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I currently work as a media strategist at an ad agency. I am a good strategic thinker and can develop some really creative and logical ideas. The problem is I am a horrible presenter. I like brainstorming in small groups and throwing out my thoughts, but my boss has suggested I should present my ideas to a client. This scares the crap out of me as I am not a very charismatic person.
I know people are going to say I should grow out of it, but I honestly have no interest in business pitches. I can make good looking Powerpoint presentations, but I'd rather leave the pitching to someone who is NOT socially awkward.
Unless your boss can understand this you may not have much of a choice. If you do have to do it, try improving your presentation skills with organizations like toastmasters
I dont know of anything that doesnt require any public speaking. Like one person suggested, overnight at the morgue. I think youd pretty much have to find a job that leaves you in solitude, and is not during business hours, so there would be no customer/vendor/client/coworker interactions. You would also have to stay at a low level position, so that you are never relied on to present any facts or findings, just a do your job and go home kind of deal.
You could be an overnight commercial cleaning staff or a maid who primarily cleans while people are not in. You might be able to find a job at a cleaners........most everything I can think of really mostly involves low level service jobs working overnight.
Presenting is an important path for career growth. If you can produce presentations and deliver them then you will get all the credit. You will only get minimal credit if you just produce - and you will be considered only for more journeyman roles. That's just a consideration.
Presenting and public speaking takes practice and its something most people have to work towards to master. Practice makes perfect as does making sure that your presentations can stand one their own (i.e. your talking only enhances the content) - i.e. if you loose your train of thought, you can look at the presentation and read it. I've known great presenters that create word for word scripts. Some great presenters just adlib - its really what your preference is. And the best speakers are the passionate ones - if you have a passion for the content you are creating, just let that passion, excitement, and enthusiasm come out when you talk about it. If you can get excited and passionate about a presentation, jitters will fade after the first few minutes.
Joining a local Toastmaster's club will definitely help you overcome the natural fear so many of us have with public speaking. Try that first and give it a little time. You will have lots of support there to help you overcome your nervousness.
If you want to move up in your career as a manager, you need to be good at public speaking.
Joining a local Toastmaster's club will definitely help you overcome the natural fear so many of us have with public speaking. Try that first and give it a little time. You will have lots of support there to help you overcome your nervousness.
If you want to move up in your career as a manager, you need to be good at public speaking.
Your boss must have more faith in you than you do in yourself. You say you are socially awkward but have no trouble in small meetings with co-workers? I agree with nctecchie - if you don't grow out of this fear, you are putting your long-term career in jeopardy. Be fearless.
I agree with the others. Instead of actively looking for jobs that don't require public speaking, you should work on sharpening your public speaking/presentation skills. Trust me -- it'll do wonders for your career.
I currently work as a media strategist at an ad agency. I am a good strategic thinker and can develop some really creative and logical ideas. The problem is I am a horrible presenter. I like brainstorming in small groups and throwing out my thoughts, but my boss has suggested I should present my ideas to a client. This scares the crap out of me as I am not a very charismatic person.
I know people are going to say I should grow out of it, but I honestly have no interest in business pitches. I can make good looking Powerpoint presentations, but I'd rather leave the pitching to someone who is NOT socially awkward.
Anyone have any career suggestions?
Obviously your boss sees something in you that you don't. Face your fears.....just think of the Client as your boss, because inevitably they are. You may surprise yourself. I was like you, and put off the public speaking required for my degree until the last year....I wish that I hadn't...it was so much fun, and I got very good at it. Later it became my forte in my work. Life is about challenging ourselves, and growing from those challenges...You may help your career so much. Trust your bosses instincts....if you know your field enough to throw out valuable ideas comfortably among your peers...You can do this. Go get em!!
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