I used to be horrible at public speaking. Fortunately, I got a job that required it and have become much better at it over time. In fact, while I still get nervous energy before a speaking engagement I'd say all my formal speaking goes off very well and that I can deliver solid presentations confidently.
However, what I still really struggle with is informal presentations/meetings. I'll regularly be in meetings in a room with a customer who is a CEO/CIO and they bring several employees and we'll discuss various topics. While I don't get too nervous in these meetings or in the lead up to these meetings, I often leave dissappointed with my performance in the meeting. Oftentimes, I will be much quieter than I anticipated and wish I would have said more or when I do talk, I feel like I'm rambling and not as clear, confident and concise as I would like to be. Just recently this happened where I was in a meeting discussing something I am very confident in but left feeling like I was rambling and unclear in my message at one point and then just too plain quiet the next when I should be leading the discussion. I feel like I'm spending an inordinant amount of time in the meeting thinking about what I should be saying vs. just having a conversation and drawing upon my depth of knowledge on the subject.
Any tips on how to overcome this? Any resources out there for this specifically? Thanks in advance.
-T
Informal Meetings
3 posts
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by midaz » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:26 pm
Hi mate,
it is reallly interesting your job, I wish I could do public speaking too. First, you are doing something that most of people can't do so you are already doing something great! I suggest you to release pressure from yourself, you just can't perform if you always want to be perfect. Take good breathing and just follow the conversation without being shy to participate. Prepare yourself, and AFTER, make a list of what you are less happy and the next public speaker make sure to concentrate on these points. But I think it all start with stress management and putting too much pressure on yourself. You don't do it since 20 years, well I think, so give you some time, you will do mistakes and it is what will make you an awesome speaker! So instead of being dissapointed about your performance, focus on what you did great. Make a list of what piss you off and try to work on only 1 thing every conference.
Example :
-I'm pissed because I could have talk more
-My speaking was not 100% proffessional
-I was looking a bit lost in the conversation
Next conference I take only one point : I was looking a bit lost in the conversation, and I try to be more attentive and to be more ''live''. By fearing to not be perfect you are actually building a wall that refuse yourself to do as good as you would like!
Be positive and relax
Midaz
ps: sorry I have no resources about public speakers but one book I like about relationships is Confidence and power in dealing with people. It might interest you but it is not related to public speakers necessary just relationship in general.
it is reallly interesting your job, I wish I could do public speaking too. First, you are doing something that most of people can't do so you are already doing something great! I suggest you to release pressure from yourself, you just can't perform if you always want to be perfect. Take good breathing and just follow the conversation without being shy to participate. Prepare yourself, and AFTER, make a list of what you are less happy and the next public speaker make sure to concentrate on these points. But I think it all start with stress management and putting too much pressure on yourself. You don't do it since 20 years, well I think, so give you some time, you will do mistakes and it is what will make you an awesome speaker! So instead of being dissapointed about your performance, focus on what you did great. Make a list of what piss you off and try to work on only 1 thing every conference.
Example :
-I'm pissed because I could have talk more
-My speaking was not 100% proffessional
-I was looking a bit lost in the conversation
Next conference I take only one point : I was looking a bit lost in the conversation, and I try to be more attentive and to be more ''live''. By fearing to not be perfect you are actually building a wall that refuse yourself to do as good as you would like!
Be positive and relax
Midaz
ps: sorry I have no resources about public speakers but one book I like about relationships is Confidence and power in dealing with people. It might interest you but it is not related to public speakers necessary just relationship in general.
by joey262015 » Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:25 am
Hey tanderson,
Is there a fear in you because you're in a room with a CEO? I've had some encounters with CEO's and most of the time, they either think or seems they know more or they either think that their idea is superior.
And their are stategies how you can win them over even with them not noticing. Just letting them think they are winning, while in reality you are.
Check out Bryan Tracy.
Is there a fear in you because you're in a room with a CEO? I've had some encounters with CEO's and most of the time, they either think or seems they know more or they either think that their idea is superior.
And their are stategies how you can win them over even with them not noticing. Just letting them think they are winning, while in reality you are.
Check out Bryan Tracy.
- joey262015
- Junior Member
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