Public Speaking - HELP !!!

[CatchpennyNinja]

Hi all,

Just wondered if any of you have any advice to give regarding public speaking ?? I was asked some time ago by The Auricular Acupuncture Society I belong to, if would be a speaker at the annual conference. I'm to talk on the work I do combining Auricular Acupuncture and Reflexology in the treatment of Hormonal Conditions and Sub-Fertility (sounds quite posh !!).

Now talking in general isn't something I normally have a problem with (shutting me up can be slightly more difficult !! ). However, as the date looms closer i'm starting to hyperventilate slightly every time I think about it. There will be 80-90 folks there, all my peers and the thought of getting up in front of them all and talking for 30min is making me feel sick !!

I've more or less got my talk sorted out and hope to find the time to do a Powerpoint to go along with it .... i'm hoping they'll all look at that rather than me !! I'll be taking the old Rescue Remedy along too ...... any other advice is most welcome !! How can i stop my lips from turning to rubber and spouting a lot of nonsense ??

Meridianmoon ( now with a paperbag up to her mouth ) xx

 

[Munch]

Hi

I had a look at your website to see if you practised EFT. I would recommend EFT for this.

You would need to use it in terms of thinking about what you are scared of might happen, ie, making a fool of yourself, forgetting what to say, etc or think about any memories where public speaking went bad.

On my site there is a self help page to get you started and you can also down load an etapping for public speaking. It really does help, I made a presentation on EFT to 13 business men and women 3 weeks ago and I had to tap in the toilets before hand I was so scared. After I did the tapping I got up and had the time of my life and have been booked to go and speak at a Rotary Club lunch and to do training courses and for private sessions.

 

[Landon B]

Hi Gill,

Many thanks for that .... i've had a quick nose on you site and will definately look closer at the self help page you mentioned !! I hadn't thought of EFT .... !! Thankfully i'm 'on' in the morning, so won't have to sit about all day worrying about it !! I am just worried about not getting the words out properly and as you say making a fool of myself !!!

Should I start tapping now ... will it help me to keep on top of it as the date draws closer .... the conference is on December 1st !!

Meridianmoon xx

P.S. I'm a Fifer too ... from Cowdenbeath !! Hope it's not too windy up the road !!!

 

[Peggy P]

Hi Meridianmoon,

When doing presentations, and I've done many now, I still feel that same sick feeling you describe and I too still glug down the rescue remedy, give myself reiki and get everyone I know to send me reiki & I pray very hard the night before! A couple of practical pointers I find I rely on to get me through presentations - they may be of some help to you...

Firstly; get really really well prepared (which from the sounds of it, you are) know your subject inside and out, this will increase your confidence and put you in a comfortable and easy place with your subject. I've seen many presenters fall down here, watched them stumble over the content, blundering their way through a subject they're not entirely familiar or comfortable with.

Secondly; get some real structure to the presentation: powerpoint presentations are a great tool for organising your thoughts as well as structuring the talk / presentation, they serve as a structuring agent brilliantly. You can time and prepare each slide - for eg. ten minutes or so a slide will give you a good frame work to work around. Powerpoint is not the only presentation tool, there are other tools that are as effective, film, slides, etc work with a few to find the one best suited to you.

Thirdly; reherse, do the presentation over and over; to your pets, family, plants, friends, then do it again to your pets, family, etc. etc. A couple of times infront of the mirror helps too... and finally... take a very deep breathe and trust the universe to provide you with a warm and appreciative audience, who naturally are going to be enthralled with your extremely interesting talk - talking of which, I'd be most interested in hearing it too, sounds rivetting!

Good luck, it's going to be brilliant
x

 

[harmonograph]

Hi Robyn,

Thanks so much for your excellent advice !! I am pretty organised with regards to having the presentation finished but you're right when you say practice makes perfect !!! The poor dog may well be sick of hearing me by the time i'm finished !! I'll take all of your advice on board and getting practicing !!

Meridianmoon xx

 

[Pompal 09.]

There is a good book on public speaking and networking if you have time to read it. it's called And Death Came Third...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=and+death+came+third