While taking a company sponsored public speaking course, the instructor had the perfect intro to his initial speech. He tripped and knocked over the table supporting the projector machine. With the projector broken, he started his presentation with one of the biggest flops a public speaker could make. But he broke the ice. And he had our attention throughout the rest of the course.
He intentionally tripped on the table leg (however, he didn’t mean to break the equipment). By showing his students its ok to be somewhat clumsy and loose on stage, he proved a point. Even though he was the one giving the presentation, overall it wasn’t about him. It was about the audience.
While most people are terrified of giving speeches and would rather jump into a dark abyss, there are several tips that will help you make it through (and actually enjoy) a public speaking engagement.
Know Your Audience- It’s About Them
This was by far the best advice I ever heard. No matter what the topic is, your audience is the main point. Without the audience, there’s no point in a speech. People want to know if what you have to say will affect them or their lives. And how. “What’s in it for me?” So gear your presentation to the audience. And don’t be so nervous about your gaffs or clumsy stature. No one is perfect, the audience doesn’t expect you to be. They expect you to enlighten them. So this takes the pressure off of me and worrying about my own presence on stage. They’re not interested in me- they’re interested in themselves.
Keep Breathing
Most of the smaller physical manifestations of nervousness can be minimized by this one trick. Keep breathing. If you feel yourself short of breath, pause for a moment, take a deep breath. If you happen to have bottled water with you, take a sip. Have you noticed on any Comedy Special the comedian or presenter pausing every now and then for about 3-5 seconds? Robin Williams always starts every show with at least 15 bottles of water (in mid-stage where everyone can see it). By the end of the show, he’s gone through every bottle. Taking these little breaks helps them catch their breath, think about what they’ll say, and slow their pace if they feel themselves out of air. So use the same tricks the pros do.
Hold A Crutch
Not literally a medical crutch, but hold something in your hand to keep nervous fingers at bay. Such as a pen, laser pointer, or remote. If you hold an object in your hand it helps keep you from fidgeting your hands, gesturing too much, and helps keep your focus. Keep in mind it has to be a non-distracting item. Don’t hold your keys if they jingle- this will only distract your audience from the message. And if you use a laser pointer, don’t use the laser unless it’s functional. Keep the audience’s attention on you and your message. Not clinking keys.
Make Eye Contact
Forget imagining everyone naked in their underwear. It never works. That will only make you more uncomfortable or burst out laughing. Actually connect to people with your eyes and hold for 2 to 3 seconds. Imagine they’re interested and liking what you have to say. By actually catching people’s eyes, they’re more prone to listen and get more from your presentation. But don’t be offended or get thrown off by someone breaking your eye contact. They may be more nervous than you or need to write something down. Just move on to someone else and connect with them.
Don’t be Afraid to Move
Don’t stand in the middle of your stage like a deer in headlights. Move around. It’s more casual and more comfortable. Keeping your legs moving and loose will help you loosen up overall. Also, by moving around it makes you more prone to move your gaze throughout the room. Connect with more people. Go slow and pause in a spot occasionally. Be sure not to pace back and forth (it will make people dizzy), but still move.
Public speaking takes practice. The best presenters have been doing it for a long time and work on their craft. Continuously. But the tools and tricks they use are the same as even beginners learn to use. Over time you’ll be more comfortable with public speaking. Using the tricks above will help you get through those times as you get better. Don’t get too hard on yourself, and you’ll be just fine.
Susie Sheehey - A writer, mother, wife, friend: a woman.
