So you’d rather die than give a talk?
- Paul McGee
- 2011-01-28 12:23:00.0
Speaking in public for some people ranks right up there in the list of things we most fear. Whilst the often quoted “I’d rather die than give a talk” is perhaps a little extreme, the fact is having to give a talk can be a cause of many a sleepless night.
So what can you do to help yourself appear cool, calm and collected when you stand up to speak? Presentation coach and motivational speaker Paul McGee offers the following advice.
1. Recognise nerves are normal
When you speak in public your brain recognises you’re preparing for a challenge and so in order to help you it secretes the chemicals adrenalin and cortisol. Hence the increased heart rate, sweaty palms and often dry throat.
But relax. This is OK. Don’t panic about feeling this way.
Just saying ‘I’m experiencing some nerves but that’s quite normal’ can have an immediate effect on calming you down. So have a glass of water on hand and remind yourself you’re facing an audience not a firing squad. Asking yourself “where is this experience on a scale of 1-10 (where 10 = death)” should help put things into perspective.
2. Turn the spotlight onto your audience
Our anxiety can increase because we turn our focus and nervous energy inwards. Sometimes the questions we ask ourselves only escalate our anxiety.
“What will people think of me?”
“What if I forget what to say?”
“What if I’m asked a question I can’t answer?”
Turn your attention to your audience’s needs instead. Ask some different questions such as;
“How can I make this talk relevant to my audience?”
“How can I best engage them?”
“What’s the one key message I want to leave people with?”
Suddenly it’s your audience who’s in the spotlight – not you. And when you think more about others you stress less about yourself.
3. Say less, achieve more
Most people try and give too much information when they’re presenting or speaking. But actually the value is not in how much you say – but in what you say and how you say it.
It’s about the quality of the information, not the quantity.
Don’t drown your audience in detail. Give them some space to breathe. Too many facts can be overwhelming and people will only retain a small percentage of your content – unless that is, you say less but expand more. Remember, your goal is to make your message meaningful and memorable – and not to set a new world record for using the most amount of slides in a presentation.
4. Stories sell
If you want to appeal to people’s emotions as well as their intellect then tell stories. We’re never persuaded to take action or adopt a particular point of view purely based on a rational logical argument.
We’re emotional. We connect with things we can relate to. We connect to the experiences of others that in some way echo our own. It’s not a new discovery. Just look at religious leaders from the past.
When Jesus was asked ‘Who is my neighbour?’ what did he do? Draw a pie chart? Get a map out and divide the country into regions?
No. He told the story about the Good Samaritan. It’s packed with insight, intrigue and emotion – just like the stories of other religious leaders and philosophers. And not only can stories be powerful and memorable, they’re also easier for you to remember than a stack of facts and figures. That alone can increase your confidence and reduce your anxiety. So start collecting stories and weave them into your talks. That way you’ll engage your audience rather than anaesthetise them.
So whether it’s a speech at a wedding, a pitch for new business or a presentation for your boss, remember you wouldn’t rather die than give a talk – just make sure you keep your message alive when you stand up to speak.
