3/27/2015
HowtoconqueryourfearofpublicspeakingAgendaTheWorldEconomicForum
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Overthecourseofmycareer,Ivespokenatmorethan1,000events.WhileIdontconsidermyselfafivestarspeaker,Idoprettywell.Infact,duringarecentinterview,theFinancialWomensAssociationaskedmewhatadviceIdgivetoaspiringpublicspeakersin100wordsorless.Myresponseendedupfarexceedingthewordcount,butthequestiongotmethinkingaboutallthatIvelearnedovertheyears.Withthatinmind,herearemytoptipsforbecomingagreatpublicspeaker:
1.
Focusontheprivilege,notthepain.Isitintimidatingtospeakinfrontofagroup?Yes,butyoualsogettoshareamessageyouarepassionateaboutwithothers,whichisprettycool.Thatshiftinmindsetwilldowonderstocalmyournervesandboostyourconfidence.
2.
Beforeyoustartpreparing,probe.Talktoyourhostaboutwhowillbeintheaudiencewhatkeymessagestheyrelookingfortheconferencestheme(ifyourespeakingatonesession)theformatofthesession(ex.lecturevs.firesidechat)thetimingforyourpresentationhowtheQ&Aportionwillbehandled(ifatall)andthesetupoftheroom,includingAVcapabilities,podium,microphones,etc.Themoreyouknow,themoreeffectiveyouwillbeintermsofdeliveringarelevantmessage.Forexample,youdontwanttoshowupwithaPowerPointpresentationonlytofindtheroomsetupforafiresidechatwithnoAVsupport.
3.
Prepare,practice,andthenprepareandpracticesomemore.ShowinguppreparedisthenumberonewayIcalmmynerves.IdontjustpreparewhatImgoingtosayandhowImgoingtosayit,IalsothinkaboutpotentialquestionsfromtheaudienceandhowImgoingtorespondtothem.Whenpracticing,mygoalisnttomemorizethewords,butensureIhavethestoryline,flow,andkeymessageforeachsectionofthestorycommittedtomemory.Aboveall,rememberthatlessismorewhenitcomestopublicspeakingIbelievetheaveragelisteningattentionspanisaround20minutes.
4.
Polishup.AssoonasIbookapublicspeakingopportunity,Iexaminewhereitfallsrelativetopreplannedhair,nailandotherbeautymaintenanceappointments.Ifnecessary,IshiftthoseappointmentssoIpresentaconfident,wellgroomedimage.Ialsoplanmyoutfitwellinadvancesoitsreadytowearonthebigday.
5.
Bepresentinthemoment.Ialwaysarrivetoapublicspeakingevent3045minutesearly.Iwalktheroomtoconfirmthesetupandspendafewmomentsminglingwiththeaudience,learningaboutwhytheyvecometotheprogramandwhattheyare
3/27/2015
HowtoconqueryourfearofpublicspeakingAgendaTheWorldEconomicForum
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hopingtotakeaway.Inevitably,theyareexcited,whichboostsmyenergyandexcitement.Makingthesepersonalconnectionsenablesmetospeakwiththeaudienceratherthanatortothemyouachieveamuchdeeperlevelofengagement.ThenIspend10minutesalonetocheckmyappearance,takeafewdeepbreaths,andclearmymindofalldistractionssoIcanfocusonthejobathand.
6.
Embracethepause.Regulatingmybreathandpausingtogathermythoughtshelpmemanagemynervesandpacemydelivery.Thisalsohelpskeeptheaudiencesattention.
7.
Forgetperfectionandexpecttheunexpected.Nomatterhowmuchyouprepare,youwillinevitablyloseyourtrainofthoughtfromtimetotimeorskipoverafewfactsorstatsasyoumovethroughyourpresentation.Whatsmoreimportantiskeepingyourcomposureandconfidence.Forinstance,youmaybelieveyouaregoingtospeaktoagroupofmidcareerfemaleexecutivesonlytoarriveandfindanaudienceofretirees,mostlymen,withanaverageageof75yearsyoung(truestory).Oryoumayfindthatthehostsdefinitionofaprivateroomisacordonedoffareainthemiddleofawinebarsretailshop(alsotrue).Youvegottosmile,brushitoffandgowiththeflow.Whathelpsmepivotishavingacontingencyplaninplace.Aspartofmypreparation,Ithinkaboutthevariouswhatifsthatcouldthrowmeoffbaseandhaveagameplanforhowtohandle.
Oh,andhowdidIhandlethatmemorableaudienceswitch?Istartedmypresentationbysaying,Iknowwhatyouarethinking:Whatcanthisspringchickentellusaboutourmoney?Well,thisspringchickenhaspackedinalotoflifeinher21yearsandhopefullyyoucanhandlewhatsheisabouttosay.
Theaudiencehadaheartylaugh,andIhadtheirattention.Istucktomycoremessages,butillustratedkeypointswithanecdotesthatweremorerelevanttotheirlifestage.Attheendofthemeeting,audiencemembersweretakingphotoswithmeandgivingmeathumbsup.
ThisarticleispublishedincollaborationwithLinkedIn.PublicationdoesnotimplyendorsementofviewsbytheWorldEconomicForum.
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