6 Lessons About Public Speaking You Need To Learn To Succeed
đź’ˇDiscover (Techniques & Personal Story)
This Article includes:
My public speaking record includes a story for you to learn from my mistakes.
Techniques I use to prepare myself for success and help me connect with audiences.
Pro Tips: Easy ways to apply techniques, so you ACE your next speaking engagement.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
My Public Speaking Record
Public speaking is one of the most important skills you can develop. I honed my skill through years of practice and by jumping at any chance I get to speak to an audience—my speaking experience includes:
Sale Engineer - I gave 1,000s of product demos in person and online.
At MTV Canada - I filmed live to air and in front of a live audience.
Group-Account Director - I gave presentations to every audience type.
Management Consultant - I ran working groups and Annual General Meetings.
Personal Life - I have spoken at weddings, funerals, and many charity events.
Throughout my career, I have connected with lots of incredible audiences. So naturally, I have also made mistakes—the moments I missed the mark taught me the most. I will share one such occasion before we jump into the techniques I use to prepare myself.
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn
A Story to Learn From
Background
I demoed a mobile ordering prototype at the Mobile World Congress Barcelona. My team partnered with Google's R.C.S. Business Messaging Early Access Program, and we spent over a year creating the work I was showcasing. I was ecstatic about the potential to share how we could improve our end-user experience.
My “oh no” Moment.
I gave a product demo for the first time at Mobile World Congress Barcelona. The speaking event was at a demo booth (something I had done many times at other conferences) and would be filmed (which did not bother me, being a seasoned TV personality).
In my overconfidence, I spent all my time preparing and memorizing what I was going to say and overlooked the logistics of arriving and situating myself before I spoke.
I did not comprehend when people told me the event was one of the largest conferences in the world. I arrived at the wrong side of the conference hall and ran four football fields to reach my demonstration with only a minute to spare. I was wearing a thick sweater and uncontrollably sweating as I began my presentation. I was distracted by the voice screaming in my mind, “BE COOL! STOP SWEATING!”.
I was halfway through my demo, and the videographer stopped and pulled the producer over to whisper something. The producer then left and returned with a bunch of brown paper towels (you know, the cheap stuff from a bathroom) and said that I was so shiny that it was ruining their shot. I then had to towel myself off in front of a small crowd and film crew and start again.
We ran the demo several times to get it right, and I am thankful their team was able to create a decent final product.
Learn from my mistake
It never pays to be overconfident.
Get to know the space before you speak.
Bonus: wear breathable fabrics and keep a blotting strip close on hand.
Video Credit: Google Rich Communication Services Team
Public Speaking Techniques
These speaking techniques will help you to stand out for the right reasons. Apply them at school, at work, or for a personal event.
#1. Keep speaker Notes Simple
Write down key points you'd like to discuss on your paper - no more than three or four points per section- and keep it as short as possible. Notes will make it much easier for you to speak in public because you won't feel nervous remembering a lot of complex information. Don't try to memorize your whole speech because this will make you more nervous when you have to speak in front of people. Memorizing word for word also means you will find it hard to pivot if something does not go to plan, which is more often than not.
Pro Tip:
Focus on your intro and exit. From my experience, starting and stopping are the most challenging parts of public speaking. Once you get the ball rolling, your memory will kick in, and the words will start pouring out of you.
#2. Prepare a Moment with your Audience
The best orators speak with their audience, not at their audience. Which can feel like some Yoda nonsense "Speak with them you do, not at them you won’t.". But it works! You have to involve the audience somehow. So whether you ask questions or prompt a reaction like a round of applause for someone in the audience, make it clear that you involve the audience. You will benefit if they know it's not just a one-way interaction.
Pro Tip:
To plan this interaction out, consider who is your friendly face in the room. Find a person you know you can banter with our call on for a moment that is engaging and feels natural. If the room is full of strangers, go with what you know about the audience; try “raise your hand if you are a product manager who…”.
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#3. Prioritize Dry Runs & Dress Rehearsal
Fortune favours the prepared. Have you ever been so nervous that you could barely speak, right? Well, don't let that happen to you on your big day! When speaking to an audience, it's often helpful to have a "dry run" — a practice round where you let yourself fumble and make mistakes, learn the talk track, and evolve the narrative to ace it! Remember, you are trying not to memorize a speech word for word. A speech is not a monologue but a conversation with the audience. The best conversations are prepared but not so ridged that you can't maneuver through unforeseen obstacles.
Pro Tip:
After a dry run, do a timed “dress rehearsal” from start to finish, with no stops or start-overs.
#4 Practice Breathing and Pauses.
I speak very fast and have a penchant for rushing through the moment. Speeding through a speech distracts your audience or causes them to lose their attention. It is crucial to savour the moment and pause at the correct times. It helps to give a breath after specific points to engage the audience's attention and let them soak in what you are sharing. It also gives you the chance to collect your thoughts before continuing further.
Staying in step with your audience is the difference between an engaging speech and 30-minutes of people low-key checking their Instagram while you drown on and on. It is also why planning how you will engage your audience is so important; it is a moment to catch your breath, take a sip of water, and check your speaking cadence.
Pro Tip:
Count a 3-second pause in your head after a salient point.
Remember our speaking PSA - Posture, Smile, and Audience.
For example, “...and that is why you always need to be prepared!” *one steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats* “Next up, I will be discussing…”.
#5. Have a Plan for your Hands
I am someone with big flamboyant hand gestures, and I know it can be distracting. Before speaking, I must plan my hands to avoid diverting attention from my topic. A hand gesture is a symbol of power and a tool to communicate. You can express certain things with your hand without talking to the audience.
For example, a speaker may point at an image or person in the audience to draw the audience's attention.
A bad example is letting your hands gesture wildly like me after my second glass of pinot noir. It’s fun in a personal one-on-one but distracting on stage.
Aim to strike a balance between expressive and stiff. Keeping the gesture subtle and short can add much to your presentation without distracting your objective.
Pro Tip:
Plan where your hands will be when speaking. I like to hold a small charm or pebble in my none-prominent hand. It keeps my hand clenched and occupied.
What are you doing with your hands?
#6. Get a Feel for the Space
Think about the venue size where you will be speaking and the tools available to help you project your voice into the room. Consider:
The shape and size of the room will affect how comfortable you feel speaking in it and how visible you'll be to your audience.
Know the microphone you will be using and if you can do a sound check.
See where you need to be before you go on stage and how you will get there.
If you are online, ensure you know the platform and the speakers' features require during the presentation.
The goal is to collect yourself and walk onto the stage with pride.
Pro Tip:
Hold the microphone about 10 cm from your face and position it under the mouth. Remember to synchronize your head and microphone movement while holding the mic. Confirm the microphone you will use, and practice with a hairbrush when doing a dry run.
Final Thought
Please remember the fear of public speaking is one of the most common traits in the world. So, you are not alone on stage, you are in a room with your audience, and they are rooting for you to succeed.
You are ready to step on stage and in front of the camera and connect with your audience.
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