Could you present on a call to 40 people?

[redvelvet7]

Hi, just trying to see whether i need to just grow up or whether other people would be anxious with this situation.

I work for a large company doing an office type job, and due to restructures my team size has gone from about 10 to 40. There are regular sharing sessions where we are meant to present work and I honestly am getting insanely anxious at the thought of it. I get presenting anxiety naturally anyway and tended to avoid it where possible even when the team was smaller. I don’t know if most people would be okay with this? Like ok with 10 and ok with 40? It’d be an online video call rather than meeting room.

I have to do this in my role. The first few times were terrifying but now I don't mind so long as I know my stuff. Occasionally I have to present on something slightly outside my area of work which I hate, mainly because if someone asks a question I won't know the answer.

Do you have two screens? The way I do it is to have a copy of my presentation on the screen with the camera, so I look at that instead of the people in the meeting, and pretend that I am practising and that the audience isn't there.

On the Myers Briggs scale I'm an introvert. But id happily stand up in front of people and do presentation, as long as I knew my subject. Before I retired, I did this many times, sometimes to antagonistic audiences.

The difference between you and me, is that I had training in how to present. I suggest you get yourself some.

I also trained trainers, and the best advice I ever heard was to concentrate on what your audience needs to know, not on what you are feeling.

Good luck

I agree with everyone who says it's about preparation. Write it, say it out loud, then find someone to practice on, then refine it and practice it again. Ideally find a second guinea pig to try the second draft on.

Personally I'd find blank muted screens on Teams more difficult than in person because I rely on occasional jokes and tiny ripples of polite laughter to know that people are awake. But I guess I'm in the minority there.

I think on a video call it doesn't make that much difference how many people are on it. You only ever see a few!

I'm pretty comfortable presenting to a large group, provided it is something I can prepare in advance and doesn't involve anything personal. I hate talking about myself, and speaking sponaneously to a group can also make me nervous.

Yes, I can do it.

The trick for me is to have something that I really want to tell the audience. Then I forget the numbers in my enthusiasm.

Teams makes it easier! Another good tip if you aren’t comfortable is to ask ChatGPT to write you a script. Give it some tips on the tone and formality and it get it to keep tweaking until it’s what you want. It can do you a nice intro and wrap up!

Yes, no problem on teams or in person, even if it's not something I've rehearsed. I'm ok with presenting without a script and if I mess up I apologise, keep going and don't really worry about it. We have a team meeting every day where one of the team has to present.

I have anxiety about lots of simple things that other people find easy (I'm a terrible car passenger for example, to the extent that it limits where and how I travel), so it's bizarre that I'm ok with public speaking. I think the secret is not to care too much if it goes wrong, easier said than done I know.

Yes, I have done many times. I would be really nervous presenting to lots of people in real life but am fine doing it on a call.

Yes both in teams and in person regularly. My best advice for teams presenting is to start by saying you will take questions at the end. So you don’t have to worry about hands going up while talking and presenting.

This 100%

It is natural to be nervous about doing anything you aren't used to doing, but it is also normal to push through, and feel chuffed with what you have then achieved, and to know you can do something that made you nervous beforehand.

Normal nervousness is a very different thing from the medical condition of anxiety, but the word anxiety is regularly misused on MN.

I'm a terrible presenter, I talk too quickly and too much! But I don't really see a difference between ten and 40 if it's online, you can't see all of their faces anyway on teams unless you scroll through the pages. Just pretend it's only one page!

Yes, I have often presented to 200 + on a call. I am not sure I could present to that many in person though.

I disagree with most here actually. I have to present regularly in my role, teams to between 10 and 100, in person to up to 150 sometimes (medical professional and have to do teaching to undergraduates and postgraduates) and have been doing so for 16 or so years. I've been teaching on the same/similar material since i qualified, i am very comfortable with the material but my terror is worse now than when i started! Just as scared talking to students as to professors. So for some people I don't think its all about preparation and knowing your stuff. For me its to do with a terror of being the sole focus of attention. I've tried CBT, hypnotherapy, RTT and just doing it loads and the only thing that's ever helped is taking a betablocker beforehand. Worth asking your GP if you are so nervous your voice shakes etc. That's one of my biggest worries so i can generally get through it if I think I at least look confident!

I'd be very nervous presenting this to a room full of people although I have done it numerous times.
No issue online on teams though

I used to be terrified but don't mind it at all now and wouod happily present to anyone and any number of people without nerves.
I think remembering that you are the one that knows the subject because you are presenting helps. Also if you are worried about tricky questions just be ready to say 'I will have to double check that and get back to you afterwards ' then you have that as a bit of a comfort blanket if you are worried about being put on the spot.
I just talk the same as I would as if I was having a conversation to a single person and telling them about the content of the presentation and this can be really helpful too if you just picture yourself just explaining it to one person

I could do this, I’d prefer if there were no more than 4-5 people but anything more than that, 10, 40, 100 is the same if they’re online.

I never do in-person presentations in my current job so deliberately signed up for a voluntary role which involves interpretation in front of an audience - not sure how many there are but definitely enough to class as ‘a crowd’. It is terrifying! But I force myself to do it and then the massive relief when it’s done makes it worthwhile!

If you can do 10 on TEAMS you can do 40 as you still see the same number of people and if you share your screen you can barely see any. I much prefer presenting in person there's more feedback and reaction. I've also refused to present if people have their cameras off. It's so demoralising talking into the abyss.

I could.

Obviously plan, and have a quick practice of what you'll say. But weirdly, I find it comforting to think that in 50 years, most of us will be dead, and none of us will remember or care about that one phone call x

It comes with practice. I remember how anxious my husband was before his first presentation to a small seminar at the university when doing his Phd. He was presenting (and enjoying it) to groups of over a thousand in the end.

Yes. Since COVID on zoom an awful lot.

As someone who would much rather sink into the background, I completely understand the nerves. In my previous role, I had to present at least weekly to a large group online. I can't say I ever enjoyed it but I did get used to it and feel a sense of pride that I had done it.
Try and practice what you're going to say and if you're presenting slides for example it can help to have some bits of info written down that are not on the slides so you don't slip into just reading what everyone can see already.
If you're worried about answering questions off the back of it, run through it with a colleague and get their opinion on what kind of questions may come up.
Just being as prepared as you can the first few times will help you feel in control until the anxiety settles.
Good luck!

I would hate it and get very anxious but would be able to get through it and be pleased about the achievement. One thing that could help is getting someone on board to keep an eye on hands up or Qs in the chat. And i like not having to share and navigate the slides. IMO saying "next slide please" etc is a nice way to ensure you have a pause and don't end up talking too fast out of nervousness. Having a friendly back up is very comforting, and also if possible someone you can call on for difficult Qs or when you're done talking you can say "do have anything to add X?"

You can do this OP, it's a brilliant achievement

There's 3 things you need to make this situation easier

Propranolol
Propranolol
Propranolol

Ok, that's one thing but you know what I mean.

Propranolol is a huge help as it takes away many of the physical symptoms like racing heart, breathing too fast etc.
You'll need a prescription but just explain what you've said in your OP and you'll get it.
Try it before the meeting, to make sure there are no side effects etc, but there rarely are any.

The other thing, if it's online is that you can hide the other people behind another window so to an extent you can kinda forget they are there.

Good luck

What course was it? That’s a shame you had to drop out. Not all “real life” jobs require this. It’s ideal if everyone can do it but they should understand it’s not realistic for everyone.

OP quite simply I think it’s intimidating for many but not at all for some.

I had to present to 2,000 people once online and gave talks to audiences 400 , mainly all kids and teens btw but they can be a tough crowd too.

The most colleagues I’ve ever presented to is about 25 I think.

Just something I do all the time. We have all staff briefings, which could mean 40 or over 100 depending on how many turn our per meeting across several sites. Quarterly there are 2 in person and 2 online of these meetings. Training has also involved numbers 40+