Public Speaking

Despite its prevalence in the corporate world, public speaking is a difficult skill to master. Standing in front of a room full of people and speaking about a topic is a common fear for many people from all industries.

So how can a person not only get over their fear of public speaking, but refine his or her skills to become a public speaking expert? Here are a few tips that can help novices polish their next speeches and feel more comfortable while giving them.

Prepare (Make Sure You Practice)

Improvising a speech isn’t such a great idea – an unrehearsed, ill-written speech will bore the audience and harm the speaker’s credibility. Solid preparation is key for a stunning presentation.

First, identify the audience that will be listening to the speech. Are they friends, family members, coworkers, upper leadership, board members, or executives? Each audience type will require a different presentation purpose. For more professional settings, for instance, tone down the informal aspects of a speech and highlight moments that teach, inspire, and motivate.

After writing the speech or outlining the presentation, rehearse. Make sure to take time in the days leading up to the speech to practice a few times a day. You can practice a speech during a commute, while you’re on a plane flying to a conference, or during a morning exercise routine. Practicing in front of other people will help a presenter build confidence and reduce nerves, as well as provide an opportunity to hear feedback to make the presentation stronger.

Use Gestures, Expressions, and Body Language

If a presenter is standing still, not moving his or her hands, slouching, or wears a blank-faced look, the audience becomes bored. If a presenter is talking about a happy subject and frowning, or talking about a sad subject and smiling, the audience can become confused. The presenter then loses credibility – and no one will remember the presentation.

Incorporating gestures and practicing open and positive body language will help a presenter retain credibility and excite the audience. A presenter should always:

• Stand or sit up straight – no slouching!
• Make sure that the facial expression matches the words
• Make eye contact with the audience
• Incorporate hand motions and gestures to emphasize their speech

Speak Slowly and Clearly

Lots of presenters are so nervous about their speeches that they tend to speak as quickly as possible to get the speech over with. The problem? The audience likely has no idea what the speech was about!

Nerves tend to make us speak faster. When giving a speech, it is important to speak slowly and take time with the words on the page, presentation, or notecards. The audience needs to hear those words, and they won’t be able to if the speech goes by too quickly. Don’t be afraid to take pauses for emphasis or to breathe.

Take a Deep Breath

Before the speech, make sure to take time to relax, decompress, and de-stress. Pre-speech nerves can carry over into the speech itself, leading a presenter to shake, speak too fast, fumble over words, and otherwise show the audience that they’re nervous.

Do breathing exercises, listen to calming music, drink a cup of hot herbal tea or water, and meditate. Everything will be okay with some solid preparation and relaxed nerves!

Additional Resources:
https://www.inc.com/brent-gleeson/20-tips-for-mastering-art-of-public-speaking.html
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/27-tips-to-be-a-better-public-speaking
https://abovethelaw.com/2018/08/5-tips-to-improve-your-public-speaking-skills/
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/17/elle-kaplan-8-simple-ways-great-public-speakers-overcome-their-fears.html

4 Communication Skills All Employees Need

The idea of public speaking fills even the most experienced of professionals with dread. There’s something about the idea of addressing a group, no matter how small, which is fundamentally frightening. Upon further reflection, it’s not so hard to see why. When you address a group or even just a colleague, you’re laying your expertise on the line and exposing it to criticism from superiors and peers alike. So how do you keep the communication channels open and productive without losing your cool? Follow these tips to avoid communication breakdown.

Listen

The key to effective communication isn’t simply articulating what you mean when you mean it. True communication is an exchange, not just of information, but of emotion and intent. Instead of anticipating what you think a person means, wait for him or her to finish. Think a moment before composing a response.

If you don’t understand the exchange, then don’t be afraid to say so. A useful way to phrase this might be “So what I think you’re saying is,” or “What I am hearing is,” before summarizing your extent of understanding and asking follow-up questions. This makes the speaker feel valued, and it saves you the frustration of a misunderstanding later.

Pay Attention to Body Language

Sometimes, it’s up to you to play detective and figure out the non-verbal cues your colleague is sending out. For example, if a fellow employee says he or she understands a concept you just explained, but has pursed lips or isn’t making direct eye contact, he or she may just be too afraid to ask you to elaborate. When you’re the one speaking, there are simple things you can do to exude an air of confidence and friendliness:

• Keep your shoulders back, make direct eye contact, and smile. Even if you’re nervous, you’ll seem competent and in control.
• Avoid defensive poses, like arm-crossing. This effectively puts a barrier between yourself and the person you’re speaking with.

Consider Your Tone

Social media and the internet have helped us make great strides in many areas, including communication – at least, in theory. When engaging in internet dialogue, pay attention to grammar and make sure nothing you say can be misconstrued. Humor is often misread as passive-aggression online, so if you’re trying to diffuse a stressful situation with a joke, it might be best to do it in person.

In personal exchanges, it’s also important to remain crisp and professional, even if you’re just speaking with a colleague. Don’t be too casual, and save the swearing for when you’re off the clock. On the other hand, asking colleagues about something personal, like their children, can be a courteous way to open a professional dialogue.

Recognize Stress

If an exchange with a colleague, boss, or group isn’t going as well as you anticipated, pause and gather your thoughts before you go on the defensive (or offensive). Take a couple of deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth as you compose yourself. See if there’s a compromise available in light of a conflict, or simply agree to disagree. If you feel anger bubbling to the surface, excuse yourself and take a walk. Don’t engage in the heat of the moment and do untold damage.

Following these tips takes practice, and it’s a constant exercise in self-improvement. However, if you’re willing to work at it, you may find addressing groups at the office doesn’t fill you with the same anxiety it used to.

CLICK HERE to learn more about LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

Additional Resources:

• Effective Communication – Improving Communication Skills in Your Work and Personal Relationships
• 10 Ways to Communicate Better at Work

Capitalize on the Briefest Opportunity: Craft the Ultimate Elevator Speech

You know those moments. The CEO is standing in the elevator, and your idea is flawless. Nerves undercut these opportunities all the time because few people properly prepare for those 60 seconds.

The perfect elevator pitch ensures that those elevator doors are opening to more than just the fifth floor level. A well-delivered pitch can launch your career—or your business—into the successful place you’ve always dreamed about. But so many people don’t seize the opportunity when it’s in front of them. The key is having your pitch developed long before the moment arrives. When it does, you’ll be prepared and deliver your pitch with confidence.

What Makes a Good Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch can either be a 60-second verbal pitch or a written summary of your business objective. Elevator pitches are harder to craft than you think: they have to be compelling, memorable, and concise, so they leave a lasting impression in a short amount of time. Here’s how to do it.

Step One: Determine Your Goal

What is the end goal of your pitch? Do you want to explain your organization or idea? Do you want to sell a new product? Identify the problem that your audience has and how your idea offers a solution for it.

Step Two: Explain Your Solution

How does your idea or product solve the problem that you identified in step one? You should be excited when writing this part of the pitch. Your organization is creating a real solution for your customers’ problems! If you’re not excited when you’re writing your pitch, your audience won’t be excited listening to it.

Step Three: Explain What Makes You Different

There are plenty of other products and services out there that are in direct competition with your business. The way to make yours memorable is to explain what makes it different. This is called having a “unique selling point,” and it’s what will either turn your audience on or off. Find out what makes your idea the best, and back it up with facts.

Step Four: Close the Deal

Close the deal by making your audience think about your idea. Engage your audience by asking them a question. Make sure it’s an open-ended question that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. The goal is to get them thinking about how your product, service, or business will benefit them.

Step Five: Polish and Practice

Once you’ve prepared your perfect elevator pitch, bring it all together and trim it down. Take out any information that isn’t absolutely vital. Your pitch should be 60 seconds or less with 30 seconds as ideal. Practice your pitch as often as possible and get used to delivering it. Pay attention to your body language and your tone. The goal is to deliver it naturally and with confidence.

CLICK HERE to learn about sales coaching.

Additional resources:

• How to Craft an Elevator Speech That Makes a Big Impact
• Crafting an Elevator Pitch – Introducing Your Company Quickly and Compellingly
• The 7 Key Components of a Perfect Elevator Pitch
• Craft a Killer Elevator Pitch in 6 Easy Steps

Jerry Seinfeld said it best:

“According to most studies people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number 2 is death. Death is number 2. Does that sound right? This means to the average person if you go to a funeral you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

When people come to me for help with their presentation skills, the first thing they ask is: how do I overcome my fear? My response is simple: MEET fear; she’s your new best friend. Then go ahead and embrace fear and let her propel you onward to a great presentation! Put another way, like the NIKE adage: JUST DO IT!

That’s not to say you should get up in front of an audience without preparing. Being prepared is numero uno! But after preparing and knowing your material, get up, stand up and speak up, just as if you were telling me a story.

When I coach my clients, I ask them to think of all the times they have every single day to practice their presentation skills: with their co-workers, their friends, their spouses, or even with their children. Work on making clear concise statements in small ways and your confidence will grow.Then when you get your first big break, you will be ready.

And finally, remember, there are plenty of scary things we do everyday, without giving them a second thought: like driving a car, riding an elevator up 35 flights, and getting on airplanes.

So next time you have to present, let fear propel you and JUST DO IT!