I have long realized that this irrational fear needs to be dealt with if I am to be successful. I have
As I have to give a talk at a huge conference in a little over a week, I have started working on the presentation and mentally preparing myself about 2 weeks ago. I have subjected my labmates to two practice talks, got some constructive feedback (some of which was very encouraging and went a long way to boost my "I can do this" feelings - kudos to supportive labmate!), and started feeling a little better about giving this talk.
That is until I saw the session schedule. My talk is mixed in with some big shots and very good public speakers. In a way it is strange to see my name beside theirs, but the pressure of not falling flat on my face after all these confident, well-delivered, well-developed scientifically talks is huge. I foresee a lot of running this week (I ran 11km today and still feel a little freaked...)
How do you prepare yourself for conference talks?
11 comments:
I try to get my slides done at least a week in advance. I use the timing rule that allots 1 minute per slide. Then I try to give my presentation in front of a friendly audience. On presentation I go overboard in the dressing professional because I love it and it relaxes me. Then I try to pay attention to the people who present after me.
Academic - I too find that dressing up for a talk helps me feel less out of place! I am still tinkering with slides (minor changes only), but I think I will force myself to stop in the middle of the week.
Funny enough, I am more nervous to talk in front of my "lab" and in a small setting than in a big setting and/or more people.... something to do with "no one knows me in the large group whereas in the small group they all know my tics and stuff".
My suggestion would be the same, prepare the slides and the talk this week. THen choose some good friends and go over it a few times - not too many though, at least for me, that makes me sound bored - and then remember, usually a talk is good if the slides make sense and the speaker does not stress through it all.
A practical tip would be, before shifting to the next slide - pause and take a breath, that way it makes it less stressed. And noone thinks it is strange, only good.
Good luck! Youll do great I am sure!
Practice, practice, practice! And remember that you are THE world expert in your own research.
Good luck, and remember that you wouldn't be in the schedule if you hadn't earned that right.
It helps me to be really comfortable with what I'm going to say. I like to write out a script (usually in the notes part of my powerpoint slides) so that I can be sure to get everything in at all the right places. I use this to practice, but I don't memorize (don't want to sound like a boring robot!) except for the first slide, to get over the initial nerves, and any key slides along the way that need to be said just right, like the objectives. I don't claim to be a high quality speaker, but I don't suffer from paralyzing nerves. That's my 2 cents.
I bet you'll do a great job, though. If you're half as articulate in real life as you are on your blog and you've been practicing I'm sure things will go wonderfully! And I think you're super lucky to be in a session with big names. It sure beats being relegated to the small room in the corner in a line-up of unknowns and 12 people in the audience.
I just practice over and over again. I make sure I have the slides ready a week in advance and then go over them repetitively. Good luck. and remember you know your stuff the best.
I've never had to give a presentation at a conference before, but I hate public speaking. The only other things that I'd suggest (which goes along the lines of preparing) is to iron out the transitions between slides (eg. how you're going to lead in to the next slide) and to practice questions (if there's going to be time for that). Those are the two things that trip me up.
I agree with EcoGeoFemme, though. I think that you'll do very well!
Some advice from my advisor that I found really helpful to reduce the fear and anxiety was to remember that the audience is rooting for you. Everyone enjoys a good story, and they're hoping you'll give them one. The audience wants you to do well, so focus on that positive energy, rather than the fear of falling flat on your face :)
That being said, I still get really nervous when I have to give talks. It has gotten better with experience and practice - but I'm a long way from being comfortable on stage. What works for me personally is to have my slides prepared well ahead of time, and pretty much script the talk (because I don't trust myself to remember key words that I need while I'm up in front of an audience). I usually deviate a little from the script, but at least I have it to fall back on (and I practice it enough times that the words easily come out when my brain stutters).
You're going to do great! Just give them a good story, and remember, while they are quietly cheering you on we'll be loudly singing your praise! :D
Chall - thanks for the pause between slides tip, I bet it will help me with transitions between slides a lot.
Cath - thanks for the reminders :)
EGF - Thanks! I don't want to be a fully scripted robot either, but I think I will try to practice just enough to know what to say if my brain freaks out!
ScientistMother - thanks, I promise to practice!
Amanda - thanks! I tried to get my labmates to ask me questions, but since most of them know at least a little bit about what I work on, I don't think I am prepared for the general audience questions. I've been trying to think what those may be and answer them in my talk, but who knows what else will come up!
DayByDay - thanks for passing on your advisor's advice! While I don't fully script my talks, I try to have a reminder about everything I am trying to mention on the slide itself. But I still have to practice how to say things in a positive way.
I also talk fast during talks. I don't feel nervous but it must be some kind of nervous response. I have to remind myself that my practice talk will be about 10% longer than the actual talk, this helps so that I don't have too few slides. I don't like giving too many practice talks to audiences. I would give one around a week before the scheduled talk and then I like to give practice talks to myself. Where I run the presentation on my computer in my office and talk into space. This helps me with the actual words I'll be saying and the timing without being in front of an audience. I find it helps me to build my confidence that I know what I'm talking about and everything will go fine.
however, I'm not very nervous about talks and I enjoy giving them. I also find if I practice too much I get bored with the presentation and won't do as well on "game day."
Good luck I'm sure you will do fine.
Jennie - thanks for the advice! I have disallowed myself to tinker with the slides anymore, and plan to practice alone 2 more times before Monday. Thanks for wishing me luck!
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