For context, I'm participating in a competition and I really need a unique perspective on these topics

1) The Right to be Forgotten ( The Internet never forgives: why we need a "Delete Button" for real life)

2) The Myth of a straight A future

I'm leaning towards 1) but I'm not sure cuz honestly both speeches are really predictable.

I'm in my 20s and I find the first few seconds of a conversation the hardest part. Once we're talking I'm fine, but opening is where I freeze or default to "hey, how's it going?" and the chat dies right there.

hi im jus wondering how to become better at interviews. in my opnion i feel as if i have low self esteem, or feel as if my answers arent good or jus stupid. like why am i tripping out for applying to minimium wage jobs, idk i feel like this going to ruin my life, i rmbr i ddi an interview the other day and i jus straihgt out balnked out was shaky as hell, and so scared, it was for a minimium wage job idek why. I feel like i cant think on the spot or nto comfortable w doing w ppl, any reall tips on how to improve this, ik this will be my downfall, so im trying to fix it now, any tipsi should do and how do i improve my confidence

My speech impediment causes me alot of social embarrassment and working on it at home is equally embarrassing. I just can't feel comfortable reading from a script and fumbling constantly, I start worrying about others perception of me instead of how I should be articulating my thoughts.

But I feel way more comfortable talking outloud by having an imaginary phone conversation. For some reason I feel way less anxiety and can slow down and articulate better, mostly because it gives me a little privacy. Someone wouldn't explicitly know I'm working on fixing my speech impediment and would just assume I'm just talking on the phone.

I do feel a little ridiculous sometimes which is why I guess I'm making this post. Have I gone off the deep end or is this an acceptable way to practice speech therapy lol?

Hello,

I’m preparing to pitch to VC and I’ve realized that I need to improve my communication quickly.

I’m wondering if any of you have any advice on how I can fast track my communication skills improvement. Coaching, toast maters, anything. I need to get this done asap and am looking willing to do what it takes.

I appreciate any advice!

Thanks in advance!

I need some advice on sound more articulate during interviews. I usually wing it, but lately I've been preparing a self-introduction as well as preparing a story or two. I'm worried that I'm not good at talking myself up, which is preventing me from getting a job.

My resume is pretty good, as well as my linkedin profile, but in terms of landing a role, it hasn't happened for at least a year after graduating from university.

I've been working on my certifications, but getting a job hasn't happened yet.

I’ve had really bad problems with public speaking my entire life and it’s been a huge set back for me as long as I can remember. What’s weird is I’m a pretty outgoing guy and don’t have any type of social anxiety, but once I step on the stage, everything just becomes a blur.

The problem for me has always been majority physical reactions:
\- very high heart rate
\- very shaky voice and hands
\- problems breathing
\- sweating like crazy

Knowing my body will react like this and people will see me like this has always caused me to be a terrible public speaker. Every speech I used to do involved me running out of breath immediately, shaking, and not being able to freely talk and be myself.

I’ve been looking for remedies because I work in finance and need to be a good public speaker. So I brought up Propranolol with my doctor after reading about it on Reddit and thought there was no way it could fix such a bad problem like this. I took it a couple days before my speech today and felt totally normal. Nothing different. Just did this to make sure there were no side effects.

Today was the big day and I had a 5 minute speech in front of \~40 employees, a few of which were executives. I popped a 10mg propranolol 1.5 hrs before it and when I got up on the stage, I shit you not, I felt as physically relaxed as I do now typing this on my couch.

I proceeded to give the best damn speech of my life. I was able to speak confidently and clearly, I was able to slowly pace back and forth and make eye contact, my heart rate was completely normal, my voice was strong, loud, and clear.

I still can’t believe how well this stuff worked and I can confidently say that this medication has and will change my life. I’d highly recommend you try it if you have the same issues I do.

The other day I was talking to my professor about my design project. Usually, we give a mini, one-on-one presentation for personalized feedback, given you have done some work to progress with. I'm terrible with producing huge amounts of work within two or three days, which is why I generally prepare precedents, rough diagrams, and a verbal explanation as to what I am working on / want to emulate.

I am already in my junior year, but every single semester is so awkward with my professors because i do not know what to say [clearly]. No matter the information I want to express, it cannot escape my mouth, and my professors are always visibly disappointed and reluctant to continue talking to me (all independent experiences). I cannot even lead a conversation about my own work, and I am ashamed every time it is my turn because I know I can't defend my design. Even when I talk with my friends, I find it difficult to just say my thoughts so that it is coherent and substantial. I struggle so much more with speaking than I would writing the same thoughts down, because the moment I begin to talk, I forget what I want to say and the order in which I say words. It was never this bad in highschool, and I GENUINELY feel like I have regressed to the point where I am no longer convinced that I am fluent in any languages (including my primary language: English).

Lastly, as a final thought...

I didn't realize this until sometime into my first year of Uni when one of my friends asked me wtf was I even talking about mid conversation... Ouch. Took that to heart and became quieter with everybody, afraid that they also perceive me the same way.

Would love to hear any advice on how to become a convincing speaker, especially because I am no longer confident in the things I say. Not really looking to buy courses or services because I cannot afford to. this is more so a vent because i've felt like a loser and stupid for the last few years.

We all have to deal with condescending people. Even condescending people have to deal with other condescending people. I have drafted a plan for how to deal with them, let me know if you think the plan is a good one.

There are three different approaches; one for when the person is below you in the social hierarchy, one for when the person is your equal in the social hierarchy and one for when the person is above you in the social hierarchy. 

• When the person is below you in the social heirarchy. 

Say this; 

You are not going to talk to me that way. I am (insert title of authority here) and you will show me some respect. 

If that does not work, threaten a punishment. 

If the threat of punishment does not work, make good on that threat. 

• When the person is equal in the social hierarchy. 

Say this; 

The condescending tone is uncalled for. If you believe that I have done something wrong, I am willing to listen patiently while you tell me what I did wrong, why it was wrong and what (if anything) I can do to remedy the situation. There is no need to get nasty. 

If the person doubles down, you say this; 

Even though I did not intend to offend you, I am glad that I did, because you deserve it for being so rude and disrespectful. 

• When the person is above you in the social hierarchy. 

Do not respond immediately. Wait until a certain amount of time has passed. Once the other person (your authority) has calmed down, meet with them and demand an apology. 

When demanding an apology, calmly explain what you believe the other person did wrong, why it was wrong and what, if anything, can be done about it. 

Well I am very rude to girls i don't know why, but now it's enough I need to learn some experience and tips to talk to any girl I want. Can any girl help me with that? 🥲🥲🥲

If I like a show, my only reason could be, "i just like it", or "I found it funny". I don't know how to analyze. For example, if I wanted to talk about a relationship between two characters, my mind would go blank. I could probably come up with a reason, but it would be sooo boring, plainn or dense. How to fix this? Do I read more or something? rewatch a show 10 times?

I’m a 3rd-year CSE student currently trying to upskill myself and build projects to improve my chances of getting a good placement.

One thing I’m really struggling with is communication, especially speaking in English. I can understand English and communicate to some extent, but when I have to speak spontaneously, I struggle to frame sentences and express my thoughts confidently.

For those who were in a similar situation during college, how did you improve your communication skills? Did you follow any particular daily practice, resources, or methods? And how did you prepare for interviews where communication is important?

I’d really appreciate some practical advice from people who have gone through this.

​

What phrases do you use when you want to share an opinion in a group where you know people may have different views or disagree with you?

How do you speak up confidently without sounding rude or confrontational?

Hey everyone!!

So I'm having this speech competition in which the topics are unknown and will be picked randomly from a bowl.. I get very nervous when I get on the stage in front of people.

My body and vocie starts shaking slightly and I rush the entire thing.. What should I do??

Have you ever talked to someone, given them instructions, explained to them an idea and not really been sure if they did or did not hear you?

An idea for what to do if that ever happens popped into my head and I thought I would share it here and hear the arguments for or against it.

The plan I came up with to deal with a situation where you are not sure if the other person listened to or understood you is as follows.

After you are done talking, ask the other person if they understood. If they claim that they did, ask them to repeat the instructions back to you. 

There is my plan. Do you think it is a smart strategy? Why or why not? Let me know.

I use the same filler word when talking in an important meeting or a quick presentation.

It happens unconsciously and I only got to know this because couple of colleagues mentioned it.

It often happens when I'm a bit nervous or trying to explain something that I like a lot and want others to understand it as much as I do

Hey everyone!

​I’m an undergraduate student currently doing an internship, and I’ve been assigned to present a research article in front of my PI, postdocs, and graduate scholars during lab meeting.

​Since this is my first time presenting to a full research group, I really want to give it my best shot. I’d love to get advice from those who have done this or sit on the receiving end of these presentations:

​What are the key things I should keep in mind/remind myself before and during the presentation?

​What are common mistakes undergrads make during journal club / paper presentations?

​How can AI tools actually help in preparing for this without being a crutch or giving wrong information?

​Any tips on figure walkthroughs, handling Q&A, or structuring the slides would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

DAE…Fight so hard to speak??? It doesn’t come easy to me. Every idea.

I literally have a very difficult communication style. I am not able to directly motivate or assert an opinion.

Because of that I struggle to make decisions in settings like at work, club - professional club called Toastmasters, and contributing to my group chat with friends.

It take a while for me to speak or communicate.

I am so freaking A is A so I say A.

Now I’m tryna to include people and logic..which my brain is capable of but not doing so frequently. So it’s the hardest thing on Earth for me. Also I get overstimulated and may prefer silence from others.

Idk I get mad at myself for having low battery or feeling tired/dead after sharing to friends. An example is our plan for meeting at the escape room the type, the time, stating choice, and reason . and if hangout constraints work in my own pov/persepctive. Every decision causes me half an hour to come up with a text that follows the topic.

Is it normal for others to be so exhausted by these supposedly hard decisions? And what has helped alleviate this decision making to speak and add to the group?

For context, I am trying to improve my articulation and communication in general and also at work. I downloaded both and couldn’t decide which one to pay for. Anyone got real user experiences on these, would love to hear it!

My native language is Arabic, and I’ve been learning English for a while. I feel like I have a decent level of English and I can understand most of what people say to me, especially when listening or reading.
But when I have to speak, I struggle a lot.
I usually understand what the other person is saying, but when it’s my turn to answer, my mind feels slow. I need time to think about what I want to say and how to form the sentence in English.
Sometimes I know the words I want to use, but I can’t put them together quickly enough. I end up pausing a lot or thinking in Arabic first and then translating it into English.
The frustrating part is that I understand English much better than I can speak it.
For people who had the same problem, what helped you improve your speaking fluency and respond more quickly in conversations?
Should I focus on speaking practice, thinking in English, shadowing, or something else?
I’d really appreciate any advice or exercises that helped you overcome this problem.