Presentations
 

I had to give a short presentation today on my final year project at University and was wondering how others dealt with them. I know that even just a few years ago I used to be very nervous speaking in front of people, but I've gotten much more comfortable with it in recent years. I still feel some nervousness, but it's more of worrying that I'll mess up because today it was worth 10% of my project marks, so I wanted to do the best I could. If I didn't have that pressure I don't think I'd feel nervous at all.

We were apparently being marked on our presentation skills though, so I made sure not to look at my slides on the screen too much and to make eye contact, trying not to stutter etc and I managed to make it last the full 10 minutes and then I answered a few questions from the staff afterwards, which we were told to expect. It helps to know the subject of course, which I do, as it is my project.

We were presenting to 3 staff - our own tutor and 2 others whom we didn't know, and also the other students of the group sat in too (4 per group, and 1 in ours didn't show up) and I was first, and I think I did well and hope to hear back soon. The guy who presented after me had a more professional slide show and from speaking to him before-hand he knows his stuff, but he was very nervous and stuttered and stammered a lot, though still got through it all, and the 3rd guy tended to put his hands in his pockets and look down at the screen and read many parts of his slides verbatim. Both of them knew their stuff and hopefully for their benefit the staff take how nervous we are into account, but if I were to be judged against them I think I perhaps came off the most confident, which will hopefully be good for me.

I used to hate presentations and get all nervous before I had to do one; get all the classic nervousness symptoms: pale, nauseous, racing heart… etc. Now I absolutely LOVE it, still get nervous when there are 10 professors sitting there looking all mighty picking at your project. However, like you said, it helps to know the subject one is presenting. Also practice makes perfect and having a familiar friendly face in the audience helps calm the nerves.
I had to give the graduation speech at high school, it was aprox. 60 students (graduating class) and their families, and faculty. Even though it was a lot of people, it wasn’t so nerve racking because I knew most of the people since pre – school.
I gave my Bachlor’s final project presentation last year. It was worth 25% of the grade (i.e.: screw it up and the kiss the A bye bye bye). We had to present to our 6 professors, 3 external examiners that we have no clue who they are, other seniors presenting, guests, other students from our department, students from other departments, professors from other departments, and staff members that felt the need to show up. The presentation was for 30 minutes , and 10 minutes for Q & A. Needless to say I didn’t sleep for a week before that. The best thing is that they gave us the result an hour afterwards. If I had to wait for a day or more, I might have died of over thinking!!
From what you said, it seems like you did good. Hope you get great marks on it :D
By the way, what are you studying?

This timing here is hilarious. I just started a class on public speaking. I'm doing horrible at it. Got any tips on not looking like an idiot?

Adrian

ive never really got nervous at doing presentations.

i can understand why it would be nerve wracking but it's just something that's never effected me and just about every presentation ive did in 5 years has been regarded amongst the best in the class.

fwiw i personally find a well presented confident performance with no stuttering or stammering with not as strong content much easier to listen to than a great presentation where the person giving it is useless.

i hate nothing more than sitting through someone reading verbatim an essay theyve printed out. it's not natural, it doesn't sound natural and it's boring.

adrian a couple of rules i try to stick to:

speak slowly and clearly. talking really fast or into your chest = the actions of a nervous person and it's very noticeable and hard to follow.

go with in with as little material to read as possible. if all youve got is a few cards with bulletpoints you cant read it verbatim like an essay or pages and pages of notes and it means that you have to learn the subject so if and when you get asked something at the end, you can answer because bullshitting is so easy to suss out in presentations imo.

make a point of looking at the room, using your hands, facial expression and voice to engage with the room and make it interesting. as i said, there's nothing i or examiners hate more than someone with their eyes glued to a 3000 word easy reading in a monotone for 5 minutes.

don't be scared to crack jokes. putting a joke if possible in the 1st few paragraphs lightens the mood, gets people on your side and generally makes your performance more memorable than a dead pan one. im pretty sure the other presentations for my post graduate interview will be very serious and i'm going to be the last one giving it so i'm going to introduce the topic etc... then show them a bunch of stuff ive collected about the berlin wall and say: if you're wondering, it is a genuine part of the wall but don't ask why i've got it because i'm too pretty for jail.

within the 1st minute hopefully ill have gained an advantage on the other applicants there that day by having a bunch of cool stuff for the people to look at and examine while im doing my presentation plus hopefully i'll have made them laugh and relieved a little of the monotony of 20 identical presentations.


one last point i'll say: if you get to a presentation and you're still feeling nervous. when it's your turn, hold your breath, count to 3 then stand up and start it as calmly as possible and by the time you're getting into the swing of it everything should be going ok so you don't need to worry.

and remember, no one actually wants to see you mess up a speech or look stupid (unless you happen to be the president of a fairly powerful nation) so remember that they're on your side.

I agree with all what you said, especially about bullshitting answers. They are some really good pointers. And I like the joke.
However, I gotta say that cracking a joke is not a good thing sometimes; it really depends on what kind of presentation. A friend of mine was presenting (it was supposed to be semi - formal) to class about some network security protocol, he made a joke about some celebrity who had their cell phone hacked into as a way to explain the purpose of the protocol. Everyone laughed, but the examiner didn't think it was appropriate, and ended up down grading him.
As for examiners not wanting you to fail, well one of my teachers used to say that some examiners ask questions with the intention to rattle the presenter, make them look bad, and find the excuse to fail them. It is a strategy to weed out the weak ones.

asking questions to see if you actually know what you're talking about or just memorised a speech and wanting you to fail are two very different things.

it's like essays and exams. they're not made so that you're supposed to fail. they're made so you're supposed to pass if you put the effort in to learn the stuff.

but i digress im up early tomorrow to get back to studying. 2 more days then freedom :-)

Ha i am another one who has a "presentation" tomorrow. My principal is coming to observe me for an hour as i teach my kids a guided reading lesson. My advice: wear something with a high neck, i get so nervous i break out in hives, if you do too this will hide it. Sigh, sadly i am serious that is how nervous i get! And i never used to be that way, i used to sweat, now i don't know which is worse! :p I am prepared, it's just you never can tell with my class. One day they are angels, the next little devils. The joy of kindergarten! I don't really have a fear of speaking in public but i am being evaluated as to how well the lesson goes and of course am stressing. Mine is at 9:25 am. Just remember everyone gets nervous and think we are all in the same boat and you'll be fine!

in school i hated presentations- now i love them... we don't have many of them- maybe 2-3 smaller ones per semester but i normally feel comfortable. though i think that jimbo is a smartass, his points were really good. imho the most important thing is that you know what you're talking about. get into the material as deep as you can and it's always necessary to know your stuff better than the audience does- know more than you actually say! this makes you feel comfortable at what you're doing and it takes away the fear from the questions.
it's normally no problem to lose control for a small amount of time. the guys listening to you know that everyone everywhere makes mistakes and it's not the problem that you make mistakes- the problem is how you handle them! in these situations you see who's professional (he probably makes a little joke and gets back to the beaten track without losing his souvereignity) and who's not (tapping around from one feet to another in accelerating speed, getting a tomato face, starting to shake with hands, libs, eyes...) in such cases body language is most important.
at presentations you don't present a subject- you present yourself. if you speak and gesture confidently you can tell the guys all the shit you want and they will belief but if you behave like a neurasthenic nerval wreck nobody will belief you even the hardest facts.

The main thing that ruins presentations as an audience member and judge, besides lack of knowledge (ie reading verbatim) and preparation is speaking too fast and mumbling. It is paramount that you open the presentation well so that the rest will flow smoothly. Be aware of everything you are doing (fidgiting, looking down, wobbling/kicking your feet) and speak slowly and outwardly. If you don't know where to be with your hands or feet, JUST STAY STILL, it is always better than wandering aimlessly with your hands or feet. If you don't want to look at the audience look just above one of their heads and scan the room that way. Practice in the room beforehand if you can, even if there are no people. It will do wonders.

And having a presentation you enjoy always helps too.

B

I hate presentations... Apparently I do them very well and I speak fluently and don't show to be nervous, however I am nervous as h*ll and just want to dissapear. Have the skills, know how to do one as I did a nuring management course and we had to do loads of presentations there, still... I'll pass for them... I am doing a special degree in ER/ICU nursing and am glad we don't have to give them there... not yet anyway... and no thesis either which I am very relieved about!

LeEnTjE