a holiday destination, such as I always have a towel on the top of it, what colour is the towel, what would be underneath it, where's my bikini, what about my sun cream - that type of thing.

Anything that will distract you for a while and get you out of your own head! Try looking at the audience and guess what hobbies they like doing, put them in order or age etc etc. Cook a meal in reverse in your head :)


I used to suffer really bad with nerves and also have panic attacks, I actually found the waiting was much worse then the presentation, I'd find i'd feel sick and breathless whilst waiting, but as soon as I stood up all the nerves went :)

Oh and rescue remedy is good too, you can get chewing gum or liquid.

[Ahhhcrap]

Bugger, though it was tomorrow, hope it went well!

[Lomaamina]

Do let us know how it went, if you can.

[googlenut]

Feel really disappointed with myself. Was feeling nice and calm and when I stood up went into a bit of a panic. started to sweat and mouth went extremely dry. Never had that happen before. But I got compliments afterwards on the presentation. But feel I've let myself down:)

[googlenut]

That should have been a

[MrsHoarder]

It doesn't matter if no-one else noticed! That's what the preparation is for, so you can do it even if you are nervous.

Well done for doing it, and doing it well enough to get compliments.

[whiteflame]

It gets better every time that you do it goglenut. It really does. I hate giving talks, but no one at work would believe it. Practice faking the confidence and it will come.

One of my best days ever was when someone said to me after a talk "you didn't look bothered at all, even though the audience was huge". Was crapping myself inside!!

[googlenut]

But people did notice I was nervous! Was horrible and felt out of control. And I compare myself to everyone else and think they don't show nerves.
There was such a severe reaction going on in my body could people really not have noticed? Someone said 'ok you looked nervous but the presentation was perfect' is such a thing possible? Or are they just being nice?

[googlenut]

And bizarrely I loved the question time as that just feels like chatting to me and I didn't want that bit to end. Feel like I got into my stride then.

[Lomaamina]

Well done! You got through it so well there were good questions, which you enjoyed. So what if you looked nervous( which I bet you amplified in you mind anyway). The key is that next time will be easier and in the meantime you've communicated your research to a whole new set of people. The rest is history.

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Beta blockers

[googlenut]

My friend got those from a doctor friend but she felt all wierd on them!

[ParsingFancy]

Well done, well done!

Of course you can do a perfect presentation while visibly nervous!

What's the point of a presentation? To make people think you're cool? Or to communicate your content effectively and engagingly, so that people understand it and (for bonus marks) share your enthusiasm?

Sounds like you gave a great one! Congrats!

[Lueji]

Yes, definitely possible. :)

Well done. :)