POLISH UP YOUR PRESENTATION
Take control and don’t let your fear of public speaking hold you back
Public speaking is often listed as one of our most common phobias, right up there with spiders, snakes and flying. In fact, it’s estimated that around 25 per cent of people have a fear of talking in front of large groups of people, which can limit potential opportunities in their career and other areas of life.
And there’s more bad news for shy wallflowers, because these days, presentation skills are more important than ever. While many of us had managed to fly under the public speaking radar until now, the rise of Zoom has changed all that.
“Since COVID-19, we’ve been thrust in front of the camera and expected to perform as a professional presenter on Zoom or social media to tell and sell our stories for our businesses or brands, yet nobody taught us how,” explains author, presenter and public speaking coach Andi Lew (andilew.com). “The way we like to consume content is through videos, so we all need presenting skills.”
HOW TO GET STARTED
The first thing to know about being confident in front of a crowd is that it takes practice. “Public speaking is an art form that needs to be learned just like anything,” Lew explains. “It’s taken me three decades to perfect my craft and I’ve used every opportunity to learn from others by enrolling in courses or volunteering on community radio stations or charity events.”
You may also be surprised at how much more comfortable you feel if you’re properly prepared. “Confidence comes from planning, preparation and understanding the skills,” Lew says. “You’d be pretty nervous jumping out of a plane if you didn’t rehearse what you’re going to be doing on the way down.”
She adds, “I like to discover what’s making each individual feel nervous because it’s all so unique. For some, confidence builds with how they look or think they look, and for others it’s when I remind them of their purpose.”
STAYING FOCUSED AND ENGAGED
When it comes to keeping people engaged, the key is to convey your message as directly as possible. “I notice how difficult it can be for some to get straight to the point with their message. I call this ‘word economy,’” Lew explains. “The average viewer watches a video for five seconds, so you’ll need to know how to catch their attention very quickly.”
It also helps to keep your mind off yourself, something that Lew says has become harder now that we’re also watching ourselves on screen. “It might be better for some to turn their phone away from selfie mode,” she says. “It’s not natural to look at your image as you share information. It’s about the audience, not you. It’ll also calm your nerves as your focus shifts from you to them.”