Oppo, I'm Freaking Out

"Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy" (camshaft-chris) 09/06/2016 at 08:13 • Filed to: God help me, Why did I agree to this?, Don't Panic, Just keep your head above water, FUCK

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I’m gonna be training a class of 45 new employees for the next three weeks. I have bad anxiety and I’m freaking out right now. Any and all positive vibes and such would be greatly appreciated so that I don’t yak in the middle of a presentation. McLaren P1 for your time.

Steve in Manhattan > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:22

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I hear you - stayed home today because of what seems like a stomach bug combined with my not uncommon fear of leaving the apartment. Like that Seinfeld character, I’ll do anything to keep from throwing up. At least the bathroom isn’t far from the computer.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:22

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They’re new employees. Harness their fear and ground their will and self-respect into dust.

Roundbadge > Honeybunchesofgoats 09/06/2016 at 08:23

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This is the correct answer.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:24

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Good luck man. Ive just relocated on my own (gf is following in a couple months). So my stress level is... maximum right now. Same as you i suffer anxiety and also depression so im fighting right now. If you ever need a chat im here. Plenty of us know them feels.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:31

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Classic public speaking tip: picture them in their underwear. It will either gross you out or get you to laughing.

Roundbadge > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:33

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Don’t get inside your own head. It sounds trite, but you’re making it way worse than it actually is.

As you stand before them, know that they are coming to you for your knowledge. You will be the one they want to talk to initially when they have questions, as you are the source of all their information right now. You know your business...just help them understand it.

My first time in front of a large group of people (that I wasn’t in a class with) freaked me out as well. There were around 4o people in that room, mostly managers but including some senior management as well. I’d spoken to every one of these people numerous times over the years, but realizing they were all sitting silently waiting to hear me kind of shook me. Once I settled into my presentation and started fielding questions, I relaxed more and things ended up going much smoother than I imagined.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:42

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I got a good advice from my tutor when I had to present my Master thesis: if it’s your subject, and you master it, no one will question what you say.

Alex Zapata > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:49

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You can do eeeettt!!

As a fellow anxiety sufferer, once you get into the swing of things it will get better, the worst part is the anticipation; you got this.

arl > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:50

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Frankly most people are also nervous about public speaking themselves, so you’re not alone.

The more you’ve reviewed your material the better you’ll feel about presenting it and handling questions when they come up.

Every morning look in the mirror and practice tough questions. Imagine the class asking you tough, or hard questions, and review your ability to answer them.

You can also open the class each day with a 30 second to 1 minute exercise for the class. Google “brain teasers” and have the exercises written on a white board, or ready as part of your presentation. Then go around the room asking for answers. Gets the room warmed up for you.

random001 > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 08:57

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Best advice I ever got for presenting and training: remember, you know the subject, they don’t. You are just there to pass on your knowledge because you have the knowledge, and they don’t.

I add “use that to crush their spirits, and then build them back up so they see you as a god among men.”

OPPOsaurus WRX > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 09:17

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they are just like little animals. they are more afriad of you then you are them

smobgirl > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 09:17

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I’m pretty introverted and the first time I had to get in front of a group and teach I was terrified. Eventually I learned that the things that get individual people to like you also work in a group setting. If you’re a dork who tells bad jokes on a regular basis, doing that and being yourself will make you more relatable than trying to be Mr. Serious and being even more uncomfortable. Try and think of the class as a single interested person and speak to them as though they are (if it makes more sense, you will relax more if you feel like you're speaking TO people rather than AT them). Best of luck and YOU GOT THIS.

Stapleface > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 09:36

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I think everybody goes through that anxiety of being the center of attention in a large group. Just make yourself be a relatable person. These people should be looking to you for guidance, so do what you're meant to do and train them. If you still fear about looking into an audience and freezing or whatever, just make sure to move your gaze around the room. Never stare in one spot too long. And while everyone says make eye contact, if it's not something you can do, that's okay. Don't look at their eyes. Look at their foreheads, they'll never know the difference.

shop-teacher > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 11:30

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Remember, they know nothing and you know everything. You’ll be fine.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy 09/06/2016 at 12:23

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The great thing about this is that you are the trainer. That means you could say the most off the wall weird shit and the trainees likely won’t know any better.