You have to speak in front of a large audience. How can you develop the confidence to do it?

Your audience doesn't care about what you have to say, they only care about how it impacts them. Sure, that's blunt, however it's true. So make sure you tailor your message to what's in it for them. That way you'll capture their attention to get your message across. If they aren't listening, it doesn't matter what you say because they won't hear it.

Thanks @Wayne Heather for prompting the topic. No one will remember your takeaways but likely they might recall a story you told. I like the Research, Prep, Practice. I have seen young professionals over rehearse then sound too scripted. The audience wants the authentic you which isn't perfect. So obsess about your flow, not about each word. What has helped me mentor others is a framework I call: Setup | Solution | Success. I love Simon Sinek - start with the why. So the setup explains the problem that's worth solving. Success = memorable customer stories.

You need to get in the reps! Give lots of speeches. Join your local Toastmasters club or another public speaking club and get loads of exposure. Get used to being in front of people talking on various topics. In a speakers club, you also get feedback on your presentation skills from people who actually want you to improve instead of making you feel good. For professional presentations, of course you need to practice the talk in advance. If you have a very bad case of the nerves, memorize the whole thing. Otherwise, practice talking through the slides, focussing especially on how to transition between slides, and how to efficiently explain the more complex slides. Also, follow John Zimmer on LinkedIn. He's great.

An Individual should follow 3P ‘Preparation’, ‘Practice’, and ‘Performance’, are crucial for delivering impactful speech As Preparation involves understanding the audience, gathering info about your content, and structuring the speech. Practice helps build confidence and fluency, while performance or poise focuses on delivering the speech with confidence and connecting with the audience. Atlast Practice! Practice! and only practice! is the most crucial P for disseminating impactful speaking.

Remember that incorporating 'real-world' stories into your presentation not only increases audience engagement, it also helps make content more relatable.

Remember to smile, it will relax you ........ and have pauses at certain points in your talk. Especially after key points made. Also, make sure you look at every face in the room

One pro tip - Do not copy someone else's content or visual aids. You are bound to fumble if its not your own. Its vital to know your content by heart. Thoroughly prepare your content so that you're familiar with it inside and out. You should be ready to tackle any questions towards the end as well.

To speak to a large audience, tell a story to convey your message, this can be a personal experience. People relate well to stories and it also breaks the barriers in communication. I used this before and the result was fantastic. I connected with the audience and my topic of discussion was well understood.

Of course it’s vital to actually know what your speaking about however equally important is considering how you can put your key messages across to the audience in an entertaining and informative way. Disregard all advice about story telling, presentation techniques etc like behaviour itself presenting isnt binary no one style fits all. The first point to work from is time allocated which will dictate how much you can present. I have seen many great presentations shrivel and die through lack of time management. The most important point is people buy from people they like and so find the most engaging and authentic way to sell your message.

There are few things which have always helped me while speaking in public - Having a hold on the topic of presentation and preparaing well is the key. A well prepared person will always deliver better. Do not try to mug up things. Just be yourself and speak in a manner the audience can understand - A bit of humor keeps the audience hooked - While speaking don't stress too much. Overthinking leads to blackouts. -

For me knowing why I am speaking and what I want others to take away from it is key. Be human, don’t pretend to be an expert and know more then everyone else, but speak from your experience, your own journey and share from the heart.

Knowing our purpose is important. What is also important is the purpose of the audience. What is the takeaway for them? Can we give them a rhythmic presentation that is an emotionally engaging experience? People buy emotionally 95% of the time. Give the audience the ride of their life.

Know that you are selected for a reason. Your unique story is what makes this presentation special. Be you. Share your story with the world.

To develop confidence in speaking to a large audience, knowing your purpose is key. Define what message you want to convey and why it matters to your audience. Focus on how your words can impact and benefit them. Prepare thoroughly, rehearse your speech, and visualize success. Embrace nervous energy as fuel for passion and authenticity. Remember, your purpose drives your confidence and resonates with your audience.

Always try and find the right angle. If you know the pain points of your audience, what is giving them sleepless nights. Then do you have a solution for them. Tell them what you are going to discuss and how they have a solution with xxx.

The number one thing for me is to know your topic. I mean really know it. I go up on stage with content for a 30 min keynote knowing I can speak comfortably on the topic for another 60 mins without slides if required. This allows you to read your audience and break off on tangents based on their response to your talk. I find this also helpful if you have some time dedicated to Q&A - you knowing your subject allows for being able to answer the questions coming towards you.

Practice, practice, practice. I've memorized many of my speeches - especially when pitching in front of investors. It gives you the freedom to improvise, be aware of your body language, and most importantly: take the right pauses. Pauses can be a very powerful tool in your speech. But it needs practice to be done right. Practice your speech when you run, when you're in the shower, or when you're standing in front of the mirror. But speak your pitch out loud. Don't just think the words inside your head. Real practice only comes when you speak the words out loud. Happy practicing!

In my experience, confidence starts with knowledge, but also practice makes perfect. Practice, practice, and practice, whether in front of a mirror, with a friend, family member, or a colleague. You can also consider recording yourself. The more you practice the more confident you will feel.

Many people keep working on the slides and content right up to the last minute. Great content will only go so far if you’re not prepared. Give yourself a cutoff, like two days before, where you stop making content and switch to practice. Record yourself and watch it back several times. You can make edits if you find errors, but focus on delivery.

When you ‘begin' with the 'end' on mind, you have a way forward. Visualizing your success gives you confidence in your subject-matter, conviction for the line of argument you choose to propound and it gives you the optimism to get going. Your happy demeanour, your own conviction and your indulgence in your presentation draws audience interest in your speech. They get infected. They swoon as you croon !

Picture yourself being introduced to the audience, walking onto the stage, and confidently leading the audience. It is helpful too to anticipate tough questions and to picture yourself answering them with confidence (most questions are usually is less confrontational and not as tough as you might imagine them to be - when you get a question that is ‘easier’ than you imagined you will automatically feel more confident.)

As opposed to saying: “ummmm, ya know, or like”… simply pause your speaking, there is no need to add filler. Not every second of your speech needs to be filled with words; and in fact, that pause will actually draw in your listener’s attention just a little bit more closely. The pause will allow you as the speaker, to connect to your calm, and sound confident.

In my experience, visualisation is a key to boost confidence. Success starts with imagination. Imagine your success, but don’t forget to put in the hard wok to make it a reality. Remember, visualisation is a tool, not a guarantee.

As Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right." Emotionally, our brains can't distinguish between imagination and reality. Envision success, not failure, to boost confidence. Picture the applause, gratitude, and celebration from your audience. Remember, most worries never materialize. Focus on positive outcomes, and watch your confidence soar.

When you love your job and passionate about your subject, then same bring excitement and conviction Ofcourse speaking in front of large audience does bring jitters and little nervousness is good; but this gets balanced with power of expression and enjoyment

I have an alarm that goes off on my phone every morning at 10am that says "It's fun to be me!" This reminder has helped me through many challenges. YES, even through this difficulty, it's fun to be me. This can apply to speaking too. When you're wanting to run the other way because your nerves are getting the best of you, remind yourself "It's fun to be me!" When you show up having fun being you, in all your quirky, nervous glory, your audience is way more likely to lean in for more, and that connection -- with yourself and with your audience -- will boost your confidence tenfold.

Get your cat or your dog to sit in front of you. Ask your neighbors and friends to bring their cats or dogs over for a playdate. Now you have a test audience. Give your speech to them and see if you can convince them. Then when you present to humans, imagine them as cats or dogs. What’s the worst that can happen, they can doze off (like most cats), or start playing with something (like most dogs). Either way, you will already have practised it and your body will not react to it.

Usually one is afraid of forgetting or fumbling and making a fool of oneself in front of a large audience. I think the top 3 secrets to give a great authentic speech are - 1. To genuinely care about the message / subject or the audience or both. This adds the emotional spark to the speech. 2. To detach from the result and tell yourself that it is ok even if I don't give a great speech and that if I do make a mistake, it means nothing about me. 3. To use humor to your advantage. Detaching myself from the result, forgiving myself for potential mistakes in advance and being ok with looking a like fool on stage has helped me present fearlessly and find the correct words / thoughts and stories to convey the message in a powerful manner.

In my experience, don’t overload slides ; less is more, use verbal communication don’t read the slides ; think about the message you want the audience to remember - Headers are important to summarise the slide tell a story Last but not least, prepare, prepare, prepare….

The idea of crowd size tends to overwhelm new speakers. To combat this, work with a section of the crowd for each portion of your presentation. If that is still too challenging then pick a person in the crowd and move onto the next person when you start another topic/idea. But at the end focus your attention to the entire audience and take in the applause.

One crucial aspect of a presentation often overlooked is maintaining authenticity. While it's vital to tailor your message and your persona to your audience's needs, it's equally essential to preserve the genuineness of your content, a.w.a of your personality. Avoid sacrificing quality just to please your audience; sometimes, presenting hard truths is necessary. Similarly, don’t try to portray a persona that doesn’t conform to your values and attitudes. Embrace the challenge of engaging with dissenting opinions. The beauty of being authentic in a presentation is that you can focus on delivering valuable information without worrying about conforming to audience preferences.

Be yourself and have fun! Be relatable - bring stories, questions etc. prepare and then let it rip!! Lastly try to be interactive so the audience is involved. But most important relax and fun - they will appreciate it. A little candy to toss for correct answers to your questions helps too!