4 Simple Ways To Improve Your Public Speaking
When I prepare for a presentation or a big event in my life, I often become obsessed with the details of my material and as a result I push other related tasks to the side until my material has been reviewed and refined a ridiculous number of times. While this approach to presentations and life in general has served me well in some regards, I also believe that this approach has set me back in some ways.
Reviewing and editing my presentation material, or reading and rereading my pitch before delivering it to the decision makers is important however I also need to give myself a cutoff time for these tasks so I still have ample time to prepare myself mentally and physically for my moment in the spotlight.
If you are like me, and you also need to learn to prioritize yourself as part of your presentation preparation, review the tips below. These 4 tips can help you prepare to shine in the spotlight during your next presentation.
1. Be Present.
To be a great public speaker, you need to be fully present during your time in the spotlight. You should be tuned into the reactions and cues from the audience, as well as focused on your material.
To be present in the moment, prepare for worst-case scenarios such as spilling coffee on your shirt before your presentation, or your laptop malfunctioning during your talk. Think through a plan for your worst fears, and bring supplies to help you survive any technical or logistical emergencies. Once you have addressed your fears and prepared for potential disasters, take control of your thoughts and your awareness, and focus on being happy, confident, and present for the experience.
Learn more about the power of defensive pessimism in the post, Fight Your Fear of Public Speaking – 4 Proven Methods.
2. Loosen up.
When you’re on stage, loosen up. Let your hands gesture naturally during your presentation. Research has shown that presenters are judged as more effective and competent when they make hand gestures compared with when they keep their hands still, according to The 4 Ways You Can Use Body Language To Influence Success by Christian Jarrett.
While gesturing, be especially aware of how you use your palms. In his TEDx talk, Body Language, the power is in the palm of your hands, Allan Pease delivers a compelling case for the importance of using your palms wisely when speaking.
There are more connections between your brain and the palm of your hands than any other body part, according to Pease. So clearly, the palms have evolved as an important part of human brains, Pease concludes.
In one of the case studies mentioned by Pease, palm orientation was tested; the study concluded the palm up speaker had up to 40% more retention of the deal than the palm down speaker. Speaking with your palms up will make you more likable and persuasive. If you speak with your palms down, you will be perceived as threatening and controlling.
3. Use your face.
In addition, remember to smile. A recent study at Penn State University found that when you smile, you don’t only appear to be more likable and courteous, but you actually appear to be more competent, according to the TED talk, The Hidden Power of Smiling, by Ron Gutman.
Also, since you should never read from you slides your body should be open to the audience, and your eyes should be scanning the audience. When you make eye contact with someone in the crowd, hold their gaze for a few seconds to let them know you see them, and want to connect with them. Don’t overdo it though. Keep eye contact as long as it feels natural, and then move on.
If your presentation is being filmed, look into the camera. A study between the University of Wolverhampton and Stirling discovered that viewers remembered a speaker better if they looked into the directly into the camera at least 30% of the time during a speech.
4. Get moving.
Lastly, move and pause during your presentation. Never stand frozen behind a podium. Forbes explains that your audience will be energized by your movement because human beings are drawn to movement. Adding movement to your presentation will help you keep the attention of your audience, and will also help you shake off any nerves.
Additional Resource: Nonverbal Communication Tips For Public Speakers
Conclusion
Prepare for the worst-case scenarios, and then let go of your fears. When you’re on stage, be happy, enthusiastic, and connect to the audience with your eyes and body language. Whatever you do – don’t just stand there. You’re presentation matters. This is YOUR time to shine.
