Scared of Public Speaking? Get up and do it!

Are you afraid of Public Speaking? If so, you probably avoid it. Or you do it but play safe, with downcast eyes, reading your notes, scuttling off as soon as possible.

 

Do you play safe?

Playing safe to avoid looking foolish probably makes sure that people don’t know what you care about. They don’t know your real purpose is – why you do what you do. If you leave people in the dark, they can’t support you!

This is true whether you’re keeping things from your team, from your family, from the wider community. So, Rule Number 1 for those who lead is: share the information. And share the vision, your hopes and fears.

All this makes your communication skills better. Especially if you take note of feedback.

 

Communication skills? Which ones?

There are many types of communication that professional people need to master. Some will be easier than others depending on your personality. If you’re not a natural extrovert, networking may be more of an effort. Or you may have an outgoing personality but something makes you a nervous presenter.

You may be one of those who prefers emails, but some of us would much prefer you to pick up the phone.

Good verbal communication is central in all of the following key situations in the workplace:

• public speaking
• presentations
• chairing meetings
• participating in meetings
• appraisals
• coaching your team
• telephoning

The central skills used will be the same: speaking and listening, and maybe some writing as back-up. Reading too – if you read too fast and miss stuff, communication can’t take place – but more of that in a future article.

“You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” Lee Iacocca

Public Speaking – a big opportunity

I’m going to focus in on Public Speaking again because it’s a such a huge opportunity for a leader. You can convince many at once. You only need to prepare for one occasion. You can take questions once, not over and over again.

But, conversely, you can also disappoint many at one sitting. You can leave them thinking “What a missed opportunity to dispel our anxieties, show us what plans they have, excite us about the future!”

So it’s worth getting better at Presenting and Public Speaking. Here’s some advice to take on board.

 

Public Speaking advice: 1

Before you start, get into the zone. See yourself as a leader. Lead the way with real belief and they will follow. See it as your job to inspire people to believe in you and your vision.

Public Speaking advice: 2

Believe in the value of your message: let your belief and enthusiasm shine through.

You could be heading a huge multinational or a team of just 3. Equally, you could be the team’s expert in a skill which others want to master, or the trainer at the front of the group. Whatever the context, you need to believe in your message and in the point of what you are communicating. You need to feel enthusiastic about it. Then let that show.

Public Speaking advice: 3

Hone the message to its bare bones – to a short simple sentence or group of sentences. Then build it up with examples.

Get more tips for speaking with Impact and influence at Alison’s live event in Oxford on 1 July. Book here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/secret-weapons-to-double-your-impact-and-influence-tickets-17534035773