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So I have to give a speech tomorrow...

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Barry Badrinath

Senior Member

176 posts
Aug 29, 2012 2:44 PM
I'm "running" for President of a student organization that represents my graduate program. I have plenty of relevant job, internship, and life experiences so I'm not too concerned on that front. I have always been very personable and extroverted and have no problem meeting and talking to people. I also teach classes at the undergraduate level and don't have a problem speaking in front of my students either. But for some reason I always get nervous when I have to present or speak in front of my peers.

I guess I'm just looking for advice on how to differentiate myself from my competition (running against two other students). Any advice on what to include or not to include, what to say or not say, how I should refer or incorporate my past experiences and stuff of that nature. Speech is only going to be a minute or two.
Aug 29, 2012 2:44pm
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Cher

Senior Member

276 posts
Aug 29, 2012 2:55 PM
Talk to your audience like they're people and not like you're a salesman, and you'll be leaps and bounds better than politicians
Aug 29, 2012 2:55pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Aug 29, 2012 2:56 PM
Make sure you only focus on your opponents' birth certificates and/or tax returns.
Aug 29, 2012 2:56pm
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vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:00 PM
[video=youtube;BiAwpYIkRmU][/video]
Aug 29, 2012 3:00pm
Apple's avatar

Apple

Prost!

2,620 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:05 PM
Show your conservative side. Conservatism wins every time.
Aug 29, 2012 3:05pm
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QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:15 PM
Relay to the group your succesful methodology for problem solving, and wear a Romney for President lapel pin.................(whoops, better not do that if you are in an academia setting; you'd be outnumbered 10:1).
Aug 29, 2012 3:15pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:17 PM
Try to avoid making any comparisons to national politics because only fucking retards try to carry that over to every single thing going on in the world.
Aug 29, 2012 3:17pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:26 PM
I wonder when people will realize that political jokes are just simply not funny.
Aug 29, 2012 3:26pm
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:29 PM
Heretic;1257111 wrote:Try to avoid making any comparisons to national politics because only ****ing retards try to carry that over to every single thing going on in the world.
.... Only during an election to save the nation --- slightly important, .....even (and especially) to 30 year olds still living in mom's basement.
Aug 29, 2012 3:29pm
Rotinaj's avatar

Rotinaj

Senior Member

7,699 posts
Aug 29, 2012 3:31 PM
SportsAndLady;1257122 wrote:I wonder when people will realize that political jokes are just simply not funny.
Well considering most people are R-Tards im guessing never.
Aug 29, 2012 3:31pm
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Barry Badrinath

Senior Member

176 posts
Aug 29, 2012 4:25 PM
I would have been better off staring in to the toilet at the shit I just took and asking it for advice.

Heretic wins so far.
Aug 29, 2012 4:25pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Aug 29, 2012 4:28 PM
Ok, serious advice...you have to know who you're talking to. What's your speech about? Is it why you'd be a great president? Your plans? Focus on facts - what the organization does now, what the goals of the organization are, and how you can help the organization better achieve their goals.

As far as being nervous, most everyone gets nervous speaking in front of a group. You have to channel it, take deep breaths (seriously, don't forget to breathe). Focus on making your point in a succinct manner. Use notecards​, but don't put everything you want to say on them. Just jumping off points or main themes.
Aug 29, 2012 4:28pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Aug 29, 2012 4:35 PM
gorocks99;1257161 wrote:Ok, serious advice...you have to know who you're talking to. What's your speech about? Is it why you'd be a great president? Your plans? Focus on facts - what the organization does now, what the goals of the organization are, and how you can help the organization better achieve their goals.

As far as being nervous, most everyone gets nervous speaking in front of a group. You have to channel it, take deep breaths (seriously, don't forget to breathe). Focus on making your point in a succinct manner. Use notecards​, but don't put everything you want to say on them. Just jumping off points or main themes.
Yeah, like he said, esp. with notecards. It's best if you know basically what you're saying and to be natural with it. You want the notecards as kind of an outline to put down your main ideas, so with one quick glance, you're good to go naturally for a couple talking points.

Public speaking's not really my forte, though. Unless you consider awkward pauses and me looking at my feet more than the audience to be good things you want advice on how to properly pull off.
Aug 29, 2012 4:35pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Aug 29, 2012 4:38 PM
QuakerOats;1257124 wrote:.... Only during an election to save the nation --- slightly important, .....even (and especially) to 30 year olds still living in mom's basement.
Aug 29, 2012 4:38pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Aug 29, 2012 4:55 PM
Barry Badrinath;1257159 wrote:I would have been better off staring in to the toilet at the **** I just took and asking it for advice.

Heretic wins so far.
I wasn't kidding--the audience needs to be entertained, or at least have the impression that they're being entertained...you need to loosen up, Barry ;)
Aug 29, 2012 4:55pm
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Barry Badrinath

Senior Member

176 posts
Aug 29, 2012 5:31 PM
I'm not concerned about nerves as much as I am about what I am gonna say. I don't wanna be the guy that just overkills his qualifications or talks about a bunch of ideas that no one gives a shit about. I'm looking for some kind of edge I suppose.
Aug 29, 2012 5:31pm
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Cher

Senior Member

276 posts
Aug 29, 2012 6:08 PM
Barry Badrinath;1257202 wrote:I'm not concerned about nerves as much as I am about what I am gonna say. I don't wanna be the guy that just overkills his qualifications or talks about a bunch of ideas that no one gives a shit about. I'm looking for some kind of edge I suppose.
Dress casual.
Aug 29, 2012 6:08pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Aug 29, 2012 6:16 PM
Cher;1257089 wrote:Talk to your audience like they're people and not like you're a salesman, and you'll be leaps and bounds better than politicians
Is more than one of you speaking to the audience during class?

I think the opposite of Cher. You have to sell yourself to the audience. What are you going to bring to the student organization that nobody else can?

Purpose- To get elected.
Process- What you bring to the table. "I'd do this, this....etc"
Payout- The benefits after you are elected and changes made.

You don't want to get too "wordy" with the audience.
Aug 29, 2012 6:16pm
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Cher

Senior Member

276 posts
Aug 29, 2012 6:36 PM
said_aouita;1257220 wrote:Is more than one of you speaking to the audience during class?

I think the opposite of Cher. You have to sell yourself to the audience.
If he wants to stand out to anyone, he needs to grab their attention somehow. If he goes up there and does the same thing as everyone else he's doomed.
Aug 29, 2012 6:36pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:17 PM
Make promises that you don't have to keep. Say you will work on getting The Ohio State University's football team to come down and sign autographs in the quad, or that you'll help push for a new student center. It works, seriously.
Aug 29, 2012 7:17pm
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vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:21 PM
sleeper;1257247 wrote:Make promises that you don't have to keep. Say you will work on getting The Ohio State University's football team to come down and sign autographs in the quad, or that you'll help push for a new student center. It works, seriously.
Are you sure he's at OSU?
Aug 29, 2012 7:21pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:26 PM
Cher;1257224 wrote:If he wants to stand out to anyone, he needs to grab their attention somehow. If he goes up there and does the same thing as everyone else he's doomed.
I agree. That's why he needs to sell himself in a way that everyone thinks they'd be crazy not to select him.
Every point made, everyone has to agree with. Get everyone shaking their head "yes" and thinking yea, I agree.

What can you do that nobody else can? What experience do you have, that nobody else can match?
Aug 29, 2012 7:26pm
C

Cher

Senior Member

276 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:34 PM
said_aouita;1257254 wrote:Every point made, everyone has to agree with.
Then he will be no different from any of the other idiots.
Aug 29, 2012 7:34pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:36 PM
Cher;1257260 wrote:Then he will be no different from any of the other idiots.
You've already heard their speeches?

"Talk to your audience like they're people" - What do you mean by this statement?
Aug 29, 2012 7:36pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Aug 29, 2012 7:37 PM
Cher;1257260 wrote:Then he will be no different from any of the other idiots.
You've already heard their speeches?

"Talk to your audience like they're people" - What do you mean by this statement? Did you think he was going to bark at the students, pretending to be a dog?
Aug 29, 2012 7:37pm