Tip #1โโโPublic Speaking is a LEARNABLE skill
When I was a young financial advisor, I presented retirement workshops and I was later told, โYour speaking skills are bad. You need to fix this problem, or else.โ
That threat motivated me to look for a solution. My search led me to Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association. Those organizations taught me this key conceptโฆ
Great speakers arenโt born, theyโre made. Through a series of proven structures and formats, you can gain the confidence to become an influential speaker.
Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone to master these skills?
Tip #2โโโHuman Beings are WIRED to be afraid of speaking
In his book, โConfessions of a Public Speakerโ author Scott Berkun points out our earliest ancestors were faced with a basic factโโโstay with the pack or risk losing your life.
The person who got separated from the pack was alone, without a weapon, out in the open, and was being watched by many pairs of eyes (of predators).
What is public speaking?
Itโs standing in front of a group (or camera) alone, without a weapon, out in the open, and being watched by many pairs of eyes.
There is no scientific research to back this up, but it seems clear the survival lessons learned by our earliest ancestors have been passed down to us, although weโre not conscious of them.
When you feel scared, nervous, or intimidated, youโre carrying on a millennia-old survival response.
Fortunately, you and I have been blessed with a higher-thinking brain. It understands people want you to succeed when you speak.
How can I say this?
Good question, which leads to Tip #3โฆ
Tip #3โโโYour audience WANTS you to succeed
Think about the last time you went to an event and heard a group of speakers present. Chances are you got into your car, drove through traffic, maybe dealt with inclement weather, probably paid to park your car, waited in a line of people to enter the meeting room, and finally, sat down in your seat.
After going through all that, was the first thing you said to yourself, โI really hope the speakers are lousy. I mean, I hope theyโre terrible!โ
Of course not. Your time is too valuable to be wasted on bad presentations.
Guess what?
So is your audienceโs time.
They WANT you to succeed because if you do, youโve provided value to them.
Are you able to focus on the needs of your audience rather than worry about yourself?
Tip #4โโโNerves are GOOD
Contrary to popular belief, you shouldnโt strive to get rid of all your nerves.
Why?
Nerves are a sign you care about doing well. That doesnโt mean you look good or get a standing ovation. Instead, you provide valuable insights or ideas for your audience.
What you donโt want is nerves to paralyze you to the point you hyperventilate, forget your presentation, or canโt function.
The goal is to manage your nerves. And there are several actions you can take to do this:
- Exercise before you speak
- Deep breathing
- Awareness of what you say to yourself before speaking
Are you doing any of these before you speak?
Tip #5โโโThe PROVEN method to speaking success
As important as the previous suggestions are, there is one habit more than any other which will give you the confidence and skill to be influential and impactful every time you speakโฆ
Practice and rehearse your presentation over and over.
When I make this suggestion, Iโm frequently asked, โHow much?โ
There is no hard-and-fast rule to this, but, to give you context, the highest paid speakers in the world practice their speeches a minimum of 100, and typically, 200 times.
I know what you may be thinkingโฆ
200 times! Are you nuts?
It depends. I might be, but itโs not about me. How committed are you to becoming a speaker who positively impacts and influences audiences, your team, or prospective clients?
100 rehearsals sound like a lot but think about any type of presentation you frequently give. Youโve presented them many times. The key is to develop a habit of intentional practice and rehearsal with specific outcomes in mind.
Employ these five ideas and your influence will increase.
If you have questions or would like additional insights to improve your presentation skills, feel free to check out SpeakingCPR.com for our complimentary resources.
Michaelโs mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - itโs a learnable skill. Once he discovered this โsecretโ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the worldโs best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
Address:
Phone: 
