I have been doing tons of public speaking lately, and while I love every minute of it, I still get really nervous before each presentation. Public speaking has always kinda been my thing. I was a debater (yes, all jokes welcome) in high school, and now a big part of my career is doing workshops for publicists and college students.
I really do understand why people have a fear of public speaking; it is not for the weak at heart.
However, the truth is that no matter what career path you pick, you will probably have to get in front of a crowd from time to time. Now is as good of a time as ever to get over your fear. Hopefully my “words of wisdom” can take the pressure off speaking in public:
1) Make it conversational.
Just because you are an expert on a topic, doesn’t mean you have to load your speeches with a bunch of fancy jargon. We get it, you are smart. Most of the time, the point of a presentation is to teach people something, so try to make it as relatable and easy to understand as possible. There is no point in being annoying, and trying to outsmart people with big words and obscure topics.
2) Pretend you are talking to friends.
When I am doing workshops or lectures, I try to talk in the same way I would with my closest friends. This allows you to be less stiff. I obviously have an outline of what I am going to say, but I do leave room for some improvisation. You should definitely try to personally interact with the people you are speaking to.
3) Open the floor to feedback and questions.
I find that public speaking is less awkward when you invite people to add feedback/insight as you are presenting. Right from the beginning, I always encourage everyone to interrupt me at anytime with questions or thoughts. This makes the workshops more of a discussion, rather than me just awkwardly rambling forever.
4) Wear comfortable clothes/shoes.
Sometimes when I give presentations, I am standing up for upwards of 2 hours. I couldn’t make that happen in uncomfortable shoes. Heels can become your worst enemy when it comes to public speaking. I always try to pick outfits that are professional AND comfortable at the same time. You don’t want to be fidgeting with your clothes while you are speaking.
5) Don’t stare at one thing.
Sometimes I find myself focusing on one thing or one person for too long. It is only natural to look at whatever is in front of you. However, if you are staring at one person for too long, it is extremely awkward for them. Actively remind yourself to look around, and make eye contact with everyone in the room. If it makes you nervous to look at someone directly, look a tad bit over their heads.
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