Let's talk about public speaking
- Jun 6, 2024
- 8 min read
From nervous to natural, let's talk about public speaking.
For some of us, public speaking will come incredibly naturally, whereas for others, it can be a really daunting prospect.
Whether you are addressing a small team or a large audience at a conference, the fear of stumbling over your words or losing the crowd's interest can make even the most confident of professionals feel uneasy.
For me personally, I sit in both groups. With a mind that runs ten times faster than I can speak and a deep-rooted passion for communicating effectively, whilst talking to people about projects and campaigns, it can get a little bit tricky.
I am almost certain that there are some of you out there that are either in the same boat as me or in a similar situation, and so, for our let's talk blog post this week, I thought I would share another of my favourite communication tools.
Let me introduce you to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations' fantastic and comprehensive guide that can help you transition from a nervous novice to a natural speaker.
This guide is packed with practical advice and techniques designed to boost your confidence and enhance your public speaking skills.
For those of you who are not members of the CIPR just yet, I thought I'd walk you through some of my favourite highlights, insights, and personal experiences to ensure that you are well-equipped for your next public speaking occasion.
As this is both a topic and tool I could talk about at great length, I've narrowed my overview down to five key steps to keep things nice and efficient.
Let's start with identifying public speaking opportunities.
Step One: Build your skills by finding or creating opportunities to speak publicly.
You need a place to practice, practice, practice.
Start by looking within your organisation.
I'm talking about team meetings, project updates, or even informal gatherings such as team-building events and company networking events.
Why? The content that you will be sharing will likely be a whole lot more familiar, and you will have your colleagues around you to provide constructive feedback.
Quite a few of us have a work bestie, right? Ask them if they'll provide you with feedback at the end of the weekly team meeting. Feedback is everything!
From there, you could then explore external opportunities too. A pretty popular and accessible option would be online platforms like webinars and virtual panels.
You could also try external networking events; they quite frequently need speakers, and these can be less formal, providing a more relaxed atmosphere.
Step Two: Pick your tech tools wisely.
Whether you're in a physical or virtual office, tech tools will play a pretty significant role in your public speaking efforts.
Let me give you a practical example.
For me, I routinely speak publicly from a remote environment regarding topics that require me to take complex information (usually something scientific) and make it more engaging and accessible.
My three favourite tech tools in this instance are Slido, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams.
Why? Well, with Slido, I can create interactive polls, word clouds, and other live feedback opportunities to keep my audience engaged and actively participating throughout my presentation.
With PowerPoint, I can integrate my slide polls, charts, images, content and videos seamlessly. I can also work with presentation design wizards such as Ana Sofia Mendes to make the visual aids interactive, accessible, and engaging.
Then, with Microsoft Teams, I can share the tremendously well curated PowerPoint slides with my audience, set up breakout rooms, and launch my live Slido polls to keep my audience actively listening and participating.
Dependent on my client, I have also utilised Mentimeter, Keynote, and Zoom to create the same support flow.
There are lots of fantastic virtual use options out there!
Alternatively, for speaking in front of a physical audience, then tools such as teleprompters, digital screens, physical versions of your product, or printed charts and visuals can be really helpful.
But wait, the tech tools don't end there!
The skills guide also recommends recording your sessions with a webcam or smartphone to provide valuable insights into your delivery style and ultimately refine your approach.
Through watching back my own practice videos, I was able to learn that my eye contact with the audience or support materials would quite often slip.
An easy error to correct, but one that I likely wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for the practice videos!
Step Three: Do you have a speaking structure?
No matter what you are communicating, good timing and structure can really strengthen the effectiveness of your public speaking.
You could...
Begin with a strong introduction to capture your audience’s attention.
Use a compelling anecdote, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question.
Once you’ve hooked your listeners, move into the main body of your speech.
Break it down into clear and concise points, each supported by evidence or examples.
Which would...
Make your message easier to follow and more impactful.
Alongside having a solid structure, it's important to keep to your timing throughout. Nobody appreciates a meeting that runs over or an agenda item that eats into another presenter's time.
Now, this doesn't mean that you should play a game of beat the clock or the fastest presenter wins. Instead, practice with a timer, find a pace, and plan how long you should spend on each section.
By mastering your structure and timing, you're ensuring that your speech flows smoothly and that it leaves a lasting impression.
Step Four: Conquering Confidence Michelle Obama Style.
Mrs. O said it best: "Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude."
Amongst many other topics, "Becoming" by the magnificent Michelle Obama provides some great insights into conquering confidence when public speaking.
In her book, Michelle Obama discusses her evolution as a public speaker, detailing how she initially struggled with nerves and self-doubt.
For some of us, that sounds pretty familiar, right?
When I first read through the CIPR's public speaking guide and their advice on confidence, I couldn't help but think of Michelle Obama's public speaking journey.
Over time, she learned to embrace her authentic voice, drawing strength from her personal experiences and values.
By practicing diligently and staying true to herself, she grew more confident and effective at connecting with diverse audiences, ultimately becoming a powerful and inspiring speaker.
This step is probably the trickiest, but also the most rewarding to conquer.
Why? Because being confident when speaking publicly is challenging, but it’s crucial for delivering an engaging and effective presentation. The sense of accomplishment you will gain after championing your speech or conversation point is truly amazing.
Now, instead of telling you to go down the seemingly traditional route of picturing everyone naked or counting to ten, here are my favourite confidence-building top tips from the CIPR's guide:
Start by practicing deep breathing to calm your nerves before stepping into the meeting or onto the stage. It really helps to centre yourself.
Visualise a successful presentation to cultivate a positive mindset. Imagine yourself nailing every point and seeing the audience engaged and appreciative.
During your speech, focus on speaking slowly and clearly. This not only helps manage anxiety but also ensures your audience understands your message.
Make eye contact with different sections of the audience to create a connection.
If I can, I like to know who is in my audience; that way, I know who to look at during specific sections to build rapport and potentially generate a cascading response.
You know that moment where one person in the office comments on how hot it is and then everyone suddenly feels too warm? It can be the same in an audience setting. One person with a leading opinion nods, claps or comments and the people around them follow.
Pretty cool, right?
Would you be interested in learning about what this process is actually called and why?
Yes please!
Maybe
No, thank you
Next up, use pauses to emphasise key points, and give yourself a moment to collect your thoughts. Pauses can be powerful!
If you make a mistake, don’t panic.
Simply correct yourself and move on. Remember, even seasoned speakers experience slip-ups and keeping a composed demeanour will make these moments seem insignificant.
Lastly, practice regularly. The more you speak in public, the more natural and confident you will become, which is a little nod to what we discussed in step one.
Remember, confidence in public speaking is like a muscle—the more you work it, the stronger it gets.
Staying composed and confident will help you deliver your message effectively and engage your audience.
So, take a leaf out of Michelle Obama’s book and keep pushing forward.
You’ve got this!
Step Five: Quality Q&A sessions are everything!
The final step from the Public Speaking Skills Guide that I would like to cover is making your question and answer sessions rich in quality.
I'm not talking about big, beefy answers that cover every plausible version of your audience member's question, nope.
I mean the whole session and everything about it.
While you may have felt a bit nervous delivering your speech, you may find that you have audience members who are nervous about asking questions in a group setting.
This is why it is super important to make your Q&A session welcoming and collaborative.
Kick things off with a welcoming tone.
Begin by inviting questions with a positive and open attitude. Having a friendly and warm approach will encourage your audience to participate and ultimately set the stage for a productive session.
LISTEN, actively.
Make sure you really listen to each question. Give the audience member your full attention, practice your active listening techniques (e.g., eye contact), and take a moment to craft your thoughtful and well-rounded response.
In doing so, you will immediately initiate a respectful rapport with your audience member while setting the tone for the rest of the conversation.
Now, this is a big one...
Be honest.
If you don't know the answer, then admit it and offer to follow up later on.
It's far better to be straightforward than to fumble through an uncertain response that will likely come back to bite you later on.
This next tip will help you HUGELY with your timekeeping.
Keep it concise, by directly addressing the question to keep your audience engaged and maintain clarity.
If you feel that the answer really does require a longer discussion, then offer to catch up with the person and anyone else who is interested in an alternative format.
This could be a separate meeting, an email, a 1:1, or... a super cool blog post ;)
In the same stream, if you have a complex question with multiple parts, break it down into more manageable sections. It will really make your response easier to follow while demonstrating your ability to handle intricate topics.
AND lastly, summarise your key points and show appreciation.
You should wrap up your session by reiterating your main message and thanking your audience and questioners for their input.
It will leave a positive and strong final impression on your audience while reinforcing your core message.
and that's it.
That's how you can take the wild ride from a nervous novice to natural...natterer? That was a stretch.
Well, we've walked through my favourite insights and tips from the CIPR's skills guide AND somehow managed to bring the mighty Michelle Obama into the mix, and so I will end things here.
Public speaking is a powerful tool, use it wisely!
Make sure you...
This blog series is not sponsored by any of the brands or public figures refereced throughout.
