PS the cartoon posted by Tricky really sums it up well! I heard the average attention span is about 8 minutes?

Make sure you take time to pause between sentences and add emphasise to the sentences where you want to make a point. For example if there is a part of your talk which you feel strongly about make good use of innotation, without being over dramatice off course! I have seen some good presenters use this tatic. Talking at length can make your mouth dry and it not necessarily related to just nerves, so don't be afraid to take some water when you need it, you pausing to take a break also gives your audience time to absord what you are saying! I found that postive self-talk also works. There is a great sense of achievement after a presentation especially one you are nervous about. So best of luck and certainly do what you think will work for you. Let us know how you get on.

I recently had to do a presentation which I was very nervous about. I found it helpful to have the presentation in add notes on the power point slide show. I then printed out the slides with the notes and where I didn't have a slide I just read from a paper (this part I kept very brief though). Some people can talk at length without notes but I think when you need to use notes the main thing is you are well rehearsed. I found it difficult to keep repearting the same thing over again when I was practising but it really does work. First there is very little chance to trip over any of your words as you know them so well and it also means you can look up at the audience more often.

Malandrot, I know someone who is a manager in an International hotel and I will pass this on to him. No doubt he will have lots of contacts as well. Good luck with it.
Epzds, thanks for posting this very interesting question. This is something that anyone who is researching with individuals in organisations will want to know how to tap into. There is a book which I am going to recommend. I have to get around to reading it myself but it might be useful in the context of your question. "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

Hi Icy, I am also 9 months into this experience. I have probabtion report coming up. I have attended a conference and training events but not presented at any conference. I am due to present at department seminars. In terms of progress I dont' feel I have made alot of progress as haven't really started to form any opinions of my own and I am still learning from papers. Each arguement I read seems reasonable and I find it hard to take a standpoint. Still waiting for inspiration!

Hi Moomin, I am still a first year student so forgive any lack of experience in my answer. From what I hear the PhD is just as much about the skills that you learn and how you face the challenges to get to where you are going to - i.e to finally finish. You say you haven't really found anything out, this is a finding! That fact that nothing has happended is also significant and the reserach community will be interested. I hope this helps, you are nearly you must keep going.

Hi adrastea, what about looking up some university staff in your area of interest and sending them an email where you can show your interest. I applied for a topic which was already decided but I am sure many people here in the forum would have made initial contact to potential supervisors in this way. From talking to a PhD supervisor that most important thing to show in your email is that you are aware of the person's work that you are writing to. Best of luck with it. You sound committed informed and passionate about your subject area of interest, you just need to communicate that to a potential supervisor.

Hi, I have added notes to my powerpoint presentation. Can anyone tell me how to use powerpoint slides so that I can see the notes but my audience can't.

I have a presentation coming up soon and am taking passionflower tincture for anxiety. I have just started taking it, so I can't tell if it has worked or not for me. Another commonly prescribed herb is valerian which I hear actually does help to relax. Good luck for your viva, it's really great that you have come this far.

Hi, just posting to say I have changed my username from Shasiani to bulbs.

Thanks for your reply SeaBird. I am finding this first year difficult mainly because of the uncertainty about what I am doing. I can imagine the 3rd year being difficult because of the writing and as you say deadlines. Best of luck with your submission, it’s great to be nearly there

This question is probably more directed to those PhDs who are in their third or final year. Just wondering which year you found to be the best in terms of interest or the year you found to be least difficult (if there is such a time)! I see many replies in the forum saying that the hard work really starts in the second and third year. I have though had conversations with people who say the first year is the worst. Any thoughts on this one?

Does anyone know how to change your username? I realised my username is similar to Shani's but would like to change my name anyway! If Shani is reading this just want to say you post some good advise and inspirational stories that keep us going.

I am 7 months into my PhD in the Social Sciences and I feel I don't have any focus. I am approaching my probation period and I am quite anxious about this as I have not yet defined what approach I will take. Any comments on your experiences at this time of the PhD process would be really appreciated.

Zoo-fish, I assume that you have yet to apply for the other PhD that you are interested in? You can still apply and withhold a reference from your supervisor until you get an offer of the other place. Like robber I would say that your supervisor should be understanding and supportive of you. This is going to be your PhD and you need to be fully interested.