Acckkk! The Spelling Bee is coming up on Wednesday...

dawn_mo

dawn_mo

Well-known member
and I have to speak before a large audience. I dropped speech class three times in college, after the first day. I am a blusher so it makes it even worse. Any helpful hints, and please don't say picture them naked...ewwwwwwwwwwwww.

I am great with small groups and obnoxious with smaller groups, but the larger ones still throw me. I did this last year, I read from a page, hands shaking, voice quivering, it was painful to do and I am sure it was painful to watch. My son is able to watch the spelling bee this year, and I would love not to embarrass him if at all possible. Help???

 
It's a mind-set.....drop the canned speech....talk of what you know, in your own words,

Scan the audience, find good friends, talk to them until you feel good. Wear your power color, and speak from the heart. Keep the power and show them your stuff!

 
I can't remember where I heard this, but this may help:

"Sometimes you just need to look reality in the eye, and deny it."

The trick I learned is to control the lead time prior to the speech. Don't let your mind become preoccupied with fear in the hours and minutes before the time you speak.

Convince yourself of this truth: it's just people. Friendly people. It's truly no different than speaking to a small group, unless you allow your fear to convince you otherwise. Stay focused on what is real, and that is that you are simply talking to people. Friendly people.

Michael

 
Karen has it right...speak of what you know

I was also terrified of speaking to groups, but have become much less so with my current job.
Each summer we hire a whole group of new employees, and part of my job is a bit of orientation.
I have put together a program, including a powerpoint presentation with handouts, that I update each year.
It's comprised of what I do, what I know...so it's easy for me to relate it to the audience.

Talk about what you know...if you have a bullet list of things you want to cover, that might help.
Focus on one or two people in the group, and let your gaze sweep from one to the other...

You'll be fine!

 
You're right... it's just friendly people- talk to them like their your family, in your living room

 
...and don't forget to breathe or feel like you have to rush it... deep breathe, relax shoulders...

 
Yeah, but they aren't all that friendly. The kids are, but the adults, well, not so much.

Have I mentioned how much trouble I have had fitting in here? I remain the crazy woman from Cali forn ia. A year after living here, I show up with both of my wrists broken, and a borg arm. Not the usual here. I have found friends outside of the school, thank goodness, but this group is not my best go to peeps. The kids however love me. So those are the faces I will be looking at. Thanks for all of your advice. I will keep my eyes trained on the kids.

 
The simplest thing to put you to ease is to realize that

you are the one in control. I am DEFinately not a control freak, but during grad school when I had to make those manditory speeches, I was extremely nervous, even though I knew all of the people in the audience (I think that made it even worse).

Then I looked around and realized that they had to listen to me. They couldn't leave before I was done! :eek:) The control of the situation gave me the confidence to start talking with less fear. And the more I talked, the more relaxed I got.

Good luck Dawn!!

 
Yes, talk to the kids, and for what it's worth, you got through it last year, so at the very worst,

you will be less nervous this year.

Even if these folks aren't your close friends, they will want you, and the event, to do well. Think of a few ice-breaking jokes, maybe even if they are about how nervous you are. They'll identify and cheer you on.

 
I didn't mean that to sound harsh, I just meant, that there is one special

little face out there looking at me, and I just want to make him proud.

 
I do executive training for a local university, speaking to large groups is a

way of life for me....my best advice is to practice, practice, practice and just when you think you are ready...practice some more. If you are reading from a prepared text, there you go!
Practice making your voice slow down, practice controling that quiver, practice projecting your voice. Remember that however nervous you are, those little kids out there are WAY more nervous, focus on projecting calm control so that you can help them remain calm and in control and able to do their best. Good Luck!

 
What they said, you got great advice. I, for one, would love to

personally know the crazy lady from Cali forn ia. Practice, focus on your son and you will rock. I had to laugh when you said the kids love you. Kids have great intuition, you don't fool them for long. Says a lot about you, Dawn. And also, remember those of us here at FK that think you're pretty special, too.

Guess I should admit, I dropped out of speech class, too.

 
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