The Key to Successful Public Speaking

Anxiety about public speaking may be so universal because it is “baked in.” Harkening back to prehistoric times, the brain’s amygdala, a kind of panic button, activates when we perceive we are being watched. The solution, says Sarah Gershman, president of Green Room Speakers and a professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, is to turn our attention away from ourselves and toward helping the audience.
 
Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Gershman offers advice on shifting from a self-conscious mode to a generous one:

• When preparing, think of the audience. Identify their needs, spoken and unspoken, and craft a message that speaks directly to that.

 

• Before you speak, refocus. Tell yourself, “Brain, this presentation is not about me. It’s about helping my audience.” Over time (usually between four and six presentations), your brain will begin to get it, and you will become less nervous.

 

• While speaking, make eye contact. Instead of scanning the room, make eye contact with one individual per thought. It is far easier (and more effective) to have a series of one-on-one conversations than it is to speak to everyone at once.

 
“We know the power of generosity to give us a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and meaning,” writes Gersham. “Generosity is just as powerful in speaking. It turns a nerve-wracking and even painful experience into one of giving and helping others. A generous speaker is calmer, more relaxed, and — most important — more effective at reaching the audience and making the desired impact.”
 
What is your greatest concern when you speak in public, and why? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

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