Interview/ Public speaking nerves

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DrewChan

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So.... I have been asked to present some work to management and peers, I however have a habit of going insanely red, hyperventilating and losing conciousness during these situations (specifically public speaking/interviews).

Any one have tips/ tricks they use?
 
Get angry. Get passionate. Make yourself "want" to speak to people.

Supplant the emotions that make things difficult with other emotions that empower you.

See what Donna did to Louis Litt in Suits when he confessed that he had stage-fright.

EDIT: And also one of the most important things: Be Prepared.
 
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Prepare, prepare, prepare. The more you prepare, the more confident you will be.
 
*comment withdrawn as I.am.Sam contributed somewhat releveant information to the thread :D
 
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I.am.Sam said:
that never works if you get stage fright
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Did for me. Ive been pushed into public speaking role and its so bad, my first time in front of about 100 people I just froze and could not say anything for a while. Even happened in an interview with 5 people. If you prepare and practice, when you get to those freeze moments, you have a better chance of picking up where you froze. When I start freezing now, I always have my speech cards close by so I can pick up where I stopped. With my stage fright I get tunnel vision and cant think of the right thing to say. This is where preparing and practice have helped in a big way.

once you get nervous you forget all you know
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This is why you prepare and have speech cards ;)
 
i had to deliver without speech cards using slides with points on them

speech cards make everything easy so there is no doubt you will be on the right track
 
Preparation is important.

Rest well before the time, although it is easier said than done!

When you begin do a slow sweep of all the people present and then focus on a friendly face at or near the back. Once you feel a bit more relaxed you can resume your scanning of the others present.

Depending on the layout of the venue, you can also walk around a bit. This is very different to nervous shuffling. Swop your attention to looking at your audience to directing their gaze to your presentation by looking at it yourself. This diverts their attention and takes the spotlight off you, so you can relax more!!

When you need to highlight an important point, move to the middle again so that you have their full attention...

TBC...
 
The more exposure you have to this kind of thing, the better it gets. I was always :cry:terrified of public speaking until I worked as a programme coordinator for a group of 30 hostile adult trainees. Facing them down day after day for a year helped my self confidence no end. It helps, as mentioned above, to focus on a friendly face. Can you perhaps ask a friendly colleague or two to sit near the back so you can look at him/her if you find the other faces too intimidating? Just warn them beforehand otherwise you may give them the creeps if you stare at them throughout.
 
Jerry Seinfeld said it best, and it is so true as I HATE speaking in front of a crowd. I dread the day I'm asked to be a best man at a wedding! :D

[video=youtube;RrCQnRFBuGc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrCQnRFBuGc[/video]
 
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Preparation preparation preparation. Practice. Practice practice.

Don't let the nerves get to you. Use it to your advantage. Stressing before any public appearance is natural (and if anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying). Stress puts your body into fight or flight mode. It is very close to what you experience when in love or doing adventure sport. Same adrenaline rushing through your body. So embrace it. And if you practiced, the memory will kick in and you will do a good presentation.

And take water. Your throat will be dry. Take a sip once in a while. It helps you recompose and also a great way of thinking of what you want to say.
 
There's nothing worse than a swift kick in the balls. So I keep that in mind and then the speaking bit isn't such a big deal anymore
 
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