Lets just look at your post for a second, you have some comments
that are small and I expect you see no meaning in them.
Point 1) I have to give a presentation (I'm forced)
Point 2) group of 20 including my boss ( I'm being judged)
Point 3) 2 times I sucked (blocked, blocked and blocked).
You have already biased yourself for defeat before you have even
began. Your mind will focus on these little negative points and
concentrate into turning them into reality.
Your like me, my brain does this to me all the time. I read some of
my old material and say to myself "No wonder I stuttered".
I'll gladly give you one of my recipes for a great speech. But it
focused so will only last for the duration of that speech. This is
because Stuttering is situational. I take it your going to be using
a method so we'll work around that.
Firstly we want to do the opposite of what everybody says, we want
to create a comfort-zone and stick firmly within this comfort zone.
Secondly don't even bother to even consider being fluent. The stress
from this alone will work against you.
Plan your speech early, prepare it well and rehearse it at least 10
times. People always assume that good speakers don't practice. In
fact all the best speakers practice more than 10 times. They know
the speech back to front and inside out. Its timed and they know
exactly what point they are at any time. Good speakers put more
effort into their speech then us stutterers do.
Record your speech as you practice, we all have camera phones these
days. The feed back is worth its weight in gold, or years if you
want to improve your speech.
Every paragraph should have an emotional or Human point. This keeps
it alive and keeps the human touch, this helps drives it forward. In
my work its very technical so I try to use everyday comparisons. An
example would be "The outline of the shape is long and thin, this
keeps it away from the other sections. In the same way as people
stand when a lift gets crowded." If you manage to get an emotional
edge to your speech with a positive upswing you won't stutter or you
will stutter more. As you are using a technique I suggest you slow
your speech down at this point.
Plan your speech to have pace, keep it flowing. But break it up
into 2 minute sections. Practice your technique hard on the
beginning of each section. This acts as adding little pockets of
comfort zones inside the speech.
Steal good vibes, chances are you know all the people you are going
to present too. In the coming weeks, during lunch or general office
chat. There will be a time where you see them laugh or smile. Grab
that and stick it in your mind. Before you begin your speech quickly
look at each person in tern and replay them all , bang bang bang.
take small chances to place yourself where you will be during your
speech. use your technique well for a few breaths here. Stand up
straight, spread yourself out in a power position. And then step
away.
Go to bed early starting from 3 nights before, Eat well. This gives
your psyche energy and gives it a protective glow.
Before you perform your speech, bring it forward, reconfirm the
time with your boss. This makes it yours. you own it.
If someone introduces you, speak over them, joke with them. It puts
you in control. Rather than "I'm now handing over control to Steve."
But you have to accept to yourself that you may stutter, but that's
all part of pushing yourself forward.
If you want to be really good at speaking you need to drop the
modesty and be more self promoting. Regardless of your level and
ability.
Enjoy,
Max Stringer.
