Forget the sabretooth tiger. The heck with things that go bump in the night. Few experiences stimulate greater fear in humankind that standing up and talking in front of a group of people.
So, I’m going to share 10 things I’ve learned that have brought my fear under control and made me a good public speaker. And, believe it or not, I now seek out the chance to speak to groups! Who knew it could be so much fun!
#1
Research Your Audience Beforehand
Fear is stoked by “the unknown.” So, fight back by gaining knowledge. If it’s an external audience, you can do some online research about the company or the industry. Learn terminology, trending issues, technological advances, and most importantly, why they are in that room to listen to you.
Using the right industry terms and references shows the audience you put some effort in getting ready to speak with them. You show empathy toward them.
#2
Make Your Audience “Personal” to You
If possible, speak with some attendees beforehand. Get the contact info of 3 or 4 registrants (or employees if it’s in-house} and have a brief phone conversation. Ask questions that will give you insights you can use to connect your message to their worklives, and try to uncover issues your knowledge could help them with.
This makes your audience “personal” to your presentation. Notice I did not say this “personalizes” your presentation. By putting a “voice” to your audience, YOU get to know them as something other than a sea of blurred faces. They become real people with substantive challenges. Individuals who are there to learn from you. They become “persons.” And that changes how you speak and how you relate to them. It’s very powerful.
These first two tips are more useful when talking to people outside your department or company. But it could help if you’re speaking with people in different disciplines or divisions within your organization, too.
#3
Speak from “Memory Triggers.”
No Speeches!
Want to lose an audience fast? Read your speech directly from your 8.5” x 11” papers at the podium. Can you hear the snoring and thumbs tapping at their cell phones?
Yes, write out what you want to say so you can create a solid narrative. With it spelled out in front of you, you can be sure you’ve included all the details and that your logic and words flow. And that you’ll be able to take your audience successfully from thought A to conclusion M.
Once that’s done, though, turn your writings into talking points or “memory triggers” as I like to call them. Use these memory triggers as your notes when you’re on stage, or in front of that Boardroom. More about making the transition from written-out speech to memory-triggering notes later.
#4
Write your Memory Triggers
BIG and In COLOR.
Make these notes easy to read when you’re in front of people. In front of a group, when you’re looking up and down, trying to make eye contact, glancing between the screen and the clicker, it can be tough to find your place in your notes.
By using big font sizes, your notes are easier to read. And by using different colors for different points, you can more quickly identify where you were when you last looked down at your notes.
#5
Include Stories, When You Can
This one can be tough. Storytelling is truly an art. And we may think we do not have the stories we need to illustrate our points.
To be sure, not all presentations require stories. If you’re giving the quarterly results, you’ll probably want to stick to the numbers. (Later we’ll have some tips to make them more interesting.)
But when you’re sharing new knowledge with people, using stories about how your concepts affect the lives of others is very powerful. Humans love a good story. Stories contain characters and emotion. They make human the concepts we’re trying to explain.
Stories don’t have to be about “you” or based on your personal experiences. Those are good, of course. But you can acquire good stories from others. Read. And listen to others. Start thinking about your daily encounters with co-workers, clients, and when just running errands or on vacation. You’ll be amazed at the stories you can accumulate that you can adapt for a variety of situations.
I’ll wrap up my suggestions for speaking better in public in my next post. In it, look for tips to create more effective PowerPoints, how to get people to pay attention, and ways to reduce your on-stage anxiety.