MY EIGHT TOP TIPS FOR SPEAKING IN PUBLIC
As you might expect, I’m a big believer in the power of the written word. But, as somebody who has become an experienced networker since I began to offer my services as a copywriter in Kingston and beyond, I’m coming round to the idea that the spoken word can be pretty potent too.
It always surprises me how many friendly, confident business people admit that they dread the thought of getting up to speak to a room full of their peers.
Then again, as one of life’s natural introverts, until about a year ago it daunted me too. But through regular opportunities since – the 60-second networking pitch, the 10-minute talk in more detail about my business, even a couple of 30-minute lectures at local educational establishments – I’ve overcome the fear and even started to look forward to the challenge.
If I had to offer eight tips to become better at speaking in public, they would be:
1/ Relax. Yes, really. Believe it or not, everybody in the room is on your side. They want you to do well. Nobody really enjoys seeing a speaker fall to pieces. And, in the unlikely event that you do come across someone who does relish such a spectacle, you probably don’t want to do business with a character like that anyway. So… relax.
2/ Every now and then, smile. One of the best natural salesmen I’ve ever worked with had a knack of breaking into a smile halfway through his pitch. It’s an incredibly infectious move – most people will instinctively smile back, any remaining ice is broken and you’re on your way. It will also relax you, and your audience.
3/ Make eye contact. Treat this as a conversation. You’re simply having a chat with a lot of people at once. If you stare above their heads at a fixed point on the wall at the back of the room, they’ll feel you aren’t engaging with them at all. So they won’t engage back.
4/ Play your cards right. If you’re doing a talk of longer than a minute or two, it’s perfectly understandable to have a crib sheet with you. But if you read word-for-word from a script, you miss out on the chance of making that all-important eye contact. You need that engagement, so restrict yourself to a few bullet points about each section of your talk.
5/ Practice makes perfect. Stand in front of the mirror and deliver your talk. You’ll be amazed what you spot, the little things you can change that will help get your message across. Also, you need to be familiar with your words. I once saw a member of the Royal Family giving a speech when it was blatantly obvious they hadn’t read the script first. Not a good look.
6/ Write down the main points. If you have a whiteboard, a flip chart, or even a wall, it really fixes your words in people’s minds if you scribble up the highlights as you go. It will also help you if you want to go back at the end for a quick round-up of what you really want your audience to take away.
7/ Question time. Always factor in a few minutes so you can give the bolder members of your audience some information they really want. It’s surprising what people have taken from the previous few minutes and want to know more about. I usually get asked which newspaper I’m least proud to have worked for. Yes, I dodge that one.
8/ Enjoy it. Again, I’m serious. Apart from anything else, this is a chance to pitch your skills direct to a captive audience of possible customers, advocates, future business partners. If nothing else, the savings you’re making on your marketing budget should keep that smile on your face.
As ever, if you have any questions arising – or want to know more about LeBoo Media and how we can help your business – please get in touch.