Did you know that humans fear public speaking more than death? If they were given the choice, I’m sure they’d pick public speaking over death but the fear persists nonetheless. The root of this fear comes down to anxiety and fear of judgment.
What if no one listens to me? What if I have nothing interesting to say? What if I make myself look like an idiot?
By now, I’m used to public speaking. Whether it’s in front of a crowd or over a livestream, I do it time and time again. I won’t say that I never struggle with some of the anxieties surrounding public speaking, but I’ve learned by now how to manage these fears and deliver killer talks regardless.
Mastering public speaking takes time. Get ahead of the curve by unlocking these essential public speaking secrets:
6 Secrets to Unlock Your Public Speaking Potential
1) Know Your Audience
You can deliver a stellar talk, but if it’s for the wrong audience, it will fall flat. Know who you’re talking to. Is this a crowd of peers? Industry outsiders? Tailor your speech to fit the audience. This means changing certain words and phrases, tweaking your tone, and being cognizant of the experiences of your audience. You want your talk to give them something to chew on. The worst thing you can do is leave people confused or feeling as though their time has been wasted.
At the end of the day, you want to be the kind of speaker who cuts to the heart — addressing what your audience cares about most.
2) Practice!
Public speaking takes practice. There is no shame in writing down what you want to say and practicing in front of a mirror. In fact, it can help instill you with greater confidence as you grow more familiar with your delivery. You’ll be better able to identify awkward sections, unclear points, and other opportunities for revisions.
3) Bring Notes
While you don’t want to deliver any speech while glued to your notes, they’re good to have with you. It could be notecards in your pocket. If you’ve practiced, you’re less likely to need them. However, notes can offer needed guardrails. When you’re feeling nervous, it’s easy to get off track and chase proverbial rabbits, leaving your speech disjointed and unclear. Notes can get you back on track if you lose focus.
Another tip? If you’re new to public speaking, don’t try to ad-lib. You’re likely to end up with foot-in-mouth syndrome.
4) Slow Down
When we’re nervous (as most public speakers are in the beginning), we rush. When you launch into your speech immediately without pause, you signal your nerves to the audience. Take a breath. Give it a beat of silence. Then begin. By the same token, slow down your actual spoken words. Anxiety makes us talk more quickly, which can make us more difficult to understand. Pace yourself and enunciate.
5) Make Eye Contact
You might be tempted not to make eye contact with your audience, particularly if you’re worried about finding the crowd snoozing during your speech. Looking “at everyone,” though, doesn’t feel all that personal and engaged. You want your audience to feel talked to rather than talked at. Linger your eye contact with different audience members one at a time for a sentence or two before moving on.
6) Master Body Language
Did you know that 80% of what we communicate is nonverbal? It’s true. What we say only paints a small fraction of the full picture. As you get into public speaking, your body language becomes that much more important.
You want to communicate that you are a confident, relaxed, and experienced individual. Mind your posture — back straight, shoulders back, chin up. Don’t be afraid to move — walk around the stage, gesture with your hands. Being too still makes you seem stiff and nervous rather than confident.
Smile. Relax your muscles. Convey not only that you’re open and comfortable, but enjoying what you’re doing. And don’t lock your knees. Want to really be embarrassed? Pass out during your speech!
When it’s all said and done, thank your audience for their time and attention. It is the most valuable thing they can give.
As you speak more and more, your confidence will grow. Eventually, public speaking will be second nature — and a valuable tool in your entrepreneur toolkit.
What are your best public speaking tips? Share in the comments.