Oral Communication Tips: Expressing Yourself with Confidence

[im-tha-one]

hey every one that could help me with this just let youself go...

I was wondering what do you think about Oral communication?

Oral communication as expressing youself at school in presentations, with another person or a group of persons, at work or anywhere that oral communication has a real importance?

Are you shy expressing yourself? if not

do you have tips for anyone that is ?

 

[Andy Resnick]

My standard advice is to simply talk about what you know. You will feel more comfortable talking, since you know what you are talking about. Do not try to impress the audience with how smart you are or how much you know.

Now, if "what you know" is only enough to fill a 3 minute talk, then you need to know more things.

 

[Troponin]

If I have to speak as an authority or "expert," I have absolutely no nervousness or anxiety. I give seminars on sports nutrition to colleges and groups of strength and conditioning coaches, most of who have more education than I do on the subject. I don't have even the slightest twinge of nervousness when standing in front of them.

Yet, have me walk into a social gathering of some sort and I instantly start sweating. Put me in front of a freshman asking directions to the library and I look like a 4th quarter Patrick Ewing within 30 seconds. lol

 

[wobblebase]

At this point in my educational career, I seldom get nervous. All the presentations I've given so far are to peers over a topic of my choice. I know for a fact that when I speak to a class about serum-negative myasthenia gravis or SLE, nobody in there knows more about it than I do (at least that's been the impression so far). Knowing that I am the classroom "authority" on that topic relieves stress. I don't have to worry about getting grilled or criticized for what I say. I can't possibly say how I'll feel when there is the threat of having to go on the defensive, but there's only one way to find out :) You just have to remember that as an undergraduate very few people, aside from your professor, will know what you are talking about during a presentation. Just relax and impress them with your knowledge :P

 

[Vector_Joe]

I used to be really shy. I think most of it has to do with self confidence.

I think it also has to do with practice and understanding the topic you are presenting.

When I was an undergrad, they required almost everyone to take a speech class (not sure how I got out of it...). But I think if I had to take that class at the time, I would have been very nervous about making those presentations.

But after getting married (I think that had a lot to do with improving my self confidence), and being at a professional position, I feel pretty much at ease getting up in front of most groups of people. Obviously, if part of your issue is self confidence, you'll need to find your own way to deal with it.