It’s said that for many of us, the Number 1 fear is public speaking.
But I’m weird like that – I love it! Put a microphone in my hand, give me a captive audience and I’m one happy camper.
The hubster, and approximately 90% of the population, wonder why on earth I get myself into these things …
Sure, I still get nervous beforehand but I love getting up there, speaking from the heart, motivating and encouraging others, sharing stories. And afterwards – I’m on a massive high!
This was not always the case however. So how did I grow to love public speaking?
Public Speaking at School
I loathed having to give lecturettes at primary school – a 3 minute talk, which we usually presented with an accompanying poster we had made ourselves. (Do kids still have to do them? Are they still called lecturettes? I think my kids called them “oral presentations” which to my mind, sounds more like something you do at the dentist!).
At high school it was even worse. I remember having to do one in Year 11 and being so terrified my knees LITERALLY shook the whole way through. Which was mega embarrassing, because our uniform skirt was short, so everybody could see it. I was mortified.
But then something happened.
I was in teacher’s college and had to present a 45 minute seminar about a particular aspect of Australian history, for assessment.
I. LOVED. IT!
I surprised myself by relishing every moment of it … and since then, my love of public speaking has only grown. I’ve spoken at conferences with hundreds of attendees; and to small groups of half a dozen. I’ve conducted writer’s workshops; and preached sermons at churches. (Most of these opportunities grew out of the magazine I used to run, which ceased publication in 2012.)
I must confess: I’m a bit out of practice at the moment as I haven’t really done any public speaking since then.
However a couple of weeks ago I had to give a 10 minute presentation as part of the judging process for the Redland Women in Business awards (I’m a finalist!). And gosh it was good to get back behind the microphone, even if I was quite nervous.
5 Tips to Help You Love Public Speaking
I’ve realised that there are a number of things that have helped me to grow to love public speaking, and they might just help you, too!
- Prepare your presentation. I’m a writer, so one of my favourite parts of the process is preparig my presentation and crafting a speech that will hopefully captivate my audience. I also know that preparation is one of the keys to feeling confident, and enjoying public speaking.
- Use props. Whether it’s a Powerpoint presentation, a ball of clay, or paper plates with different faces drawn on them, I’ve been known to use a prop or two in my time. Most people are visual learners, so it’s a good idea to give them something to look at. (It also means they are not starting at you all the time!). However, *always* have a plan B ready, in case the props don’t work – for example, the Powerpoint doesn’t work (as was the case at the Redland Women in Business recently!).
- Get the audience to participate. Whether you get a couple of volunteers to role play something for you, or ask the whole audience to discuss a question with their neighbour, or close their eyes and imagine something – get the audience involved in some way.
- Choose a topic you know and love. If you really know your subject matter, you can’t help but enjoy sharing your knowledge and experience with others.
- Practise, practise, practise. Time your presentation, so you know how long your presentation takes. Consciously work on slowing down your pace when public speaking – when we get nervous, we tend to speed up instead, and you don’t want anybody to miss your pearls of wisdom! Personally, I like to have a full copy of my notes on the podium, or on a clipboard in front of me rather than palm cards – BUT I *never* just read them. They are simply there for moral support, something for me to refer to should I lose my place or to prompt me on the next point.
With my love of public speaking re-ignited, I couldn’t help but wonder (and hope!) that I would have a chance to do it again sometime soon …
Would you believe, the very next day I received an email from a nearby library asking if I would be interested in conducting a blogging workshop for them later this year … I think we can all guess what my response was!
Do you love public speaking or is it something you dread and avoid if at all possible?
Linking up with My Home Truths.
The thought of going into a room where I don’t know anybody and mingling one-on-one fills me with dread . . . but give me a microphone and let me address them and I’ll love it! I entered the Rostrum Voice of Youth public speaking comp in Year 12 and got to the state finals quite casually and since then I’ve jumped at any opportunity to get up and address a crowd, even using the PA system at work.
Beth I’m the same! I find “networking” and “mingling” really hard.
I love/hate it! I hate preparing for it – the nerves, the worry about nailing the content etc. But when I do it, everyone is all like, “You’re such a good speaker! You present yourself really well!”
And I’m usually in shock because I felt like a nervous fool.
I guess I am good at faking it haha.
It’s because of that positive feedback that I don’t dread it so much now.
I think I must have had a bit of a knack for it since I was a kid because I remember getting into the heats of a speech competition in year 7. I sadly got braces the day of the finals and fluffed it big time because I was flustered and my mouth didn’t feel great.
I’m impressed you managed to speak at all with new braces – I saw what Miss 19 went through after she got hers and it takes quite a while to get used to!
It’s been a while since I did any public speaking too Janet – I’m a little rusty. Knowing your topic is vital, in my opinion. If you forget what you were going to say, it’s easy enough to move onto something else when you’re really knowledgeable in the area you’re speaking about. I always get nervous but have been told the audience can’t tell… phew! Good luck in the judging of the Women in Business Awards too 🙂
Thanks Lyndall, I’m sure I’ll be shouting it from the rooftops if I should happen to win!!!!
I hear you. I do get a bit nervous but when it is a topic that I am passionate and knowledgable about I am in. I liked running our school presentation assemblies and all that too as a principal. I do however, like to have my notes close by for reference. I did a course waaaay back about getting into the media and public speaking when school leaders needed to learn more skills and that gave me the boost I needed along with the skills of scanning the audience, eye contact and pacing my words ( I can be fast). This was used last for me as a Uni tutor and consultant to pre-schools.
It’s weird to think even teachers get nervous about public speaking, but there is a world of difference between getting up in front of a class of kids, and a room full of your peers!
Towards the end of my degree, most of my subjects were seminars, so the students basically taught the class. But we weren’t supposed to lecture. So what always did was to give an overview, set up some questions, and split the class in two and get them to debate. Always gets you great grades for starting a debate 🙂
Or if you volunteer to do the first seminar of the semester … I reckon they mark you slightly easier because you showed initiative … and then you can relax while everybody else frets the rest of the semester!
I love public speaking! People are always astounded when I say it. I find it such an adrenaline rush. I was asked to co-MC our work 40th Anniversary recently and both my co-MC and I reveled in it!
Actually that’s something I don’t really enjoy – MCing. I’ve done it at a wedding reception and one or two other events and it’s just not the same.
My last MC gig was for a fashion show in front of the WA Women in Media ladies at the Art Gallery. It had been a long time between gigs. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was but true to form, once I got started you almost needed to drag the mic from me.
I would have loved to have been there to see you in action Raych!
I’m getting better at it. I wouldn’t say I love it, but I do enjoy it when I can push past the nerves. That’s the hard part.
Yep, nerves can be annoying and frustrating. i hate it when I get a quaver in my voice sometimes but other people tell me they don’t notice it.
Congrats on the presentation Janet and good luck in the judging! I’m with you, I like public speaking and I always have (I represented my school in debating too). I’m gearing up to present to autism parents at an information session next month and i can’t wait. I hope it’s the first of many to come!
Thanks Kirsty, fingers crossed. I’m sure it’s just the first of many for you, you are doing a fab job of representing autism parents and educating others!
I’m terrified of speaking to a group large enough to trample me for being boring. I get so nervous!
Hubster says he feels the same Tory!
I’m terrified of speaking publicly. Even speaking up when in a large group terrifies me. I feel like my face is on fire the entire time, which I’ve been assured thankfully doesn’t equate to a beetroot red face.
Actually Tegan, I’m quite surprised at the number of people commenting on this post that say they enjoy public speaking … pretty sure you are in the majority!