When I help folks write and prepare for speeches, we work through a lot of the same fears: anxiety about the audience’s reaction, pressure to be perfect and entertaining, and the belief that they’re just not good enough to be up in front of a group.
The truth is: you don’t have to make a famous speech to make a good one. Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave solid advice when he said, “Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” Here are a few more truths that help my clients stress a little less as they prepare:
4 Secrets to De-Stress About Public Speaking
- Your audience is cheering for you. How do I know? When was the last time you were in a meeting (in-person or remote) and hoped it would be terrible? The audience wants you to do well so they can get the information they need and all of you can move forward. Which brings us to…
- Most speeches aren’t great, they’re good enough, and that’s exactly how we want them! Great presentations are fine-tuned to suit their specific Reason and Audience, not to fit a set of jokes. To expand on that idea – clearly and efficiently relaying the message is more important than making people laugh every time. If you can be entertaining, sure, that’s nice, but that is absolutely not essential because…
- Presenters are conduits, not mascots. By that I mean your readers/listeners are there for your message more than they are for you. Shifting the focus from yourself to your content takes the pressure off you as a presenter and puts it where it should be – on the Reason you’re presenting and the information the Audience needs to know. There are lots of techniques you can use to share that info that don’t require being funny or outlandish. Speaking of which…
- Everyone needs a good set of basic communication tools. Unless you’re going to make a living off of public speaking and entertaining, you don’t need a whole hardware store of jokes and fables. A small toolbox of fitting stories, metaphors, and one-liners are like a Swiss Army knife for creating and delivering your message. Getting comfortable with a few fundamentals will give you all the tools you need. The best part? They’re highly adaptable so you can re-use them next time!
You don’t have to give speeches like FDR to connect with people. You’re welcome to watch and read amazing speeches for inspiration, but you don’t have to be the greatest to be great. Finding and developing your own style is the most important thing you can do to empower yourself as a speaker, writer, and communicator.
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