Talk tips in Packrat

  • Nov. 21, 2014, 5:43 p.m.
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I gave a presentation yesterday and am here to tell you what not to do! haha Seriously, I’ve done only two presentations after being so sick a few years ago, and both were this year. While I still remember things, my brain seems to need a warming up period, and I have to reach a bit more back into my brain to find what I want to say, and sometimes I don’t remember while I’m giving my talk but I kick myself over what I forgot when I realize I forgot something.

1) You know what you want to say, so you know what you forget. No one else is privy to what’s in your head, so they don’t know that anything is left out.

2) What worked before may not be as effective now, so change accordingly. I used to give talks frequently and never needed index cards or notes. Once I made out a series of index cards and placed them on the podium, not to look at them again at any other time except when I threw them away.

Now I need the prompting. I always “wing it”; now I should prepare, going over an outline and/or preparing one for use in my presentation.

Depending on the type of talk, you could incorporate your prompt in your presentation. When I participated in a Chautauqua one of the other presenters, who portrays historical figures and gives presentations for a living, said he still gets nervous. He portrays Thomas Jefferson most of all and always carries a book when presenting. The book fits the character, but in it he keeps his notes, and it fits in the presentation for Thomas Jefferson to read from a book.

Another presenter who also does this for a living said portraying an historical figure is “edutainment” - education and entertainment. His trick is to have a glass of water on stage with him so he can pause for a drink, thereby allowing himself a few seconds to think about what next to say.

3) Breathe. I tend to talk too fast, especially in a presentation; it’s as if I’m trying to get ALL subject matter out at the same time. It’s been worse in the last two presentations because I’m afraid I’ll forget. One, I’m not in any hurry so should adopt a steady pace. Two. how long can the average person talk without breathing and having the lack of oxygen take effect?

Yesterday I did a lot of coughing and my voice trembled, all because I wasn’t allowing myself to breathe or talk more slowly.

4) You’re your own worst judge. I felt I failed miserably, but several people complimented me and thanked me, both in person and through emails. My brother told my mother I did a good job and that even more people had commented to him that they liked my presentation; he also felt satisfied that I brought up what cooks do in traditional ceremonies, that I’d been “a hammer”. He didn’t tell me any of that, but it’s good to know.

If you feel you could improve, identify your weak spots and work on those. Mine is memory; I’ll use cards. I’ll practice. The glass of water presenter taped his presentations so he could learn from them. (He taped one for me, but I can’t bear to see it, although my mom loves it. I’m her kid, even at 51.) The coyote was a champion dancer; he taped himself and others in his category to improve.

5) Have fun. You’re there because you have something to share.

I remind myself that I have Irish blood and that I don’t need to kiss any stone to be fluent in blarney! :)


Last updated November 25, 2014


Katren...In Conclusion November 21, 2014

My Dad still did "speeches" at 77. In that last month, he told me, with horror in his voice, that he gasp took a notecard. When asked him if his memory was slipping, he said that he didn't know -- that he couldn 't remember -- but that it helped that people in the audience were either too young to know (Scouts) or too old to to remember what he'd said anyway.

Eriu Katren...In Conclusion ⋅ November 24, 2014

Had to laugh at the comment that he couldn't remember if his memory was slipping! From all I know about him through you, I really like your dad. The world needs more like him. Have you thought about writing a story or book about your dad?

Oswego November 22, 2014

Oh my, I could relate to this. I give a fair number of presentations at work, but they are on familiar ground as far as the topics, and I don't have to prepare too much except to update new tech features, searches and other related aspects of the databases used for research, etc. I also usually don't use notes and definitely talk to fast. :-) Hard to imagine, eh? But I do enjoy it and it gives me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

ryn: Your note was most wise and thoughtfully written. Very true what you said in every point made. I am grateful in the knowledge that I am doing all I can now and that, most of all, she is able to stay in her own home. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was not able to care for her here. I can't even imagine (or don't even think about any other alternative). My sister also told me not to worry or focus on what's yet to come or might come. How would I ever know? it's useless worry but difficult to overcome.

Eriu Oswego ⋅ November 24, 2014

Not only do I know my subject matter, I live it, so forgetting is pretty bad - although I don't really forget it; it just doesn't come out in time for my presentation.

About worry - I don't know any tricks to cope with it, as my life mantra seems to be "I think, therefore I worry!" I also notice a lot of worry comes from wanting to control; I have meltdowns when my dogs pull blankets from their shelter because I want them to be warm; I literally scream and cry over it when they're just being dogs and doing what dogs do. When I calm down, I notice that they really take only one, the same one, so they're still heavily blanketed. I don't have to like it, but I don't have to have a fit.

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