3 tips to get over a fear of public speaking + my first motivational speech!
On Friday I spoke at the Jolly Solo Christmas party (this is a party that I heard about last year when we interviewed a certain Budget Bitch on the radio show).
Basically it is an awesome night for people who are in business, yet too small to have a Christmas party. It was graciously organised by Leah who runs The Golden Goose and Janna who runs Fletcher Tax.
I was excited to be asked to speak and was determined that if nothing else I wanted to get my message across and inspire people. The other presentations I have done have been more technical, and so writing a motivational speech was much more exciting!
With the Boot Camp that we held last week, I only got a chance to write my new speech the night before I had to deliver it. This didn’t give me much practice time, which doesn’t help when you are trying to get over your fear of public speaking! I sat up writing the night before and then sent it off to Chandell my speaking coach:
Hey Chandell,
What do you think of me reading it verbatim, do you think that would suck?
Please say no!
We spoke on the morning of the big day, and went through a few main tips about the presenting. Being so late in the game it wasn’t really appropriate to make any major changes but we agreed after this to work on some structure for future talks.
The three public speaking tips I should use:
- Record saying the speech into my phone, and then play it back several times
- Practice sending a light from my diaphragm to the audience
- Visualise the audience being happy and inspired when I finished speaking
The results:
1. Record saying the speech into my phone, and then play it back several times
This was awesome. I am definitely going to record and listen to the speech every time in future. When I did go to present it felt familiar because I had listened to it so many times, even though I had only written it the night before.
2. Practice sending a light from my diaphragm to the audience
With my nerves I forgot to send the light completely, doh! I will try that again next time.
3. Visualise the audience being happy and inspired when I finished speaking
Just hearing this exercise made me realise that I automatically visualise people looking embarrassed for me when I finish. Not very empowering! So I managed a few moments of this new visualisation before I started.
All in all I was actually happy with what I did. I read my speech word for word which I know is pretty uncool, and not as engaging as it could be… kind of like someone else’s in laws reading a speech at their wedding. Also I was shaking so much I could hear the paper rattling in my hands!
Normally when I present I feel disappointed that I forgot something. This time, because I was reading, I said everything I had planned to say, which was a really good feeling! Now I just have to find the happy medium between reading and speaking.
This is definitely a step in the right direction… Stay tuned!
7:02 pm
Yay for you, Serena!
The ‘record the speech into the phone’ is a good tip! I’ll add it to my ‘pace up and down the backyard speaking out loud’ and the aforementioned ‘carwash’. Hearing it back would help, I’m sure!
11:30 pm
Yes it was such a good tip! And iPhones totally rock for this : )
5:13 am
I thought your speech was great – you have a story to tell!
I often hear speech coaches recommend not learning the speech verbatim, more absorb the speech (while I think I get what they mean, it’s often easier said than done).
Good luck on your journey into public speaking.
Sally
10:48 am
Thanks Sally!
Yes, I knew when I did it that the more seasoned presenters would probably cringe, haha, but onwards and upwards!
5:51 am
This is great advice! Even a seasoned speaker can benefit from these tips. Just because you’ve done it many times doesn’t mean you’re good at it.
6:30 am
Thanks Paige, but I am hoping that the many times will help me become good at it! I love your adventure BTW very inspiring!