Have To Give a Speech? Go Ahead . . . Be Nervous!
The first advice I give to people who want to improve their
speaking or presentation skills is, "Don't fight the feeling of
being nervous!" Feeling nervous is normal. Nearly every speaker,
including the professionals, has that feeling before getting up
in front of an audience. The difference is that veteran speakers
give that feeling a different name: they see it as excitement or
"aliveness." It's a feeling that lets you know that you're about
to do something exciting and the outcome is important to you.
So the next time you feel nervous before a speech or
presentation, welcome that feeling and say to yourself, "thank
you for the reminder . . . I'm glad I'm feeling this way!" When
I don't have that feeling, my speech is likely to be flat and I
have to work much harder to deliver an engaging presentation.
When planning a talk, people usually ask: What am I going to
say? Where do I begin? Do I tell a joke? What if they ask
questions I can't answer? The answers come much more easily if
you shift the focus from yourself to your audience: Who are
they? What do they need? What are their expectations? What
information would be most useful or helpful to them? Why did
they invite you to speak? The structure and content of your
presentation will flow more naturally from your audience's
needs, and you will find it easier to adjust to your listeners
during the speech.
A good way to start a presentation is to involve the audience
right away. Capture their imagination with a relevant story.
Make a bold or visionary statement. If you are not sure who your
audience is or what they are expecting, you can do a quick
audience survey. Ask them key questions or get their feedback on
the topic.
Often I will do an "attitude check" with an audience. I will ask
them to call out words that come to mind when they think about
public speaking or talking to reporters. Usually great words and
phrases like "terrified" or "deer in the headlights" emerge and
I write them down on a flip chart or white board. This simple
idea accomplishes two things. It lets me know how the audience
feels about the subject. And it also give them permission to
feel that way, which puts everyone at ease and opens their minds
to what comes next in the presentation.
Using humor can be a terrific icebreaker and a way to gauge your
audience's response. But I don't recommend starting with a joke
or a humorous anecdote unless you're good at humor and are
totally comfortable using it. Also, make sure that any anecdote
or humor is relevant and appropriate for your audience, the
occasion, and the setting.
If you are using visuals, like overheads or PowerPoint style
presentations, don't let the technology become a crutch or a
substitute for your content. There's nothing more boring than a
speaker reading overheads or slides verbatim. Use visuals to
communicate complex material graphically or as a jumping off
point for discussion. Provide your audience with handouts so
they can review the material later.
Remember, you have been asked to speak because people want to
hear what you have to say. There's a built-in reason for the
audience to support you and they want you to succeed in your
presentation. They are looking for honesty, good information,
and enthusiasm for the subject. People will forgive minor flaws
in your mechanics if you speak from your heart with passion and
authenticity.
And of course, don't forget to breathe!