WHEN I tell people I am an introvert, they do not believe me. I have been a teacher, trainer, and I am currently a people manager, so they think I am naturally gregarious because my work involves close contact with people and interacting with them in different levels and settings. All also involve talking in front of people and presenting new ideas or persuading them toward an action plan. That is where they are mistaken. It took me years of practice to stand in front of a crowd and overcome “glossophobia,” that fear of public speaking.
Speaking in front of a crowd effectively is a skill which can be easily learned—one that needs practice and resilience on your part. While it is difficult, you stand to gain more in terms of influence and credibility which will stand you in good stead not only professionally but personally, as well. Here are some things which helped me develop from being an introverted bookworm into a convivial speaker.
My first dive into public speaking was in my third year high school where one of the elective classes we had to take was Public Speaking. One of the most important things you need to know in public speaking is knowing your topic. It is very difficult to speak about something you know little about, and it will show in the way you give your talk. My teacher used to say you cannot speak confidently in front of people if you don’t know what you are saying. To overcome stage fright, you first need to know your subject.
Aside from that, you have to prepare. Preparation is key in making you feel in control of speaking in public. Your topic is just one aspect of your preparation. You need to practice. One of the effective ways that my high-school teacher taught us is to practice in front of the mirror. This, of course, can be very unnerving because you can instantaneously see your every movement and that can be very distracting. But if this works for you, go ahead and practice in front of a mirror. Or you can do what I do with my kid. When he was practicing for a poetry recitation, he would become so self-conscious. So I set up a tripod and recorded him. That way, we were able to go back and see his movements and listen to his pronunciation and correct them. This will also give you an objective way of evaluating your presentation. However, the most important thing here is to understand that you can effectively overcome stage fright if you prepare well.
There are cases where you will be asked to speak extemporaneously in what is commonly known as the after-dinner speech. In this instance, you will only be given a few minutes to prepare so you need to keep your speech to a minimum. You can talk about the purpose of the meeting and thank them for attending the event. You are not expected to give a lengthy speech but one which is enough to put a nice touch to cap the evening.
Which brings me to another way of overcoming stage fright: Know your audience. If you are giving a speech to an audience you know, it is easier to come up with samples and illustrations they can relate to. It will also boost your confidence knowing your audience speaks the same language, lessening the need to explain jargons and business-related terms and processes. It will also help you understand their inclinations and biases. If you are asked to speak to a crowd you do not know, request from the organizers a general profile of the attendees and their background. This will help you prepare relevant material and use examples they can relate to.
Another way you can prepare while knowing your audience is to be at the venue before anybody else shows up. I did this when I was still a trainer. I would be at the venue an hour before the scheduled time, and sit down and spend a few minutes with each attendee as they arrived. This helped me understand the audience and gave me an idea why they were there. It helped me get a better handle on my audience and, at the same time, this allowed for a personal connection to be made before I started my talk. Being there before anybody else also helps calm you down and prepare for any contingencies should something go awry.
While giving your speech, mistakes can be unavoidable. In such cases, as a popular phrase goes, keep calm and carry on. All great speakers have stumbled at one point in their life. You just have to keep pushing ahead. Your mistakes can actually help your audience empathize with you and see themselves in your shoes. So when you commit a mistake, muster through and keep talking. If the mistake is so obvious, acknowledge it and then move on because if you don’t, the audience will get stuck on that and keep thinking about it.
To keep your audience interested, keep your tone conversational. Talk as if you are speaking to someone you know, and what you are saying will be to their advantage. Include personal anecdotes which bolster your points and draw from your experience to lend credibility to what you are saying. When you add a personal touch to your talk, people tend to open up to your ideas.
These are some of the guidelines I have learned in overcoming my stage fright. I am still an introvert and I still prefer to keep to myself. But when I need to speak and address a crowd, there are some of the things I can do to rise to the occasion.