Whether you’re being asked to stand and say a few words impromptu, or whether you are a polished speaker with experience, you will succeed if:
- You know your subject well; and
- You consider your talk (speech or presentation) something that you are giving as a gift to your audience.
Nervousness is the #1 reason that people feel uncomfortable with addressing a group of people (public speaking). The fact is, that even the most professional speakers admit that the butterflies are always present before they deliver a presentation.
Nervousness, shortness of breath, anxiety and shyness can all be overcome, for the most part, by using the two tips mentioned above.
Know your subject
Chances are you have been asked, invited (or volunteered) to speak on a subject because you have knowledge and information to share. With this information ‘up your sleeve’ you already possess the groundwork for an excellent presentation.
Although I definitely recommend having well prepared content and rehearsing until you are confident that your presentation achieves your objectives, sometimes you are asked to speak impromptu, without sufficient time for preparation. Rest assured, you can succeed if you have knowledge of your subject matter and have information of value to offer your audience.
Offer your knowledge as a gift
From the mindset that the purpose of your talk is to offer value to your audience, some magical things happen.
Firstly, it knocks your ego into a perspective that this podium or lectern glory is really not about you – it’s about how your audience will benefit from your message. As you shift your focus from yourself to your audience you will feel more relieved and be better able to relate to the people whom you are addressing.
Often a desired hidden agenda, like recognition, promotion, money, or one-up-man ship, can be motivation and fuel for those delivering a presentation. Focus on these ego-centred benefits is recipe for disaster. Let’s face it, your talk is not about you, rather it’s about what your group can learn from your efforts.
By shifting your focus to what you can offer, you will hold your audiences’ attention and respect, and you will feel more confident in their appreciation for your offering. Rather than hoping to be the best speaker, focus on giving your personal best.
Secondly, speaking from the heart (or from the mindset that your message is a gift) helps alleviate nervousness, anxiety, and other discomfort symptoms. Have you ever felt nervous or anxious to present someone with a terrific gift? Heck no! When we speak from the heart, from a place of giving to others, we are excited to offer it just as we are excited and proud to present a gift to someone.
Furthermore, speaking with your audience’s best interest in mind helps relate to them better. People can sense that your genuine interest is in them, and whether or not you have checked your ego at the door.
From seminar experience, I believe that educating the audience is more important than getting through content when it comes to lecture style presentations. That way, question and answer periods and regular checkpoints with the audience serve as an opportunity to demonstrate both a keen interest in the audience and how the presentation (gift) is benefiting them. As I often say, “training doesn’t occur until behavior changes”.
I learned the importance of these two speaking facts after delivering a eulogy for my Grandmother. Invited to share my Grandmother’s praise, I was honored to be one of the three granddaughters to share their memories. The emotion involved in a eulogy alone is a challenge, let alone the expectations of ‘giving a good talk’. (The thought makes many people’s knees knock!) With the mindset that my memories were being offered as a gift to those in attendance and a service to my Grandmother, I was able to remove myself from the emotion of the occasion while I spoke, and focus on the meaning behind my words.
So the next time you are asked to say a few words, give it your best by using these two simple tips, and I guarantee that everyone will take away something of value from your talk, if you know your subject and offer it as a gift.