I have been requested to present on a topic at corporate. To be honest I am terrified. I don’t believe I can do it.
I know it is good career development, but man I have no self confidence doing that.

I just cannot get myself to do it

Can you speak to a crowd?

Thanks.

Just pretend you are on this forum and they are your captive audience.

I don't remember you having any problems voicing your opinions here or working on getting your point across.

Take charge. You will be fine. Confidence sells. You can do it. It is in you.

I would say that they can't stone you or eat you, but these days.... I'm not counting on anything. LOL

Only if I’m passionate about the subject and know my stuff. Otherwise it’s a disaster. For example, in graduate school my presentations were terrible and I stumbled and stuttered through It.
But I give presentations and talk to large groups, Lions club, city council, etc all the time with no problem about my current position at work.

I'm just glad I don't have to. I feel your pain.

It's been awhile but I taught company level classes in the Army (aprox 150 soldiers) The most important thing is to know your material cold and then relax people rarely remember who gave a class unless it's very good or abysmal. Knowing your material should keep you out of the abysmal category.

I spoke to large gatherings s few times during my RF engineering phase. I knew my subject(s) well, so that was a plus. When I first approached the podium I got the shakes a bit. So I did then what I do now. I open with a really bad joke. After the groans and moans the shakes were gone and I was just talking to a bunch of jerks I worked with. That made it much easier. All questions afterward were handled afterward over drinks they bought me.

Find your way to make them your bunch of jerks and talk to them.

I found myself in the same position years ago. Didn’t want to do it, but had to do it. So:

On the computer, ‘write’ your speech. Do it a week or more before you have to give it, because you’ll want to change it here and there till you get it right.

Read it out loud to your wife, dog, or cat until you can do it without looking at the paper

Then, on 3x5 cards, write the first words of each paragraph, and then give the talk to your wife, Dog, or cat until you are totally and completely able to give the talk easily.

When you then find yourself in front of the group, pick one or two people you know and give the speech to them, moving your eyes from one to the other.

If you really really know your speech and know what you are talking about, it’ll be easy to do. You might even find that you enjoyed it.

Don't believe you CAN'T do it. Believe that you CAN. They asked you to present because you have something to contribute. Practice does help. Know your subject well. I sure that's why they chose you. Encourage questions from your colleagues. This can help break the ice and keep things moving. Are you doing any kind of power point? This might also help as pictures/videos can help to put you at ease. It's easy to add humor this way as well. Get someone to help you with the power point too.

If you can speak to small groups, you can speak to large groups. Be prepared, know what you’re going to say and you’ll be good.

I’m in sales and I have to give presentations, mostly to groups of 1-5 people. Sometimes it’s groups of 20. I’ve given best man speeches to groups of 200. You can do it, I know it. It’s stressful, but it’s no different than a group of two.

Listen, we are all buttheads (wanted to use a different word). every one of us. All those people you'll be facing have something, just like we all do. You know the material. I like 603's idea, 3x5 cards. But, make it something that links you to the section you want to talk about (in case you get sidetracked), it brings you back. Most of those VP's or managers you'll be talking to actually don't know the material as well as you do they just won't admit it. They know the general lingo but not as in-depth as you do. Teach them something and have fun.

Many times...know your information....command of the content instills confidence....

I simply used bullet point notes....each bullet was a reminder of what I needed to speak to next....I cannot read a speech....

I also used a small clock and had times listed by each bullet if time was an issue....

Im the Beaver


I had a dream



Done

So easy

Ok a little history, once I know people personally I can speak to the crowd. It’s a fear of the corporate chain. If I don’t do it, might stagnated my career. If I get up there and make fool of myself, well then that also will hinder me career wise as well.
I was a catalog manager 4 years ago and presented regularly to a group of 10, that was easy I knew them personally.

This is a whole new level.
Maybe some self help audio tapes..I am very good with power points and the information, just no confidence. Let’s say I had over bearing parents and never was able to be me. Terrified, literally terrified of authority that is my issue.

Either way, I will chew on it and see if a switch will change my attitude even though I doubt it.

Thank you all for the support.

I hate talking in front of a bunch of people but since I’m part of a project at work I’m in front of anywhere between 25-150 people regularly now. It’s gotten easier or I’ve learned to bs my way through it better. Hard part is getting started and then it flows pretty good after that.

Sounds like you have no choice.

Do or Die.

Get in there and give it your all.

If you don't show, you are doomed.

Go fight and be proud of your best effort.
Nobody can strip you of your honor when you go down fighting with everything you have to give.

Make it as laid back as possible. Its your show. Open with a funny remark/comment. That always sets the stage. If you are nervous, be honest and say so during the opening. (Well, I'm as nervous as a pregnant Nun or I’m as nervous as a passenger on a 737)

Be prepared by knowing your material.

You're not being judged but you will be if you lose their attention.

Practice at home.

Use positive and somewhat energetic body language (work the stage) vs standing and swaying. Do not speak like Robert Francis O'Rourke though.

If the topic allows it, always smile.

If you screw it up, your next attempt will be more successful. I am rusty but was a good public bull &%$#%& if I knew the material that I had to cover.

It's just talking, weather it be 1 or 100, I'd rather speak to 100. Know your product, don't use filler words like uh or um, you'll sound like an idiot and lose their concentration. Get up there, own it, and then go buy you a new man purse from that fancy leather store.

Thats it really. BS through the presentation and once the ball starts rolling, it gets easier to push it along.

One thing I would add is always give thanks to whoever 1) deserves it 2) your boss thinks deserves it. Employees and customers like being public appreciation for the most part.

Define large group?

I have to give a presentation every Thursday at 3pm to about 25 people. But these people run the “organization”. And try to publicly catch me off guard. So I’m prepared.

You get used to it.

I’ve done it for a living for years. Hand me a mic cold and I can spin a room up or settle it down as needed.

Chickenman already gave the same advise I would, so won’t repeat him other than to say that cracking even a small joke early (preferably in your introduction) goes a long way to settling your nerves and warming the room.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

No real problem speaking regarding size of group I hate using microphones

I understand your situation, right down to the overbearing parents. I’ve been there. I promise I know what you’re going through. I still get nervous in your situation.

Chickenman gave great advice.

Preparation is the key. Be yourself, but professional. Put your spin on it, make it fun if you can.

CONFIDENCE is key. Own it. Make it yours.

How big is this group?

I understand the nervousness, but you sound defeated already. Buck up, be prepared and crush it.

It's tough, but you can do it. See if there's an active toastmasters near you. Maybe you can build an outline of a similarly complex non work topic you might be interested in to practice on them.

I was shy once too but you get over it pretty quick. Know your chit and let it fly is my only advise.