If you are using a Power Point, let the last slide be a picture with their hands up in the air and the word “questions” or
just a question mark. There are a zillion stock images of this on line. It’s very helpful, I think. If there IS a Q&A segment, some people get nervous all over again when their prepared remarks are done. The slide for questions helps make it obvious you’ve ended.
Some women tend to have their voices get shrill on them when they are nervous. If you’re one of them, have a friend in the audience raise a plain white index card or use some other signal to let you know you’ve gone “Minnie Mouse.” ’
I find it helpful to write times down in my script or note cards when I’m practicing and think I’ve hit the right speed. Then, I like to have a clock visible during the talk. I make note of the time I start. As I go through the speech, I note how much time has elapsed. Sometimes I’ll realize about the one minute mark that I’ve only used up 30 seconds which lets me know I’m talking too rapidly. Once in a while I find I’ve slowed down too much. If you have strict time constraints, I think it helps to know you’re likely to go over the time limit BEFORE you get to the last minute or two, so you can speed up or cut some material.
I disagree back, @nottelling For people who speak frequently, looking at each member of a group comes pretty naturally. I like to keep an eye on as many people as I can to pick up questioning expressions or to react to other bodily language. But for a novice speaker, you’re asking them to remember just too many things. Look at each person, watch your posture, don’t do this, make sure you do that. There’s a limit to what a new speaker can take in without it becoming overwhelming.
@eyemamom is speaking to 25-30 people. With a group that size when you look at a person, the person in front amd behind them think the speaker is looking at them too. Eye direction isn’t too exact.
While I agree with most of @GMTplus7 's comments, I’m repeating myself to say that you should not memorize your beginning and ending lines. Definitely write them down. If you practice sufficiently (which you should) they’ll become second nature anyway. Since Eyemamom is presenting an RFP, chances are you’re working from a discussion booklet. You can write on that. But memorizing is asking for trouble.
The opening & closing lines don’t have to be rote memorized. But the speaker should have a idea of how to GRACEFULLY start and end. I’ve seen too many presentations that have ended w something awkward like, " um, uh, that’s it, uh, thank you."
My cred: i routinely led presentations and workshops for clients in groups ranging from 10-50 and sometimes larger. I had to keep their attention all day long, being them back from breaks, facilitate discussion of the material, and sometimes “referee” different factions who had different interpretations of the material. Often my audience was a combo of native and non-native English speakers, or I wore a headpiece and had a simultaneous translator. I am an introvert, but these were like performances to me and I could command a room.
I have had numerous unplanned things “blow up” - including one time when the electricity was shut off to a building and we were told to get out in and restart the presentation in another facility 10 miles away. I’ve had rooms where the temp got over 90 degrees, or a fire alarm went off in the middle of my talk, or the president walked in and announced midway through the division was being sold. I’ve had clients who would take phone calls on their cells by diving under the conference table and talking (this happens in China). I’ve had beautiful conference rooms and I’ve had some where the sound quality was so poor I had to shout.
With that said, I also don’t think it’s wise to tell the audience you are nervous. It undercuts your professionalism. Never let them see you sweat. If you’re visibly nervous, they’ll surely figure it out, but no need to shine the light on it. It also won’t reflect well on your boss / company - because it’s basically saying “they didn’t rehearse me enough, they sent me out to present to you unprepared.”
I think the business world demands a certain level of proficiency in public speaking and I think you should practice, practice, practice.
I’ve been practicing all day and I’m just about off script. Hubby watched me again and agreed it is okay to start by saying something like. …this is one of my three greatest fears, but given the work I put into writing this proposal I had to be here. I’m breathing, I’m slowing down. Thank goodness for my hubby who is very comfortable and confident who has listened to me over and over and giving tips and techniques. We decided today to split it up to keep everyone awake. I’m comfortable with the q & a portion. Tomorrow we’re doing it for the office as a dry run. I doubt anyone else is putting this much into it. I think we’re one of 3 presenting. I truly believe we are the best choice. Hats off to all of you who do this comfortably, you’ve all been a huge help.
"this is one of my three greatest fears, but given the work I put into writing this proposal I had to be here. "
You do what works for you and obviously your husband has a handle on things, but IMO this moves the focus from “we are the right company to do this work for you and let me tell you why” to you, personally. They don’t care how much work you put into the proposal. They care that your proposal / company meets their business needs.
If I had an underling who was visibly nervous, I would rehearse her til I felt she could carry herself comfortably, rather than “let” her start out by confessing her nervousness.
Can’t wait to hear how it goes! Sounds like you have a very supportive husband and that you’re READY!
Just wanted to mention the beta blockers again. I get migraines and have been on BBs for 20+ years. I didn’t even know about their wonderful side effect of helping with public speaking but they have been so helpful over the years for not only controlling my migraines but also for helping me when I’ve had to speak publicly. In case it helps anyone, I take 20 mg of the generic for corgard and once, when I was off my meds (nursing), I took 1/2 a pill in advance of a presentation I had to make and it worked so 10 mg may even do the trick. Don’t mean to confuse anyone; I take a bb daily but they can be taken just once (i.e. before a presentation) and have the desired effect. Assuming one’s dr is amenable, you could get a prescription to have and just take it when needed.
@collage1 10mg propranolol is what I’ve been prescribed in the past for the purpose of public speaking. @eyemamom I have no doubt it’s gonna go well with the thorough preparation you’re doing!
I know it’s getting late for you, but I echo pizzagirl’s concern on this. Remember the WIIFM rule (“what’s in it for me”) Think about your day with work piling up and things to do. You have to go to an important meeting (your presentation) but your other responsibilities are calling. What would make you feel your time is worth spending on this meeting? That’s what you should start with.
Okay, no talking about nerves. There are 3 of us doing this and I’m in the midde. Can I start by saying this is my title, I don’t normally come to presentations, my role is xyz in the company, and I’m the one who wrote the response to the rfp?
I would just omit the “I normally don’t come to presentations.” The rest is just fine! They want to know what you can do for them - so your name, title, and role in the process/product are just fine. Good luck!
Does your final deliverable require you/your company to present findings to them or their management? Or is it just something you deliver via report?
You want everything to point to the message “XYZ company is the best choice for your needs because …” Not “XYZ company’s Vice President (or whatever) doesn’t often come to presentations.” Stay on message. But you will be fine! Relax!
The opening is almost always the most awkward part. That’s why I suggested a semi-canned opening so you don’t have to struggle w the transition to the meat of your material
How about reframing it into “I’m so excited to be here today and meet you all and tell you about …” Reframe your jitters into excitement versus nerves.
Okay, it’s over! I think it went very well and nothing like we had planned. We walk in and the woman in charge was like…can we ask questions throughout? I could tell the way she said it they were bored brainless watch power points. So I did a quick intro, and it turned into a q & a. One guy went into the audience, hubby stayed up front to clarify answers and I stood next to the two decision makers clarifying things. I was able to feed things to my husband that the committee was talking about to me and was able to give him a one or two words from the rfp.
It was high energy, lots of questions, the rfp didn’t even mention the one thing this particular group was concerned about and we were able to make an educated guess beforehand and totally nailed it.
I wasn’t hugely impressed with the competition. There were 4 of us in total presenting. One guy we actually know showed up alone in wrinkled khakis and a Polo with his undershirt visible.
They gave themselves 3 weeks to make the decision so while I don’t think it will take them that long, I can at least now turn my attention to other things.
For people who speak frequently, looking at each member of a group comes pretty naturally. I like to keep an eye on as many people as I can to pick up questioning expressions or to react to other bodily language. But for a novice speaker, you’re asking them to remember just too many things. Look at each person, watch your posture, don’t do this, make sure you do that. There’s a limit to what a new speaker can take in without it becoming overwhelming.