How to overcome stammering in a presentation

[jontypearce]

I am frequently being asked how to overcome stammering during a presentation or a speech. This is an example

>I have to make a presentation and i get really
>nervous when i have to talk in front of people and
>due to that i start stammering and fail to get my
>point across well.please tell me how to remain
>confident.

I run a forum called Presentation Helper. My father used to suffer from a stutter and was able to speak in public, but I hav had no experienceof it.

If any one has any information on how to overcome stuttering during a presentation could they please leave drop me a message here, or even better post one on the thread on the Presentation Helper Discussion Board.

http://www.presentationhelper.co.uk/discussion/messages/7/104.html?1090766867

Many thanks

Jonty Pearce

[Jessica]

Thank you for the website I have to do a presentation next week and the website is really helpful and gives great advice on how to prepare yourself for a presentation

[shellea]

is there a specific section for stammering or just general speech info

[climberszen]

I may be wierd, cause I read alot about people practicing on this site, I personally find the more I practice or script a talk the worse my stutter. In stead, I know the slides (key points) and talk on the fly. That way I am free to alter as I need/see fit.

I also start out every presentation by straight up telling people I stutter and "if I get stuck and point at you, say the word for me and I will be albe to say it after that no problemo". I try to kinda make lite of the matter up front to put everybody at ease... it seems to work and I am far more fluent.

[thatCALIdude]

what i like to do is use a powerpoint. make vague topics and read from flashcards to avoid stammering. i dont know abour reading abilities but thats what works for me. if i try to talk in front of people without flashcards im going to fail big time

[btomcik]

Well, a few years back I had to give a 45-minute presentation to the Indianapolis chapter of ASCE to over a hundred of my engineering colleagues. My God I was so nervous, as several of my immediate supervisors were there along with some friends. I was on Zoloft at the time to help with my social anxiety disorder, which was compounded by my stuttering, which then made my stuttering worse. I rehearsed the day before the presentation and did horribly. I was expecting a disaster.

About a week before the presentation, I upped my Zoloft dosage and fortunately the presentation was held at a hotel. I went to the bar before hand and had two beers. I think that took the edge off.

I ended up doing great, despite having a couple brief stuttering moments during the presentation. I think that experience gave me the confidence to speak in public, though it's not something I would go out of my way to do again.

I found that bringing humor into the presentation helps a lot. The laughter makes you relaxed and relaxes the crowd, which makes the presentation go better. I had a lot of humor in my presentation.