Good luck for the presentation! Great public speaking tips as well. 🙂

Back to g-ville so soon?! Have a safe drive!

I used to HATE public speaking, but I’m a bit more used to it by now. For me, it’s all about just getting up there and doing it, no fear. I do make sure I’m prepared though and have practiced my presentation a few times.

I’m SO glad I read this post today! I’m getting prepared to give a speech tomorrow on health, fitness and motivation for change and it was so great to hear your important points as a reminder! Some things I find that help are cue cards, breathing and definitely living and breathing your material! Good luck with your presentation! 😀

“Do not imagine the audience naked. It is awkward.” <– MAJOR LOLs

I hate public speaking but it is because I’m so shy. I do okay once I start but I feel like I’m going to throw up before.

My cousin goes to ECU! Ill have him bring his gf and go! 🙂

Funny Story about Presenting: A few weeks ago, I traveled to Iowa for my first professional presentation for work. My two co-presenters and I went to the room to check it out. There was no one there; so, we proceeded to play with the microphone. I sang some show tunes. Unbeknownst to us, that mic was being piped into another room where a business meeting was going on. Total embarrassment, but it’s really funny. I may always be known for this!

I had a huge fear of public speaking and saved Speech 101 as one of my very last college classes. My speech instructor was awesome and made everyone feel at ease. It helped me to have a Powerpoint presentation that I could focus on so I felt like everyone in class was looking at that and not me!

I used to hate public speaking too but as it is a big part of my job now I am pretty much over it.
One thing that I will do is to circulate any new presentations among a couple of trust worthy friends ( I tend to speak to similar groups with older presentation that are well rehersed) I ask them to have a look at it and come back to me with questions that they have on content. wtih this method, I have yet to be floored by a question from a new audience.
And I have to agree, imagining your audience naked is very awkward…. 🙂

I love public speaking! I basically just think of it as a conversation with a large group of people. Of course it’s not always appropriate to be informal, but the more conversational and easy-going I can be, the better the presentation always goes. Have a great one today—I look forward to hearing (reading) about it!

LOVE public speaking! I used to have a job where I gave presentations to high school students, and I was also an SAT prep teacher for a little while… so I guess I’ve mostly spoken to high school kids! I couldn’t agree more with you, knowing your material is key! I don’t know if I would be good at just winging it!

It doesn’t bother me too badly, depending on whom I’m speaking to… good luck to you!

In my career it is essential to have good public speaking skills.

PRACTICE, like you said is the most important tip. Along with knowing your material. Also, make it interesting! I give presentations on topics that a lot of people THINK they already know everything about. I try to mostly include info I know they have never heard before and also make it relevant to their work day.

Also, DO NOT read off powerpoint slides!!!

Good luck today!! I actually love public speaking, and I tend to feel fairly comfortable in front of a crowd. In order to feel well-prepared, I really get to know both my audience and my subject matter in-depth. Really knowing who I’m talking to and what I’m talking about makes speaking so much easier!

I used to have a big big problem with public speaking…but now as long as I know my material I feel great. I even did a play in high school (Vagina Monologues). My Dad had told me if I could go up and talk about that in front of everyone I could talk about anything. LOL

Haha I don’t mind publis speaking at all… BUT I definitely agree— thinking about the audience naked in super awkward

I LOVE public speaking. I was in competitive forensics and student congress in high school; I was in a choir of some sort for more than 10 years; and I’ve starred in a handful of plays, including playing the Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy (the woman who moans) in “The Vagina Monologues” in college.

My biggest tip is to, like you said, know your material and be confident in yourself, your knowledge of the material and its importance. My other tip is to make an outline (as detailed or vague as you like) to keep you on track so you don’t ramble or forget something important that you want the audience to take away from your speech/presentation.

I miss it every day. Good luck!

I love public speaking because I love it when people listen to me talk 🙂
I only get nervous when I don’t know what I am talking abt !

I love running without a Garmin every now and then, it is so relaxing! I love public speaking… I am a teacher but I don’t like public speaking in front of adults:) My biggest tip is that I just try to be myself and not act like someone I am not! Good luck!

Knowing your material is so important. I never have a problem with public speaking as long as I’m comfortable with the topic.

Everytime I think about the subject of public speaking I remember Jerry Seinfeld joking that according to a poll the number one fear people have is public speaking, number two is death. So if you’re at a funeral you’re better off in the coffin than giving the eulogy!

I just watched your Amway video. I’ve been voting, but haven’t had the time to sit and watch it. You are so cute, I love the GOTR pics, especially the one of the girls lying on the floor in a circle. I get warm fuzzies thinking about this program. I ran our 5k route the other day, we ran it last Dec. IN THE SNOW! It was AMAZING. It was fun to run it and think about that day…and we are gearing up for the next one in Dec.
Have a nice trip. I have a lot of clients that go to ECU…kick some butt!

I would rather do anything than have to speak infront of a large group. Don’t think I will ever get over that fear! Good luck on your presentation! 🙂

At school, I did well at presentations. At my old job, I would get sooo nervous. I felt a lot of pressure to do well and it stressed me out. I didn’t think I was a good fit for that job anyway.

If you enjoy the topic you are presenting, and are confident in your message, I think it’s always easier. Things that help me are giving yourself a little pep talk before hand. Remind yourself of how awesome you are and all that you have accomplished in your life so far. And rememember that you have something important to say!

Great tips! I like to know my material, but I do not practice. I hate sounding rehearsed, but I keep an outline in my head.
Have fun at ECU!

It’s funny, but even as a creative writer who had to give many public readings in grad school, and as a college instructor who speaks in front of a crowd daily…public speaking still intimidates me! There are always a few minutes before each class that I teach where I feel a little bit nervous, but once I get going, I feel fine.

I’ve never really minded public speaking, but the tip about asking someone in the audience to participate first is fantastic! Nothing worse than getting blank stares when you try to start discussion!

I wouldn’t say that I dislike public speaking, but given the choice, I would opt not to do it. I am okay doing it if I have to though!

I am a member and officer of my local Toastmasters Club. If anyone wants help with public speaking and/or leadership skills, check out the Toastmasters International website, http://www.toastmasters.org/,and find a nearby club. It really does help. I am still a little afraid, but it’s going well. I can def. see a difference.

Good luck with your presentation!! Love your lunch wrap 🙂

Jen

I HATE public speaking. Even if it is to just one or two people I’m not completely comfortable with. I have a hard time even making phone calls to make appointments.

I’m trying to be better about it, but the anxiety can be rough!

I really dislike public speaking. I even took a college course and still don’t like public speaking. It is not my gift. However, I completely agree that knowing your material, timing it out, have everything ready – these are the only things that will help get over the nervousness (for me.) I also think it is much easier to talk about something you are passionate about instead of a random homework assignment. Enjoy!

I was afraid of public speaking in high school, but after going into college, and having a lot of presentations to do-I kinda got over it. My teacher always told me “Fake it till you make it.” So if you’re nervous, act like you’re not and like you have all the confidence in the world and you’ll actually start to believe it! 😀

I am fine with informal speaking, but when I have to speak and give a presentation for school where I am being graded, I get really nervous. I think the fact that I am getting graded really does a number on my nerves.

My current job requires that I do outreach to promote our project. This basically means going around doing presentations to different agencies and groups. Before this, I was terrified of public speaking. I would start getting nervous weeks in advance, thinking of ways to get out of having to speak. Now, I am much more comfortable in front of groups. Knowing the material is really important. I also like introducing myself to members of the audience beforehand. I think it helps them make a connection with you as a speaker too! I always get a natural high afterwards too! It’s like I have overcome a major fear, and I’m proud of myself!

I loved public speaking. I procrastinated taking speech in college because I though I’d hate it and I ended up acing it!

I hate, loathe, despise performing in general and public speaking specifically. I’ve been forced to do it countless times during both my education and my work life, but nothing seems to help – I’m still as cripplingly nervous several weeks beforehand. It’s strange, as I’m by no means shy in person, and have no problems at all speaking up in meetings and such, but I just can’t seem to handle it when I know that I actually have to perform and be prepared. I always know what I’m supposed to say by heart, backwards, in swahili – and I always manage to say it, but I never remember anything afterwards, and I’m a plethora of the strangest gestures and movements. It seems that my brain is fully occupied with managing to communicate what I have to say, and thus lets go of any kind of control of the rest of my body.

My oral exams have been the absolute worst. Luckily, my strange antics have mostly been interpreted as “charming”, and they do make great stories afterwards. 🙂

During one exam, I only remember that I arrived directly from some last-minute cramming, my hands full of papers and pens. I intended to shake hands with the examinors, but somhow forgot (?) that my arms were full – and managed to throw everything forcefully into the air so that the papers sort of rained down over us as confetti as we shook hands. Needless to say, I don’t remember anything else from that exam, other than that the examinors had some serious problems trying to stile their laughs during my entire examination.

During another exam, I was explaining some mathematical model on a whiteboard. When it was time for the examiner to write up a new problem for me to solve, he had to use the pen that I was holding – and my mind refused to let go of my death-grip for several seconds. When I finally managed to process the fact that he actually needed the pen after an extremely akward and way too long tug of war with my examinor, I suddenly remembered to let go, and the pen flew all the way across the room and hit the other examinor. Yeah – don’t remember much from that exam either.

A final example is taken not from public speaking, but from my years playing the piano. By the end of each year, the students always had to perform in a big concert with all family and friends present. I stood alone backstage, working my nerves up to unknown heights. When my name was announced, I strode onto the stage with an impressive speed. Unfortunately, my momentum was so large that I managed to actually miss the piano chair and sit down on air (and shortly thereafter, floor) in stead. I panicked and tried to act as if nothing had happened, and sat down on the piano chair as quickly as humanly possible. But again I underestimated my momentum, and the movement resulted in my face being forcefully planted in the last couple of octaves of the piano (my demise was thus accompanied with a dramatic sound effect). Needless to say, I was the star of the show 🙂

i don’t mind public speaking, but i would prefer not to know the people there. knowing people makes me nervous but if it’s strangers then that’s okay. 🙂 also, it’s funny that you’re at ECU- i just turned in a project today about their archives for one of my classes. 🙂

Public speaking definitely will make me nervous. How nervous is totally depending on whom I am talking to and what the topic I am talking about.

Have a safe trip and great presentation!

I don’t love public speaking, but if I have to do it, it’s not really a big deal. I try not to think about it too much because by doing that I tend to get stressed out about it and more nervous then I would be.

I love public speaking. I was very active in college and gave a lot of speeches. Practice makes perfect! Its a good skill as a law student. My favorite part of law school last year was giving oral arguments!

Great tips! I’m just getting into public speaking, and really enjoy it (when you have a good group 😉 ). I’ll refer to these tips next time, thanks!
Heidi xo

Caitlin,
We would love to have you come speak at Appalachian State University!

Public speaking scares the crap out of me. It didn’t when I was in school, I never had a problem doing speeches or presentations in front of my class. But for some reason now, I get super nervous about it, and my voice gets shaky. Its probably from lack of practice.

Great tips on public speaking!
I agree- the whole “imagine the crowd naked” thing is very strange!

My advice for speaking in public (and with anything really) is to BREATHE!!
I audition on a weekly basis and breathing is the key!

I never liked public speaking – was too nervous 😀 Good luck with your presentation and hoped you made it on time!

I have never responded to your blog, but I have been reading it for months, and I thorougly enjoy everything you put in here! You have really inspired me to try more vegetarian options in my diet, and now I am very slowly trying to transistion to being at least a semi-vegetarian (if that’s possible!) I had to reply to this blog though because I was going to apply to graduate school at ECU but chose not too, and now I am jealous I am not there at least for this day! =] Good luck on your presentation!