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I ran into an old friend from HS about a month ago while we were in NE. She's now a professor in OB nursing at the college we both went to. She asked me if I'd be willing to come back this month to speak to her class. I agreed, but I'm not a very good public speaker...get very nervous. Anyway, I'm working on my talk right now. I'm writing in all out word-for-word, just so I can put it all together, as it's been a long time since I've gone over some of the info. Right now I have 12 pages written, and the twins aren't even born yet! But, my talk is supposed to be an hour long, and I still have a ton to cover, misc surgeries and homecare, where we are now, etc. Oh boy! What am I getting myself into?! -worried-
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You can do this! After you have written everything down, read over it, take out what you dont want, add what you forgot. Practice in front of a mirror, then copy key points down onto 5X8 index cards so they will be easy to handle. (Don't forget to number them) After you have practiced a bunch of times, most of it should be memorized and you wont need the cards that much, but they will be there for you. I LOVE to do public speaking ( I know, I am a weirdo!), and keeping everything on 5X8 cards is the best tool I have found yet. Oh, and don't look anybody in the eye, look just above everyone's head, but look around occasionally. It makes it appear you are looking at the person just behind them, not out into space.
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Originally Posted by TommysMommy
You can do this! After you have written everything down, read over it, take out what you dont want, add what you forgot. Practice in front of a mirror, then copy key points down onto 5X8 index cards so they will be easy to handle. (Don't forget to number them) After you have practiced a bunch of times, most of it should be memorized and you wont need the cards that much, but they will be there for you. I LOVE to do public speaking ( I know, I am a weirdo!), and keeping everything on 5X8 cards is the best tool I have found yet. Oh, and don't look anybody in the eye, look just above everyone's head, but look around occasionally. It makes it appear you are looking at the person just behind them, not out into space.
Okay [taking deep breaths] thanks for the advice! I'll have to see if I can find the 5x8 index cards. Right now I have 4x6 (from back when I took speech in college, yes, they're old). I'm just mostly freaking out right now because I feel like I don't have enough time to get it all done. I can't really work on it during the day, and if I want to get to bed at a decent time, then I don't have time for much at night either. BUT, my dh might take the day off tomorrow to help out with the girls, so I can work. We'll see. I'm also planning to put a slideshow of pictures together. I think it helps to have visual aids!
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This is such a good thing you are doing, but it would be hard for me too. My voice shakes when I speak out loud in front of groups. The good thing though, I have been told that only I know that. It doesn't sound like you are going to have trouble filling up the time. If you do go fast and finish early, you can always as if anyone has questions to fill the time. Good luck!!!
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I am sure you will do great!! After all you are speaking on a topic you are an expert on!!! I think that slides will be great!
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The key to being a good speaker is to be confident about the subject in which you are speaking about. You will do great! Don't forget to use the Q&A to take up time.
Let us know how you do, please.