3 P’s OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
I recently had the chance to speak at a virtual event. I enjoy public speaking but prefer to do it in person. However, this was a completely virtual stage, so I had to get out of my comfort zone to be on video. It was a great opportunity to share my knowledge and push myself to do something I may not otherwise do.
I had a short notice to prepare for this event so I didn’t waste any time pulling together some content to present. That short notice got me thinking about the process I use to get ready for speaking events. This week I am going to share the 3-step version of that process to help you get ready for any event that may require you to speak to a group!
1. Preparation. The first step in getting ready for a public speaking event is to prepare. In this step you determine your topic, pull together your content, create a rough draft, edit, then draft the final version. In the preparation phase you should also get familiar with the venue in which you will be speaking and decide what to wear (it may seem premature at this point but getting this detail out of the way early will save you some stress later).
For your speech, I suggest making cue cards with no more than 2 paragraphs of text per card. If they are typed, use double spacing a font size of 14 (Arial is a great font for cue cards) and keep them around 5.5” by 8” (a half sheet of regular paper). This way they are small enough to hold without being distracting and you won’t be searching all over the page for what to say next.
2. Practice. You all know I am huge proponent of practicing your communication. Practice is such an important part of public speaking. You do NOT want the day of the event to be the first time you say your speech. I have said before that practice makes permanent. The more time you put into practicing your speech, the more comfortable you will be when it comes time to present it.
By taking the time to practice, you will develop more confidence, and build familiarity with the words you intend to say. This will help you put your nerves at ease. You might feel like a dummy practicing what you need to say before the big day, but by doing so, you know you CAN say the words. Then you just have to say them again!
If at all possible, practice in front of a few people so that you can get used to having eyes on you while you speak.
3. Presentation. It’s finally here – the big day when you get to present the fruits of your labor to your audience. This is when your preparation and practice will pay off. While you spend most of your time in this process preparing and practicing, it all comes down to the presentation. Remember to control the variables you can and don’t stress the ones you can’t.
To keep your nerves at ease when the time comes, stick to things that are familiar. Wear comfortable shoes that you know you can handle standing in, wear clothes that you know you feel and look good in, and don’t overthink any of the small things that might cause your stress level to rise.
Some of us get anxiety about all the things that could go wrong when we speak in public. My solution to this is to ask yourself out loud “What is the worst thing that could happen?” and how you will react to it if it does. Then answer yourself with the most logical worst-case scenario. For example, if you will be speaking with a microphone, what is the worst that could happen? The mic decides not work. How will you react? Speak louder so you don’t need it! Depending on your situation, the what-ifs and worst cases could vary, but reminding yourself that you can overcome any obstacle that might present itself will help you when it is go-time.
I hope these tips help you on your next speaking gig. Thanks for stopping by!
If you want to learn more about how to improve your public speaking, click HERE to book your FREE discovery call with me. I can’t wait to get to know you!
Ciao for now!