Gladieux Consulting

  • SERVICES
    • ABOUT
    • MENU (downloadable)
    • 1:1 EXECUTIVE COACHING
    • KEYNOTE SPEAKING
    • STRATEGIC PLANNING
    • TEAM TRAINING
  • CLIENTS
  • KUDOS
  • PRESS
  • COACH’S CORNER
  • GC GIVES BACK
  • RESOURCES
    • FREE TOOLS
    • POCKET 8s
    • RESEARCH SUMMARIES
  • NEWSLETTER

How do you make public speaking look so easy?

Dear Michelle,
I’m not looking to be smooth in front of hundreds of people, I just want to present competently in meetings. How do you make public speaking look so easy?

Thanks for your question.  If I’m making public speaking look easy, it’s an illusion. Practice and feedback in as many settings as possible get you the skills and comfort level required for expert speaking.  This can be a lifelong, incredibly valuable pursuit if you want your ideas heard and put to use.

Remind yourself: it’s not about you, it’s about your audience and content.  You’re a medium for your message, in service to the topic and recipients. While you must manage first impressions smartly, it becomes irrelevant whether you’re old, young, tall or short, female or male, etc. Excellent presenters overcome stereotypes. If Jedi Master Yoda showed up to speak at your meeting, you’d listen and learn. You’d quickly forget that he’s almost 900 years old, two feet tall (and green) as your heart and mind were drawn in.  

Find passion for the topic, or find someone else to present.

All of us are intimidated by an audience at some point.  You are no more or less valuable than anyone in the room.  You’re no better, so don’t speak as if you are. You’re not lesser, so don’t fear the opportunity.  Prepare for it. Perform an audience analysis before you present: What are the skills and demographics of your audience? How educated are they in this topic? What constraints might you encounter? What do you have in common?

The audience is likely rooting for you and interested if you genuinely want to be there. You’ve probably seen speakers who didn’t. It’s painful to watch because it’s painful for them. Sometimes, I hear a presenter announce that they’re nervous and I cringe. I completely understand the impulse to confess, but the result is an uncomfortable audience. Enjoy your presentation, and we enjoy it with you.

Please give yourself credit for facing what studies show to be the number one fear in America. Public speaking gets easier the more you do it. I agree with Mark Twain, “There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.” When you no longer notice time passing, except to observe necessary breaks and start/end times, you’re gaining ground and finding flow. Put your focus on the audience and forget yourself. Then, bring yourself back in focus when you ask for feedback about how others feel it went, immediately after the session.

Happy presenting!

Have a question for Michelle and her team?
Fill out the form below and your question may appear in the next Coach's Corner.

Coach’s Corner

  • Is it a big deal if I’m not a “praise person”?
  • I’ve been promoted to supervisor. How do I interact with employees who have always been my peers?
  • How can I stay focused with so much to do?
  • Why do we procrastinate, and what can we do about it?
  • Are performance reviews worthwhile?
  • How can I manage conflict with more confidence?
  • What is “impression management”, and how can we benefit from it?
  • Is work-life balance possible?
  • What’s the best way to deal with a divided team?
  • How can I stay positive in tough times?
  • What’s the best way to make sure trust on our team remains strong?
  • How can I successfully work from home with children present?
  • Is this the best we can expect from people in power?
  • How can I improve my e-mail?
  • What’s involved when an organization pursues process improvement?
  • I’ve been feeling blah about my job, am I ungrateful?
  • What should I expect in strategic planning?
  • My boss gave me a critical review. Am I being set up for termination?
  • How can I deal with an overly-opinionated co-worker?
  • How do you make public speaking look so easy?
  • I feel controlled by my environment. Can I change my mindset?
  • Why do women talk so much?
  • How do I get co-workers to see that words matter?
  • What should I do when there’s no upside at work?
  • What do you teach in conflict management seminars?
  • How can I communicate like an extrovert when I need to?
  • Which quotations inspire you?
  • Do you have any favorite interview questions?
  • Do you think starting a relationship with a coworker is a bad idea?

GET NEWS YOU CAN USE

Sign up for quarterly inspiration + free personal and professional development resources:

Let's connect

We'd love to hear from you.

Give us a call at (260) 450-4202.

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • FREE TOOLS
  • LET’S CONNECT
  • Privacy Policy
©2022 Gladieux Consulting All Rights Reserved