Public speaking tips

Glossophobia, or speech anxiety, is the fear of public speaking that’s rooted in our anxiety about being judged, embarrassed, or rejected. That feeling of dread that causes our hearts to race, our skin to perspire, our mouths to go dry, and our hands to tremble when we’re required to take centre stage and speak to a large group of people. Nervousness in this sort of situation is normal, and unsurprisingly, glossophobia is very common, with over 70% of the population affected.

It was certainly a problem for me when I was at college. I can still remember feeling overwhelmed by the urge to run out of the classroom whenever I was asked to give a presentation. But there are several things we can do to overcome it.

20 tips that helped me manage my fear of public speaking:

1.      Know your material, break it down into key points, and script your presentation.

2.      Great presentations usually tell a story. First, the audience is introduced to the problem and its impact on people or the environment. Then the speaker demonstrates their ideas on how to resolve it. So use your presentation to tell your story and share your vision.

3.      Use plain English and keep it simple.

4.      Make numbers meaningful. Compare large numbers to things people understand. Infographics are great for this.

5.      Rehearse it until you have it down pat. Then throw away the script. Memorising your presentation gives you a false sense of security, which could leave you high and dry if something goes wrong on the day. Just keep a card with an outline of the key points as an aide-memoire.

6.      Structure your presentation to fit your allotted time slot. But be prepared to increase or reduce the length of your speech, if necessary, by having an anecdote or a couple of slides you can easily add or remove.

7.      List any concerns you have, and prepare for the worst. Knowing you have a backup plan in case the technology fails, or you have a coughing fit, even if it’s only a pre-prepared flip chart and a glass of water, you’ll feel better, and be more confident.

8.      Videotape your presentation. Work on anything you’re not happy with.

9.      Deliver your presentation to a small group of friends and ask for feedback.

10.   Visualise any feared obstacles such as trembling, dry mouth, or forgetting your words. Then visualise yourself triumphing over these and delivering a fantastic presentation to an appreciative audience.

11.   Arrive at your speaking venue early to get familiar with the space. If you’re using any equipment, such as a laptop or projector, make sure everything’s working.

12.   If circumstances allow, meet and greet as many of the audience as possible before your presentation begins, so that by the time you start speaking you’ll see them as individuals, rather than as a large, scary group.

13.   Take several slow, deep breaths to help calm you as you take up your position in front of the audience.

14.   Keep in mind that a majority of the audience fears public speaking, too, so there’s no need to apologize for being nervous. Instead, do your best to accept that stress is normal.

15.   Memorise your opening line. If you know how you’re going to begin, you’ll get a strong start and that will build your confidence.

16.   When speaking, remember to smile and make eye contact with audience members in all sections of the room. Good eye contact communicates confidence and authority.

17.   Involve the audience at the beginning of your presentation by asking a couple of simple but relevant ice-breaker questions. Turning the tables in this way will take the pressure off you, and increase audience participation.

18.   Using imaginative physical props will also take the audience’s attention away from you and will set your presentation apart from those that use more conventional methods to tell their stories.

19.   If you go blank, take some seconds out, pause, smile, and say something like “My mind’s gone blank. Can anyone remind me what I was just saying?” You’ll be surprised how many people want to help you get back on track. You might then be able to add a quip such as “I was just testing to see who’s paying attention!”

20.   Invite audience questions at the end of your presentation. Prepare a list of things you might be asked and be ready to answer them. If you don’t know the answer, say so, and tell them you’ll find out and let them know the next day/week. Be sure to follow through.

For those whose fear of public speaking is severe, or interfering with their daily life, a doctor may prescribe Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or medications such as beta-blockers or antidepressants.

Thank you for reading this blog post. If you have any thoughts to share, or ideas for future posts, please do let me know. I would love to hear from you.