I'm really, really nervous about a business meeting this week.

[Haole Girl]

The meeting is with the executives of our company. I'm so afraid I'll say or do the wrong thing.
I just want to run away...I don't even want to go.
Does anybody else ever feel like this when they have to attend an important meeting...
especially when it requires public speaking?
It isn't until Weds., and I'm already having an anxiety attack about it.

I'm so glad I don't have to do this kind of thing very often.

[Shine]

1. Nope, not really. I'm good at public speaking, personally.

My advice, for what it's worth: Beforehand, spend some time and visualize about this meeting.

See yourself as being successful, confident and clear in your presentation.

Focus on what you DO want to create and pull towards you, rather than on what you are afraid of.

The power of our Attention and Intention is powerful stuff, indeed.

You'll be fine. I have Confidence in you. :hug: Be Brilliant and impress them with your verbal dexterity.

[Haole Girl]

2. Thank you so much!

I will try. It is my biggest fear...evah (as they say)!!

Truly...I would rather bungee jump! :hi:

[Shine]

4. I remember hearing once that Public Speaking ranked higher than Death

as a fear people have.

Seinfeld did a hilarious bit on it once, saying that if that's true, then if one were at a funeral, having to give the eulogy, they'd be really screwed:

They would rather be IN the coffin than giving the eulogy, itself! :rofl: Funny.

[Haole Girl]

8. Yeah, believe it or not, that is on the very top of my list...

...having to give a eulogy some day. :scared:

[trof]

3. Funny, when I was younger I was terrified of public speaking.

Now that I'm into my 'golden years' I guess my 'don't-give-a-shit' factor has kicked in and it doesn't bother me at all. I actually kind of like it now.
:shrug:

[Shine]

5. Same here. I was much more shy as a kid than I am now.

I like to think that, as we age, we become more comfortable in our own skins, as we step more and more into our true Authenticity. :thumbsup:

Don't you agree?

[trof]

6. I guess. Sometimes my knees still shake a little.

I'm serious.
I was 'the program' at a recent gathering of our Ancient Aviators group.
When I settled at the podium, my right knee began to tremble uncontrollably.
I reached down and slapped it and said "NOW CUT THAT SHIT OUT! I HATE it when that happens." and got a big laugh.

Funny how that happens still.

Yeah, I'm at the point of 'take-it-or-leave-it', what you see is what you get.
:-)

[Shine]

7. Somethin' tells me you'd be a fun guy to have a beer with.

:) :pals:

[trof]

9. As long as you like to hear war stories.

Not actual gettin' shot at combat.
Happily I've never been there.
Just flying stories.
Military and civilian. 40 years worth.
whew

And beer's OK, but Scotch is the drug of choice.
And right back atcha'.
:hug:
Can never get too many hugs.
:-)

[Shine]

12. Well then, let's have a cyber toast of Scotch!

:toast: and toast to Adventures in the air and on the ground...

:hi: :hug:

[Scooter24]

10. I meet with high ranking execs all the time.

point is to be confident and knowledgeable. Preparedness is key.

But remember, they are people too, so just relax, smile, and things will be just fine.

[Haole Girl]

11. Thanks...*sigh*

I swear, though, no matter how hard I try, something idiotic will always come flying out of my mouth. Unless, of course, I pause and take 30 seconds before answering a question...which would make me look even more stupid. It's just not a good situation all the way around. I'm great, one-on-one...but I fall apart in front of a group of 50 people or more. :scared:

[Scooter24]

13. Yeah...

at least you get to practice before going in.

A few years ago I produced an event for a small business with about 150 employees. The President of the company loved what I did so much that in the middle of his presentation on stage, he called me to come up on stage to say a few words. I was so nervous, because I didn't know much about his business or what they did. :P So there I am on stage, headset on, looking a bit of a mess, addressing 150 people. Yeah, it was a bit of an experience.

I did learn a lesson though, always have something prepared for every event.

[Arugula Latte]

14. I had to do public speaking recently.

For a week or so before the day, I had major anxiety dreams.

My advice is to practice what you're going to say as much as possible beforehand. When I got up in front of people, it was like I was having an out-of-body experience. The words came out of my mouth and it was somewhat surreal. Afterwards, I did get compliments. *Whew* ... I had to take a shower afterwards, though, because I had that "fear sweat"!

Good luck! :hi:

[Haole Girl]

16. Thanks!

Yes, that is it...exactly...an out-of-body experience. You do understand! Thanks! :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear KC2!

You are going to be fine!

And you know...if you pause to gather your thoughts....no-one will hardly notice!

So do what you need to do during your talk, be calm and relaxed, and go for it!

As someone else here said.......they are just people after all, sweetie... :hug:

[Haole Girl]

18. Yeah...I really probably do need to pause a little...

...because when I answer a question very quickly I tend to say something other than what I really mean. Thank you! :hug:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. Just imagine yourself as completely naked in front of them during the meeting.

Or maybe you're supposed to imagine the other people as naked? :shrug:

[Haole Girl]

19. Believe me...I've tried imagining people in their underware...

...it never works. But, thanks! :hi:

[GAspnes]

20. You've already gotten the best advice

Focus on what you know, it's okay to say you don't know something *unless it's something you should*.

Anticipate and be prepared.

If you worry that you make mistakes when you answer too quickly, write "go slow" on the margin of your top notecard. It's better to be thought deliberate and careful than glib.

Remember to breathe. Take a breath each time before you speak. Concentrating on your breathing will also keep you relaxed. Sitting or standing, keep your back straight, head up, make eye contact. Thinking about all that, plus your answer, will keep you from fidgiting.

I'm sure you'll do great. Overconfidence is usually what spoils an answer.


My problem is that I love to talk in front of groups, always have. Having to do it extemporaneously is like walking a high-wire, challenging and thrilling. I use all these same techniques to keep myself from going off the rails and becoming too enthusiastic, which is when I end up sounding like a moran.

[Haole Girl]

21. Thank you very much!

You added quite a bit of good advice. I appreciate it! :hi:

[wain]

22. Good advice from a baseball player and a handball player

1. Bob Feller, Hall of Fame pitcher, Cleveland Indians, wrote that during warm-up if he felt his fastball and curve were working well, then he usually pitched his worst games. When he did not have his fastball and curve working he would pitch his best game. Why? In the former situation he was overconfident and was not focused. In the latter situation, he knew he had to concentrate and focus. So, being nervous forces you to focus, concentrate and be well prepared.

2. Heard this on a talk show a couple of days before I had to present and defend my senior project at the mathematics seminar. I was absolutely terrified; I was a math major but, as Dirty Harry said, I knew my limits! Anyway, the guest on the talk show was a champion handball player. He state that before his championship matches he was always nervous and scared. His advice was to accept that you will be nervous and scared. It goes with the territory. Don't dwell on how nervous and afraid you are. Just know that you will be nervous and afraid. Then move on and concentrate on preparation. Finally he said NEVER let your opponent know you are nervous and afraid. Just act confident - fake it! That puts the burden on your opponent i.e. your audience. This really worked for me - I don't know how I did it, but I did. I was able to field two questions from the math faculty to their satisfaction. My fellow mathematicians sat on their hands -didn't want to risk embarrassing themselves! If they only knew!

Finally, you might want to meet ahead of time with one of the execs to go over your presentation materials - someone with whom you have an acquaintance. He/she will be flattered, will be impressed with how you want to prepare yourself and will help you in terms of exec expectations and questions. And, when you get in the room, you'll have a friend and supporter at the table.

Best of luck. You will do well. Why? Because you're already preparing yourself by your posting.

:applause:

[Haole Girl]

23. Thank you very much!

I do need to prepare, even more, I think. And, I know what you mean about acting confident...that has actually worked in the past, now that I think about it. Thank you, again. With all this great advice, from everyone, I feel better already! :hi:

[Generic Brad]

24. Try visualizing yourself doing it successfully

Besides being prepared and knowing your stuff, try to imagine yourself making a confidently making a successful presentation. Focus on that as you drift off to sleep the night before or if you wake up before your alarm. I use this exercise daily to help me deal with the unexpected obstacles and situations that inevitably pop up. It may not provide any concrete results, but it could help you focus your mind completely on the task at hand.

[Floogeldy]

25. I have some advice for you.

There was a period in my life when I could not physically handle stress and, as a result, I was experiencing panic attacks. After I began law school, I started seeing a psychiatrist because I was afraid of having a panic attack after being called on by a professor in class. Here is what the psychiatrist told me to do - - -

Pretend that I am an actor in a movie, and that there are cameras focused on me. My job was to act and speak like the perfect, quintessential law student while responding to the professor's questions/stating the case. Pretty simple, eh?

Guess what? It worked. Implementing the suggestion more or less disassociated me from myself, and focused my energies on playing the "role."

Weird, huh? Try it. But you have to be prepared. Do all you can to get ready for the meeting. :)