Practical tips for public speaking

Image by rgaymon from Pixabay

From time to time I am called to speak in public. Even though I have spoken at many hundreds of events, with crowd sizes from groups to many thousands, I still get nervous.

So I thought I would share some of the tips that help me personally, in the hope that others may share their own ideas and that this would be useful for all of us — whether it is our first time on stage or our last.

Preparing a presentation:

1. Firstly, don’t accept an opportunity to speak about something that you are not passionate or knowledgeable about.
2. Decide on one overarching point that you want to share.
3. Develop a clear structure — intro, body, end.
4. Try not to have more than three main points that you are leaving with the audience.
5. If appropriate, use the PIC concept (make a Point, Illustrate each point with anecdotes or case studies, make sure each point has a Challenge or recommendation or insightful take away).
6. Check the timing by rehearsing out aloud. Yes, you must do this. It is better to have less content delivered slowly and clearly, than rushed or skipped content.
7. Use pictures rather than words — the advantage is you can say whatever you like as long as you remember why the picture is there.
8. For each slide; if there is only one thing you have to say about this — what is it?
9. Don’t use slides unless it is expected. Much has been said on this elsewhere.
10. Seek opportunities to experiment with formats like video, music, interactive polls etc.
11. Build in questions throughout your presentation — it takes the pressure off you for a moment, and helps to build engagement with the audience.

Prior to the event:

1. Drink lots of water the day before.
2. Don’t drink alcohol in excess (or at all if possible) the night before.
   Get a good sleep.
3. Don’t wear clothes that restrict the flow of blood to your head. If you wear a tie and buttoned collar it will look smart, but for speaking get one collar size bigger — it can prevent (literal) choking. If your shirt doesn’t quite fit, unbutton the top button and tighten your tie just enough that it looks right; even better to wear an open collar.
4. Try and get to the venue ahead of time. If you can get up on stage to see what it is like — great!
5. Meet the organisers and ask them how you can help to make their event a success — see what they are hoping for (if you haven’t previously covered this leading up to the event).
6. Check your presentation is correct with the audio and visual team.
7. Maybe the sound person needs to wire you up with some kind of fancy apparatus that you haven’t seen before. Be interested, ask questions, learn. Although they see this as routine, you might want to know about this for the next time. Ask — any tips?
8. Once the room is full, take a look at the crowd from the front of the room — get familiar with what it is going to look like when many expectant faces are focusing their gaze on you. Yes, that is going to be weird — it’s not normal for everyone to be looking at you. Embrace it. They will be waiting to see what you do and say.

When you are about to take the stage:

1. If your heart is racing, and your hands and head dripping, and your stomach churning — don’t try to block it. Accept that your body wants to prepare you and that you will be able to use and focus that extra adrenaline. Above all, do not think ‘oh no, I’m nervous’ — change the mantra into ‘this is great, I’m ready.’
2. Breath slowly and remember your place in the world. You are one of many billions of people at this current time. Many have come before you and many will come after you — it is unlikely this day will be inscribed in the history books.
3. You are also special. There is a reason why you are here, in this moment. Your knowledge, your humour, your personality, your experience — all of these things have value and we as a species learn from stories. People want to know what you have to say.
4. But this is not about you. You are the only one that cares deeply about how you come across, whether you did a good job, if you were interesting, how you looked etc. That is your Ego. You are here for the audience, to give something — from you to them. Focus on giving and sharing; it is hard to be selfish and insecure when you are thinking about other people.
5. The audience may have paid big money to be there. They may have sacrificed their time. Whatever energy and insight you give to them will be the basis on which they decide if it was a meaningful exchange. Don’t hold back.

Walking on to stage:

1. You’ve composed yourself and you are ready.
2. Smile. On the outside and on the inside. Tell yourself — this is going to be fun.
3. Get on stage — pause, look at everyone, take stock. Speak, or shout (without distorting the microphone), or however you intend to greet the audience.
4. Do your best. Your best is always good enough.

Coming off stage:

1. It’s not over — now is the time to start learning. Remember, no matter how it went you have just had a practical learning experience — we are always learning.
2. When people say “you were great” (they will), thank them genuinely and then ask “what do you think I might have done differently to be more impactful?” or “which things that I covered were most useful to you in your own life?” or “what do you think I could have spent more time on?”
3. Enjoy networking with all the people that now want to talk to you or connect.
4. Later, when you have a moment to yourself, note down what you would do differently next time — make sure you check in on those things before the next opportunity.