The Power of Public Speaking Unleashed

Public speaking is a nerve-racking experience for most of us

We want to have impact. We want our audience to do something with what we have said. But how do we get there?

Natural Leaders link every presentation they give to their WHY. The one thing that is most important to them. Their purpose. This gives them the power to touch their audience. It’s hard to move your audience if you’re speaking about something that doesn’t really matter to you. Frankly, it’s a waste of time.

But even if you have a WHY, you might still find it difficult to speak up in front of 30 not to say 1000 people. Which is absolutely normal. According to most studies, public speaking is the number one fear. Once again, your amygdala, your emotional brain, is giving you a hard time.

Last week I followed an awesome public speaking course by Peggy Richie.

During her training Peggy presented some powerful beliefs that you can install in your thinking brain. They help you to avoid being hijacked by stress or negative self thoughts right before or during that important presentation. Why do they help? Because mindset determines who you will be on stage.

Check them out for yourself:

“The others don’t know how it works either”

“We are all just trying”

“No right & wrong, only cause & effect”

“What the audience doesn’t see, doesn’t exist”

“Perception is reality”

“Visualize your start, and then you only have to follow the script”

“People will only believe what you believe”

“Silence on stage is awesome.”

“People only do what they want to do. You want them to want to want what you want.”

For the more introverted speakers

1. Shake it out an smile. Yawn and shake out every limb of your body to loosen yourself up before a speech. Then step on stage and smile. It will help you feel more relaxed and confident, says Susan Cain, author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t stop talking”.

2. Conserve Energy. Introverts gather energy from themselves, they lose energy being around others. So public speaking can be very taxing. Make sure to save energy for your speech. Eat healthy, get exercise and most important get your alone time, says Jonathon Coleman Facebook Strategist and Keynote speaker.

3. Being interesting is enough. The best speakers are not necessarily dynamic or hilarious – they are simply interesting. They communicate valuable information. “People think that being a good speaker means being funny or glib,” says David Lavin of the Lavin Agency speakers bureau that represents a lot of TED speakers. “But that’s wrong. The best speakers are compelling. People underestimate the power of content and of storytelling.”

4. Accept your nerves. Not all introverts are afraid of public speaking – a subset of them loves it – but introverts are disproportionately likely to fear the spotlight. That’s OK. As the public speaking trainer Charles di Cagno says, “There are only a few people in the world who have completely overcome their fears, and they all live in Tibet.” If you have stage fright, accept it and learn how to work with it.

5. Self care. Presenting is a massive energy exchange between the speaker and the audience. Prepare in advance how you are going to take care of yourself after the speaking event. Make time for being alone, curl up with a good book or take an extra long nap.

6. Know your strengths.  Introverts are phenomenal listeners, which attunes them to the needs of others. And that’s why speaking (instead of listening) can feel uncomfortable – unnatural, even. But remember that public speaking is not about you. It’s about the audience. Your job is to take care of the audience, not to be judged by it or even to entertain it. Remind yourself that you are not seeking approval or love. You are a teacher, a giver, an enlightener, as Susan Cain says.

So grateful to have shared this with you!

Live on purpose,

Ann.

www.naturalleadership.be

P.S.: Do you want to find out what your WHY is?

Leadership Road to Freedom open training on the 30th of March. For more info and registration click here.