Standing in front of a University class to present a topic during a seminar and then having to talk about it in front of everyone and that brilliant professor... You know how this feels once you have to do it. This is a specific article about a form of public speaking.
I have butterflies in my stomach the first time right before public speaking . If I am not absolutely aware of how I will present I am nervous. Which is ok.
Being a bit nervous shows that you take the task seriously, too much nervousness is not good though. So, you can practise and prepare how to get through most of the anxiety part and yes, you will get a bit less nervous the more you have to do it. Here are some tips on how to approach it and prepare yourself to make a smooth seminar presentation - and to lose some of that stage fright.
The preparations before the event
First thing first, basic preparation is key. Yes, you can ace a presentation with barely any preparation. However, usually, it shows that the speaker is unprepared once questions and discussion start during the seminar.
And your grade will then reflect the preparation. Better is to be as good as possible with the least effort. Batching your preparations to a late point and then working within a focus and flow for a set time can save you a ton of time. Knowing how you are efficient yourself is key, so keep in mind that proper research takes a lot of time.
Start early enough so that you can ask the professor beforehand if you understood the theme of your presentation correctly and if they aim towards a specific conclusion or topic. Usually, they will give you a lot of liberty; sometimes they have an idea that they want to talk about, so you can get some bonus knowledge if you know about it and prepare it.
Then, read into the topic and the given introductions, and while doing this initial research, start to outline a possible presentation structure in a flow chart. When you read through the texts, you already have an idea of what part led to which thought if you write notes along. Creating the presentation afterwards gets a lot easier because you stick more to the broad topic flow you first had and won’t lose yourself in a myriad of details that you encounter later on.
Leading the seminar discussion
Your goal should be to lead the seminar along a simple structure. Most of the time, you will present in smaller seminar arrangements and, usually, not everyone has read the texts. So it is great to add a little introduction, a summary about what the books are about at the beginning, to get the lazy asses up to speed. When you go through your statements, consider adding the page numbers when addressing key parts so that the others can add notes during your presentation. The aim here is that you can ask them open-ended questions at the end about a thesis or the texts. With this, you take control of what happens afterwards, having fewer questions that are directed at you and more that go into the seminar and to the other people.
Try to have as few folios as possible with simple things on them. Maybe even consider to ad a whiteboard or blackboard drawing to it.
Preparing folios takes a lot of time, so cutting five folios can save you hours of thinking about how to write and edit them.
Also, in case that the presentation does not work for whatever reason, you do not need to improvise because you explain graphs or ideas on the blackboard anyway. Props give an air of preparedness which is always great to have it on your side.
On the day of the presentation
Be a few minutes early to load the presentation or log in to the cloud you use, so you can quickly check that it runs. Set up the props if you have and look in the room. If something does not work, relax, tell the professor early on and have them help you.
Before it starts, make sure you were in the bathroom and have a quick look in the mirror and make a big, silly smile for a few seconds. Seeing and doing a smile triggers your nervous system to believe it must be happy, which relaxes your body. Then breath in a few times very deeply. Fill your lungs and once your lungs are full, add a little extra breath on top and breath out slowly. This triggers the sighing reflex in your brain, which calms you down really fast. And, it helps to get the carboxide in your brain out, which gives you focus.
And, you see if something is stuck in your teeth. Politicians tend to forget this sometimes.
Speak slower than you think you should. Once we are nervous we tend to start rushing. People that are stressed tend to speak faster and at a higher pitch, that is innate and it is ok. Best is to just start with a warm ¨Hello everyone and welcome. Today we will talk about XXXXX¨ For that session we will do as following: First I will introduce the topic, then.....¨
This makes it clear to everyone what is coming, and you have a clear start into the topic, without any surprises.
Take your time to ease in, the introduction might be all you need to get you going neatly.
Follow your plan, if needed stick to the notes.
If someone interrupts politely thank them for the inquiry and tell them to ask the questions at the end again.
I recommend that you do not hold a single piece of paper in your hands. Put the notes onto something more solid - like, a tablet or your phone. If you have a sheet of paper, take a sturdy piece of cardboard or a book behind the notes. You can hold on to it when reading the keywords without shaking. If you are nervous, the paper can start shaking, which will let you become aware of the stress you already experience. :)
In case of doubt: Ask a brutally honest friend from the seminar, to rehearse the speech once. Or ask me.
Approach them with something like: “Hey, I am always so nervous before presentations that I start blacking out. Would you mind to rehearse it once with me and give me brutal feedback?”
Most unis have study rooms that you can reserve. Get one and then go through with it. No turning back. Before you start you tell them you want their feedback like they are the professor. Don't discuss the critique afterwards, just take it in and write down their points. Then let it go and go get a tea or coffee with them.
And breathe. You did well.
Let me know how it went in the comments, or shoot me an email.
Thanks for being here.
cheers
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