The Top 3 Secrets to Public Speaking

1.    The audience wants you to do well. Whether they want to be entertained, informed, or to complete a project, they want you to do well because it’s better for them.

Sometimes there are a few unhappy and critical people in the crowd who will find fault with you no matter what you do. This is because they are too self-critical, and they apply the same standards to you. It’s best to ignore and avoid these angry and unhappy folks in this and all other aspects of your life. 

2.    Don’t project your own perfectionism onto the audience. If you’re telling yourself that you must be “perfect,” then you’re going to make that six-year-old kid inside you feel very afraid of being rejected.

For starters, there is no such thing as “perfect.“ It’s just an overthought idea that some people made up a while back. If you’re imagining rejection and failure that don’t really exist, then you’ll be projecting that onto the audience.

Your audience will be made up of individuals who are mostly concerned with their own goals and struggles, and they likely aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you might imagine. Instead, project success onto the audience by imagining that they are going to love the gift you’re giving them. 

3.    Be well prepared. Know your presentation and rehearse it beforehand.

Because the event will probably be important to you, you’ll be excited and pumping adrenaline. Practicing beforehand will allow you to be more relaxed and confident and to experience the adrenaline as excitement rather than fear. The event will be much more enjoyable for you with this mindset.

Also, remember that there are two important aspects of of a good presentation: a) content that your audience is truly interested in, and b) emotional engagement so that you don’t bore them to death. That’s why good speakers often start with a joke, a question, or some data of interest to the audience.   

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com