To be an impactful leader, you must be able to communicate effectively in multiple forums and using different mediums. Writing is essential, but most find that a safe pursuit. The thought of speaking in public often strikes fear instead. In fact, more people are afraid of speaking in public than of death, spiders, heights, and more.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Read on: blog.WednesdayWin.com​

Read time: 3 minutes

With a bit of commitment and focus, you can improve your confidence in front of audiences and find the strength in your voice.

Being an effective public speaker doesn't just mean giving grand speeches in front of massive audiences. More often, it's about being willing to share your thoughts in a meeting, speaking up in your community, or giving guidance to a group of volunteers.

Being comfortable talking in front of others in those common situations will also help you as a leader in other parts of your life.

Let's explore four simple strategies:

1. Audiences respond to energy & enthusiasm

Even more important than what you know, is how ready you are to deliver that information with energy and enthusiasm. If you don't appear interested in your topic, you can't expect anyone else to be.

Don't be the source of a story like this one.

Find a source of enthusiasm and draw from it when speaking about any topic. You don't need theatrical energy, but if you can find some power behind your delivery, you'll find your audience responding positively to that energy.

• You must be interested before others will find you interesting
• Bring energy to your delivery or else your content won't be heard
• More people will remember how you communicated than what you shared—the power impression carries more weight

2. Practice frequently (and out loud)

Especially when giving a prepared talk, the most useful tool for great delivery is practice. Speak it out loud from beginning to end. You can talk in front of a mirror, but that's not necessary. Practice in your car while driving, when out for a walk, when sitting at your desk, or even in the shower. They all work. The key is to not just think about your talk, but to speak it aloud.

This kind of exercise isn't limited to big speeches. Practice telling fun stories, recounting events, or explaining something that others may want to learn. Formulate your thoughts into a story that you can tell from beginning to end. You'll be exercising your mental muscles and getting comfortable with the process of moving from ideas in your mind to understanding in your audience.

If you either are deeply uncomfortable speaking up or you want to build your skills within a structured group, seek out a local Toastmasters club. Toastmasters offers one of the most supportive and organized paths to build up the confidence and skills of even the most hesitant public speakers.

Finally, practice in everyday situations. Start sharing more stories and experiences, engage more people in casual situations like networking events, social settings, or even when waiting in a line at a store. Speak with more people in low stakes situations to build up the skills for when the big event opportunity arrives.

• Practice talking in private
• Engage more in public situations
• Casual practice in low stakes environments takes away the mystery and prepares you for bigger stages
• Join Toastmasters or seek out other structured practice

3. Think in three acts

For longer, more structured speaking opportunities, start thinking in terms of three acts. To really engage your audience, you want to provide an engaging opening, discuss the journey of change, and then conclude with a resolution to your opening.

Take your listeners on some kind of journey. The set-up should present some conflict or challenge. The middle covers the substance of the change. What was tried, done, or observed? That leads to the conclusion. What was the resolution? How were the subjects of the story changed? What's different now?

This is a strategy that works for nearly any topic great or small as long as you are looking for the opportunity.

• Guide listeners from the setup, to actions, and the conclusion
• Provide a natural reason for your audience to be interested
• Make your topic relatable to your audience. Why might they care about the subject of your story?

4. Let go of stage fright

The secret you quickly learn when you do a lot of public speaking: nobody expects much. The bar is unbelievably low in most situations. When you bring a little energy and share interesting material, you'll discover that most audiences are both grateful and rooting for you to do well.

If you focus on your nervousness, you'll be the one having a bad time. You'll call attention to mistakes that the audience wouldn't have otherwise noticed. You'll lose focus. Through it all, though, others mostly won't care.

Expectations are so low in most cases that a simple competent delivery of an idea structured with a bit of thought will be appreciated and well-received.

Take a moment before you begin to take a deep breath, think about having a great outcome from your talk, and then engage. Focus on your ideas and deliver consistent with your practice. The goal isn't perfection, but simple communication.

Your audience will love it in return.

• Pause to calm yourself before a major presentation
• Focus on your material and don't worry much about the audience
• No one knows exactly what you were going to say so don't get stuck on minor misses from your plans
• Most of all: enjoy it! You are crushing a common fear by taking action

Action Summary

Public speaking seems scary until you break it down. Audiences don't expect much and that makes it easy to deliver a simple message with competence and get a positive response.

Focus on a few simple basics and see your confidence rise to meet the occasion.

• Bring some energy and interest
• Practice out loud (in settings both small and large)
• Think in three acts
• Let go of the fear of the moment and find your groove

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What do you think? Do you embrace opportunities to speak in public or has fear held you back? Reply to this email and let me know.

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To your success,

Christopher

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P.S. Like this one? You'll probably want to check out how to leverage Imposter Syndrome as a leader, too.

Looking for a deeper dive on these topics? Connect here and reach out:

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