As a decided introvert, I’ve always been reluctant to raise my hand or interject in conversations, and I’ve always valued time alone to think deeply and process thoughts. My experiences at home and school compounded my introversion, and I eventually learned to speak less frequently and proactively.
There’s nothing wrong with introversion or being soft-spoken, but it’s certainly hindered my familiarity and excitement for speaking in front of groups. Even having the spotlight on myself for a moment can be nerve-wracking.
Now, as a public relations intern at Communiqué PR, I’m seeing where confident public speaking skills are essential to the work of public relations professionals. For example, simply reporting updates to clients, moderating panel discussions, or presenting at new business meetings are all instances where strong presentation skills come in handy.
There are ways to overcome the discomfort of public speaking in everyday life and work. Recently, I came upon Susan Cain’s TEDTalk, “The Power of Introverts.” Cain, a former Wall Street lawyer and author of the book, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking,” is a self-described introvert and decidedly not a people-person, but I found myself admiring her presentation style.
As I’ve learned from watching Cain’s TEDTalk, great public speakers don’t have to be extroverted or outgoing. Rather, a crucial of captivating a crowd occurs when speakers are passionate and compelling. Cain’s speech was not about being in the limelight—it was about delivering the message. And while Cain acknowledged that she was scared to be on stage in front of so many people, she still delivered a powerful talk that earned a standing ovation from her 1,500-person audience. Her speech has been viewed at least 29 million times online.
What makes a strong public speaker?
Here are some key takeaways I’ve gleaned from Cain’s performance and preparation process:
Channel excitement and passion. A study from Harvard Business School has suggested that physically rephrasing your stage fright as excitement can improve your performance. While it may be hard to ignore feelings of nervousness, being able to verbalize excitement for a speaking event might help you overcome them.
Per Cain’s example, a genuine passion for your topic can help you feel and sound more confident. Though she was able to spend seven years in quiet research on introversion, she describes the irony of having to present her findings at a TEDTalk and overcome her fear of public speaking. Her passion and urgency towards introversion fueled her speech and it resonated with viewers like me.
Tell a compelling story. Strong public speaking skills are often synonymous with strong storytelling and organizational skills. Cain’s speech uses the classic anecdote, or story approach, to draw in audiences and make them invested in her message. Telling a succinct, moving story will help the audience remember your points and engage with your presentation.
Be authentic. Be true to your personality, values, and spirit by incorporating them into your material. For example, instead of pretending to be comfortable on stage, Cain admits that she was terrified of having to present to the TED audience. However, this confession only makes her a more relatable speaker and a credible figure to speak on introversion.
Cain uses other examples to develop her message on the power of introversion, like her soft-spoken grandfather who delivered moving sermons. These help us as audiences to understand where she came from and why we should also believe in the power of introverts.
How to prepare for public speaking
Below are several tips to consider when preparing for public speaking opportunities:
Know your audience and connect with them. Besides being knowledgeable about your topic, understand your audience. Try creating a list of questions to better understand your audience. These questions could include: Who is the audience and what are their values? Why would they be interested in what you have to say? How can you provide value by way of new information, insights, and solutions? Answering these questions is a helpful tactic to ensure your audience can connect and engage with your message.
Identify the best practice methods for you. There are several ways to practice for a speech, depending on your strengths and weaknesses. As Susan Cain described to the New York Times, in preparation for her TEDTalk, she met with a TED coach and joined a local Toastmasters chapter to become more familiar with public speaking and to receive valuable feedback. Although you may not opt for such an intensive process, direct feedback from a trusted individual can be an honest reflection of where you are.
Either way, practice with the goal of becoming highly fluent with your main points, which will allow you to fuel forward even when you slip up a word or two.
Finally, learn to embrace nervousness throughout your public speaking experiences. Although the anxiety might never go away, give yourself time to prepare for speeches and take pride in your growth each step of the way.