Most people don’t like public speaking. In fact, most people would rather get into a fistfight with Roy Kent from “Ted Lasso” than give a speech or a presentation. But good public speakers are good because they love what they're doing. And you can improve your public speaking by learning to love it as they do.
Get Fired up
Good speakers are fired up about their topic. They're passionate and inspired, and this translates to inspiration for the audience. When you're talking about a topic you're interested in, you'll find yourself more confident and even enjoying giving your speech.
But what if you're not so excited about your topic? You can still take any topic and liven it up. Identify a problem and frame your topic as the solution to the problem. Tell a story or several stories throughout your presentation. Another way to make it interesting is to involve the audience directly. Make your presentation participatory.
Break Down the Barrier
Giving a presentation usually isn't fun when you feel all alone up on stage or in front of the Zoom camera. It can feel as though there's a huge wall between you and the audience. So when you create good rapport with the audience, you can relax and enjoy yourself. It becomes like a conversation wtih a group of your friends or co-workers.
One way to break down the barrier is to mingle with audience members prior to taking the stage. Greet them as they arrive and chat with them. You can also open your presentation with an appropriate joke or a story to establish commonality. Another idea is to encourage some audience participation at the beginning of the presentation.
Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously
Approach presenting with a smile on your face. Don't take yourself too seriously. If you're having fun, the audience will have fun too. People often get serious or self-conscious because we fear rejection, but remember that the audience is here to see you speak and hear what you have to say. They want you to do well, because that will result in a better experience for them.
Of course, it's not only love and enthusiasm that makes a presentation good. Public speaking looks natural when a good speaker does it, but a great deal of skill development, preparation, and practice goes into giving a good presentation. You see the speaker smiling, talking, and bringing the audience along with them through their presentation. What you don't see is all the hard work and preparation beforehand.
The great news here is that all of these actions are simple and you can take them, too. Follow these steps and you will feel more comfortable and confident. With practice, you may come to love public speaking as much as the speakers you admire now. For more practical steps you can take, enroll in oratorio.teachable.com and get started today.
