What are some techniques for helping group members who are uncomfortable speaking in public?

1 Assess anxiety and confidence

The first step to help your group members who are uncomfortable speaking in public is to understand their level of anxiety and confidence. You can do this by asking them to rate their feelings on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is very nervous and 10 is very confident. You can also observe their body language, tone of voice, and eye contact during group meetings and discussions. Based on this information, you can tailor your support and guidance to each member's needs and goals.

2 Provide feedback and encouragement

The second step is to provide constructive feedback and encouragement to your group members. Feedback is essential to help them improve their skills, identify their strengths, and address their weaknesses. However, feedback should be balanced, specific, and timely. You should avoid harsh criticism, vague praise, or delayed feedback. Instead, you should focus on the positive aspects of their performance, give concrete suggestions for improvement, and deliver feedback as soon as possible after the presentation. Encouragement is also important to boost their morale, motivation, and confidence. You should express your appreciation, recognition, and support for their efforts and achievements.

3 Assign roles and tasks

The third step is to assign roles and tasks that suit each member's strengths and preferences. Depending on the type and format of the presentation, you may need to divide the work among different roles, such as introduction, main points, conclusion, visual aids, questions, etc. You should consult with your group members and let them choose the roles and tasks that they feel comfortable and confident with. You should also consider their skills, interests, and personalities when assigning roles and tasks. For example, if a member is good at storytelling, you can assign them to the introduction or conclusion. If a member is good at data analysis, you can assign them to the main points or visual aids.

5 Use visual aids and notes

The fifth step is to use visual aids and notes to support the speech. Visual aids and notes are useful tools to help your group members who are uncomfortable speaking in public. They can help them organize their ideas, remember their points, and engage the audience. However, visual aids and notes should be used wisely and sparingly. You should avoid using too many or too complex visual aids, such as slides, charts, or videos. You should also avoid reading from or relying on your notes too much. Instead, you should use visual aids and notes as cues or prompts to guide your speech and enhance your message.

6 Handle questions and comments

The sixth and final step is to handle questions and comments from the audience. Questions and comments are inevitable parts of any presentation, and they can be challenging for your group members who are uncomfortable speaking in public. However, you can help them cope with questions and comments by preparing them in advance, coaching them during the presentation, and debriefing them afterwards. You should prepare them by anticipating possible questions and comments, and rehearsing the answers and responses. You should coach them by signaling who will answer or respond, and intervening if necessary. You should debrief them by reviewing the questions and comments, and discussing the feedback and lessons learned.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?