<p>This is my first semester in graduate school and I'm already struggling. I had to give my first presentation on Monday and I completely tanked. I was supposed to present an article and I understood the article, made a great powerpoint and tied everything together. I really did spend a lot of time preparing and I rehersed it; however, it was clear my presentation was a disaster. I was so humiliated- I spoke too quickly, was shaking and instantly forgot everything as soon as I got up in front of the class. </p>
<p>We have to do a group presentation in the near future and I am worried. My classmates are all part of the same program, but I am enrolled in a different program. It is intimidating because they all already know one another and I doubt anyone will want me in their group now. I felt like crying afterwards. The presentation is worth 15% of my grade. I am concerned. Should I email my professor and ask for his advice as to whether I should stay in the course? I understand that part of graduate school entails practicing tenacity and sticking difficult things out, but this has bothered me so much that I have had nightmares about it.</p>
<p>How have you been with public presentations in the past? If you’re uncomfortable with them in general then you might want to see if your school offers any sort of counseling or groups to help with public speaking fear.</p>
<p>Even though I enjoy public speaking, I’ve found I really do best when I practice the entire speech, out loud, while timed, a minimum of 3-4 times. It helps you know where you’re going, how the flow should be, and about what pace you feel comfortable talking.</p>
<p>Right, I practiced my last conference presentation nine or ten times the day of while imagining that I was in from of the audience and it ended up going really well (as opposed to the time before). Also it isn’t weird to ask a friend to watch you present beforehand.</p>
<p>Welcome to my life. I’m a good public speaker, but there’s something special about giving a scientific presentation to scientists that kills me. I get full of self-doubt and lose confidence when people ask questions because there’s just so much data and difficult, sometimes contradictory evidence, that my brain freezes. It’s something that I’m working on, so let me give you some advice I’ve been given that has been helping me.</p>
<p>My first piece of advice is to shake off this first one. Honestly, your classmates won’t really care or remember how you did. They’ll have a vague memory of it. Faculty are more likely to remember but they DO want you to improve and do your best, they want their program to succeed and part of that is graduating excellent scientists who can present their data. Don’t let the bad feelings from this one seep into your future work.</p>
<p>Second, force yourself to present MORE often. Talk to your PI about doing a lab journal club every couple months so you can get used to speaking and answering questions in a safe setting. Volunteer for departmental or school poster sessions. If your school has a Toastmasters, go to it! Do whatever you can to talk serious science to people who will ask you tough questions.</p>
<p>Third, practice your actual presentation with friends who know the material and can give you constructive criticism. Try to have it “locked” a couple days ahead so you can practice until it’s smooth and you never stumble for a thought.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>When I was first starting (too many years ago…), I would write out a complete script on the backing paper for each transparency so that when I took the sheet off the back and put the transparency on the project, I would have the script there in my hand. Clearly this is not possible in the same way with electronic presentations but there are possibilities for you to have your script on the laptop monitor while the projected screen shows your slide. Alternatively, write the script out so you can refer to it.</p>
<p>Once you have done this and you practice multiple times with a friendly audience you will find yourself referring less and less to the script and giving a more natural presentation.</p>
<p>One other thing that I found useful the first times I was giving presentations was to just put the entire slide up on the screen at once instead of staging it. This will relieve you of the burden of remembering when to click the advance and seeing the whole slide at once will remind you of the points you want to make. As you get more comfortable, you can stage the slide more effectively.</p>
<p>As others have repeatedly stated, practicing a lot is the best way to become a better presenter.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. It was all really valuable. I’m great with speeches, but like rabbitstew I find myself full of self doubt when presenting science to scientists. </p>
<p>Thank you so much, xraymancs, those strategies seem particularly helpful.</p>