The Conversational Presentation.

I cannot think of too many things, other than to make eye contact. In your presentation, make eye contact so that you can see if people are "getting it". It provides that connection that makes them appreciate the information you will be giving. Be convinced about your material and that it is good for them or something to be desired, then look various individuals in the eye while you speak. Of course you will smile, and relax your hands and shoulders. In a conversation you normally would not be all tensed up, so do not be in your presentation either.

I used to teach my public speaking students that if they're highly prepared, a speech or presentation will be more like a conversation. When you know your material and your audience well, you'll just be talking to interested listeners. When you don't know it well, they're more likely to catch errors and be critical of you. There are a few ways you can help yourself relax: 1. Before you begin speaking, visualize the audience giving you a great round of applause or a standing ovation. 2. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart throughout your presentation unless you've very comfortable. 3. Have some 3x5" index cards with your main points so that if you get sidetracked, you'll be able to find your place again easily. Just don't use too many - dropping them could be disastrous. One of my own first experiences with public speaking took place in my high school classes on it. The teacher made a few of us go up in front of the rest of the class. We felt everyone watching us and felt very uncomfortable. She said, "How many holes are in the ceiling?" We all looked up and there were thousands of holes there! Someone made a joke to that effect, and she said she didn't want to hear a guess. She needed to know how many holes were in the ceiling tiles and said the class would wait for us to figure it out. We all started counting, and a minute or two later, she stopped us. She asked, "Were you nervous while you were counting?" Every single person realized that once they got focused on that task, they'd forgotten to be nervous. Delivering a message is the task facing a public speaker.

hi cjscott I am not much help but I do remember my history teacher saying when you are nervous giving a talk to visualize people sitting in their underwear., I had to give a paper in her class but there were only 12 of us in senior University so she let me strand by my chair. I found that in giving the speech aimed at her I was not nervous but I did not try the underwear bit.But I had rehearsed the talk in front of my mirror in the dorm.So although I did make but a b I did not have a meltdown,now I find that I can stand up in our residents meetings and give my complaint without getting embarrassed as I know most of the people in the meeting. but I am no good in front of strangers at all.

I actually had to take a public speaking course not too long ago, not that I'd say I'm prepared to speak in front of a large audience.. or even a small one for that matter. I too would get nervous. One thing that I learned is that public speaking isn't that different from carrying on a conversation with a few friends. A great website with lots of tips is Toastmasters (can't remember if it's .com or .org.. just do a search). Also search for Andrew Dlugan.. he was a Toastmaster and I watched one of his speeches during my class. I thought he was pretty good and he has some articles on a website that give lots of hints for speaking in public. Good luck!