Problems talking in front of big groups

[solo1]

Generally when i talk to people individually or even in groups, or am part of a discussion in class critiques, im cool and calm.

then when it comes down for me to present my work in front of the class, i lose my cool. I know i do cause my voice tone changes, and it isnt calm. And i cant kid around like i usually do when i lose my cool. A bit of anxiety builds up and i start to sweat also.

I dont understand how i can be find generally but when presenting my work (myself), it's the opposite. Anyone with tips?

 

[sifer]

Originally posted by solo1
Generally when i talk to people individually or even in groups, or am part of a discussion in class critiques, im cool and calm.

then when it comes down for me to present my work in front of the class, i lose my cool. I know i do cause my voice tone changes, and it isnt calm. And i cant kid around like i usually do when i lose my cool. A bit of anxiety builds up and i start to sweat also.

I dont understand how i can be find generally but when presenting my work (myself), it's the opposite. Anyone with tips?

The way I see it, is this, when you are with a group of people criticizing, you're not afraid to rip the subject apart.

When you go up, you're afraid of getting ripped.

This is the reason why you should go up often, unless you're hard of hearing or can't see that well, in which case rendering you in much greater difficulty communicating with the class, you should be going up to conquer that fear.

There is really no tip or advice, except, just do it. Practice makes perfect, keep going up, adapt to the changes. Go with the flow, etcetc.

 

[h2o]

what sifer said, and also, join clubs/activities that will force you to speak in front of groups; better yet, in front of large crowds.

 

[diablo]

I'm guessing from your age that you're in college. I'd recommend taking a few Communications classes (i.e. Speech). They'll cover everything from Interpersonal relationships to Public Speaking. It's commonly known that Americans fear public speaking more than death - as Seinfeld put it, "They'd rather be the one in the casket than the guy giving the eulogy".

I got nervous when I first started speaking in front of large groups of people - but realized quickly (especially in a classroom setting) that it was counterproductive. Everybody in there (for the most part) has a fear of speaking. Everybody knows how you feel. Everybody can sympathize. Nobody's going to say "Oh man, look at how he stumbled over that sentence."... or "Ha! He forgot line 2 of paragraph 3!". Just take things slow, move your eyes around the classroom and make eye contact with several of the attractive girls during the funnier parts of whatever it is you're talking about, and get that A.

There are tons of books and classes you can take (some at your college) to develop your speaking habits... and that's what it takes; development. You can't just read a book and expect to not be nervous anymore - you have to keep doing it until you're not nervous. The book might tell you tips and ideas, but the only thing that will truly help is practice practice practice.

By the way, check out this link:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/search...d=267974&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

 

[Bible_Belt]

Join Toastmaster's. It's a speech club.

 

[SELF-MASTERY]

Guys I jest gave a presentation a few hours ago. I was unprepared, nervous, and BS'ted my way into a halfway decent presentation. I notice that if I move around alot when I speak some of the nervousness goes a way, my voice was a little shaky, but my projection is always good. My goal is to do things that make me uncomfortable often. We have ppl at school that would drop a class because of a required presentation. One thing I've noticed, having a connection to the material makes it easy.

All things in time.