...I noticed this and freaked out with anger and rage and simply froze. I am concerned what my fellow employees thought of me, being a senior offical of the company. But my own senior colleagues were very supportive to me soon after - although I don't know what they might be thinking privately. I confronted the offender and without going in to any detail, somply asked him if he understood everything I said in my speech. He must know that he caused me to stumble so publicly.
What words of encouragement can you give me to put this behind me and not let it affect my confidence and work in the future? Thank you for your advice.
2007-04-21 00:18:55 · 12 answers · asked by Kevin 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
The guy is obviously a tosser and he should be informed (subtly) that he has has just bolloxed any future promotion prospects! Or you could make a point of stuffing up his next presentation ... don't get mad, get even!
As for your lack of confidence, don't worry about it.
There are a couple of well known psychological effects to do with public speaking which are relevant here.
[1] The audience generally don't remember (or care about) mistakes or fluffing lines as long as the message is conveyed. As long as you make your point /pass on the relevant information it really doesn't matter if you make a few mistakes etc.
[2] The "Pratfall" effect shows that audiences actually prefer speakers who make mistakes (in preference to someone who delivers their lines/speech perfectly). Audiences feel thay can relate better to someone who fluffs or makes mistakes - the speaker is human, just like the audience.
It is actually a good thing to make minor mistakes now and then, and you can capitalise on them by passing some comment such as "bear with me a second, I can't read this part of my notes as my secretary put her coffee cup on it!" or similar. It can even make the speech a bit more interesting and get some participation/feedback from your audience (which shows that they are still awake/alive).
The key thing is that you make the point that you want to make.
Any speech consists of two elements - the information that is to be conveyed and the words that envelop it. The words aren't that important ...
Forget about your interrupted speech and get on with your life.
2007-04-21 00:39:56 · answer #1 · answered by robinwhale 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi,iwill deal with the answer on two counts, which I put inpractice myself.1.never let anyone or a situationtakes control of you, or condition you, to act otherwise than YOU see fit, be in control all the time, and do act or speak as you think, not somone else, most probably, there is a coause for this behavior, maybe jelousy,envy?who knows.
2. you mentioned an audience, which could have been made up of several people, who sat there listening to what you had to say, and tgere was one, just one g......, who did whta you said.Don't you think that you tended to forget the majority of the well meanig lot, and concentrated on one, just one.
Conclusion. a very good friend of mine told me that when you go public, say in front of a 1000 peiople audience,say to yourself, that half of them adore you, the other half hate you, it works.
2007-04-21 00:33:44 · answer #2 · answered by mario m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems like you both have issues. If all it takes to put you off your stride is some idiot in the audience playing the fool then you seem very insecure for a so called senior company official.
2007-04-21 00:34:58 · answer #3 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a senior officail within the company i would aproach him and tell him that you did not appreciate his mockery of you during the speech and that if you catch him doing a nything like this again he will be given a written warning!
2007-04-21 00:24:58 · answer #4 · answered by JustJem 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i don't know the context of the speech, but i would try to work out some witty put downs (not too harsh though) that could fit in. if you get barracked again, simply insert put down and point at the offender, turning the tables on him.
2007-04-21 00:24:19 · answer #5 · answered by val f1 nutter 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
even master public speakers stumble...
it happens to the best of us...
the ability to bounce back and go up on stage again to address the audience is what separates the men from the boys...
and don't worry so much about what other people think... people will think what people will think...
spread the love!
2007-04-21 00:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by Baby Kangaroo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if it happens again, i would stop the speech. Pardon your peers and ask directly to the idiot what exactly is it that makes your speech so amusing...............do it in front of everyone....all eyes will be on the nugget taking the piss outa u. Make him look a fool ............in public. Then put a compaint about him to your HR Dept.
2007-04-21 00:25:00 · answer #7 · answered by numtydrawers 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Smile...He mocked you because he wants to be you. He can't, so he tried to bring you down, because he feels he's beneath you. I hope when you talked to him you were the "bigger" man and didn't lose control. Because if you were cool it would eat him up even more. This just shows you're doing something right. Be proud of yourself.
2007-04-21 00:45:43 · answer #8 · answered by Jusntyme21 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
get a friend to punch him in the face. tell him if he takes the piss again and undermines your authority you will kick him in the goolies
2007-04-21 00:24:55 · answer #9 · answered by 90210 aka Hummer Lover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Numtydra got it right.
2007-04-21 00:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by ~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋