Making presentations at work.
Discussion
I'll be off to the States again next week to attend a 3 day meeting.
I'm not looking forward to presenting again, I was "chosen" last time and they didn't seem to take my subtle hints of "No, no I can't, I really don't want to, NO" and I ended up standing up in front of 80 people (98% I had never met before), on camera and a microphone presenting somebody else's slides with approx 10 minutes preparation. I thoroughly hated every second and couldn't wait to get back into my seat.
I have enormous anxiety when asked to do this kind of thing to a large audience and senior directors with next to zero preparation time.
This kind of thing scare the hell out of anyone else?
I'm not looking forward to presenting again, I was "chosen" last time and they didn't seem to take my subtle hints of "No, no I can't, I really don't want to, NO" and I ended up standing up in front of 80 people (98% I had never met before), on camera and a microphone presenting somebody else's slides with approx 10 minutes preparation. I thoroughly hated every second and couldn't wait to get back into my seat.
I have enormous anxiety when asked to do this kind of thing to a large audience and senior directors with next to zero preparation time.
This kind of thing scare the hell out of anyone else?
it up. read someone elses work in their 'voice' and youll never be comfortable. 
Dont worry mate, its not so bad, you'll be fine.
I cant lie. You're Dooooooomed!
I know what its like, got stage fright once, never been back on stage since. The upside is that you are not there to entertain them, dont have to perform in that sense, just getting through it is good enough! Try not to worry and prepare for more than 10 mins if you can.
I cant lie. You're Dooooooomed!
I know what its like, got stage fright once, never been back on stage since. The upside is that you are not there to entertain them, dont have to perform in that sense, just getting through it is good enough! Try not to worry and prepare for more than 10 mins if you can.
plus, if it helps, they almost certainly wont be listening.
and, vitally, since they dont know what theyre getting, they wont know what youve missed out.
make a joke of it. tell them you couldnt be bothered to photocopy notes so theyll have to write down evey word you say. and say there will be a quiz at the end and the loser has to make the tea for the next year.
and, vitally, since they dont know what theyre getting, they wont know what youve missed out.
make a joke of it. tell them you couldnt be bothered to photocopy notes so theyll have to write down evey word you say. and say there will be a quiz at the end and the loser has to make the tea for the next year.
Kentish said:
This kind of thing scare the hell out of anyone else?
Yep. Right down to even doing presentations for 4 or 5 people. I get incredibly nervous, my voice shakes and I find myself physically stopping breathing (to the point where I hyperventalate - sp?). So, not a nice experience.
I have done a couple of work presentations (ie not college ones which were just funny), but the ones where I knew my 'script' almost by heart went much better than the others. The funny thing is, everyone says I am good at it and can't tell I am making brown trousers.
The really annoying thing is my GF will do a presentation to 1000 people without worrying or much preperation, but I am a wreck for days before presenting to 10 people.
Kentish said:
That's the trouble, a small team (including me) will have input into it but I won't be the scribe for the powerpoint presentation and to make the situation worse, it's all filmed!
yes, but when its finished you can change the way its phrased to suit your style. ultimately it'll come across better if you say it in you're own words than it will if you make a balls up of someone elses. youll get it wrong if its not right for you.
filming means nothing. you don't care about any of these people, you work with them. if they were going to show it to you're chums id be worried. worse yet, if they were going to show it to us.
Last time I was pushed into it I got up to the podium in this enormous conference suite and said "Hey Debbie how about you come up here and give me a hand, don't be shy - ladies & gentlemen, Debbie is going to assist me"
Debbie being the one to have kindly volunteered me 10 minutes before
Debbie being the one to have kindly volunteered me 10 minutes before
diddyman said:
The worst bit is when you have finished and you ask "Any questions" and they all sit there like dumb arses...
That's so true
I give presentations regularly to smaller groups of 10 - 15 people and that's on subjects that I know in great detail and have put my own presentation together but that's fine.
I have to do "presentations" to some of the more corporate clients, and quite a few times Ive been presenting to half a dozen people. I hate presenting so I turn it into a discussion or make it more intereactive as best I can. I assume cant do this.
Why if you are flying to the states, can you get more notice, on whether or not you are going to be the one presenting?
Why if you are flying to the states, can you get more notice, on whether or not you are going to be the one presenting?
UKbob said:
I have to do "presentations" to some of the more corporate clients, and quite a few times Ive been presenting to half a dozen people. I hate presenting so I turn it into a discussion or make it more intereactive as best I can. I assume cant do this.
Why if you are flying to the states, can you get more notice, on whether or not you are going to be the one presenting?
Hi Rob,
No, it's a kind of workshop where we have business issues and we "group" to look at processes and map solutions and it's a very fly by the seat of your pants affair with adhoc presenting of your findings and solutions, working in "break out" groups
Participating to establish what we need and where we need to go to move this IT solution project along, it's great ....except this one aspect!
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