What do you do if your public speaking skills are hindering your professional growth?

Embarking on public speaking, especially for introverts, can feel daunting. But let's pause and reflect: what's the worst outcome if we stumble during a speech? It's often not as catastrophic as we imagine. Through practice, we can tackle our fears and build confidence. Incorporating humour into our speeches can captivate the audience. Additionally, mastering our topic enhances credibility. Let's embrace discomfort, confront fears, and hone our skills. With persistence, we'll turn apprehension into mastery, propelling our professional growth.

If your public speaking skills are hindering your professional growth, it's essential to assess honestly where you stand. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses in public speaking, identify specific areas for improvement, and consider seeking out opportunities for training or practice. By addressing this challenge head-on and committing to improving your skills, you can enhance your confidence and effectiveness in communicating professionally.

Firstly you need to identify what fear (If there is one), is blocking you from delivering great speeches. Work on that first! Then, video yourself. That's step one of familiarizing with exposure in front of an audience. Watch that video and see what is already good and what needs improvement. Find a speech/public speech specialist and have them review it. Know what needs improvement!

Start by identifying specific areas where you can improve, such as vocal delivery or body language. Then, seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to understand how you can enhance your skills. Consider enrolling in a public speaking course or joining a Toastmasters club to practice and receive constructive criticism. Remember, improvement takes time and practice, so be patient with yourself as you work towards becoming a more confident speaker.

When asking for feedback, keep in mind that, usually people will tell you their personal preferences, unless they are experts in the field. If you try to please everyone, you'll be overwhelmed. A specialist will give you the most constructive feedback, so pay close attention to them.

Seeking feedback on your public speaking skills can be key to overcoming obstacles in your professional growth. One approach is to ask trusted colleagues to observe your presentations and provide constructive criticism. Additionally, recording your speeches and reviewing them later can help you identify areas for improvement. Joining a public speaking group or taking a course can also provide valuable feedback and practice opportunities. By seeking feedback and actively working on your public speaking skills, you can gradually enhance your abilities and boost your professional growth.

If you don't have a Jewish mother, you can get good feedback in Toastmasters. It is affordable and gives great value if you apply yourself. There are roles such as speech evaluator, grammarian, and general evaluator who will offer critical information on what they saw, heard, and felt about your presentation. You can prepare, practice, and polish your skills by actively listening to other members and picking up nuggets of information that can improve your confidence.

In my personal journey, addressing my peers was the first step in developing confidence before addressing larger audiences. Reviewing videos of myself alongside friends provided valuable feedback for improvement. Indeed, practice leads to perfection but always room for improvement! Also, having a passion on the topic drives the way you interact with the audiences.

In my experience what is helpful, is building "a thick skin". That means, getting used to the exposure. Start a small challenge. Use your social media, and make small daily recordings where you speak about things you are familiar with or your learnings. Make a 30-day challenge where you daily engage with your audience. This will help you familiarize yourself with exposure faster than you think!

Start by joining a speaking club or taking a course. Record yourself practicing and watch the playback for areas to improve. Seeking feedback from friends or colleagues can also provide valuable insights. Regular practice will help you build confidence and improve your skills over time.

The great Darren LaCroix, is known for his quote, "Stage Time, Stage Time, Stage Time." This means practice all the time. In your car while driving. Practice while you are waiting in line. Practice In the shower. Practice in front of as many people as people as possible and hopefully not while you're showering. When you are given an opportunity to practice, take it. Join an improvisational group and you will find your mind will work faster and your timing will improve. Plus, you will gain confidence over time.

Useful tips I have been given are to get comfortable with silence. Well-placed pauses are a friend that can add emphasis, impact, and engage your audience. Revealing humor is important to connect with your audience. "When you make your audience laugh, they relax, and when they relax, they want to hear what's next," said, World Champion of Public Speaking, David Brooks.

Record yourself, and listen to the way you show up when presenting and speaking. In our minds we think we sound a certain way, when in reality it can come across very different to our audience. Creating recordings and training I learned that I have a soothing voice. In my mind I thought I sounded loud and assertive like others I work with. That was not the case. I changed my approach by listening to myself present in a playback and would practice before I had to deliver a presentation. I did dry runs with my manager and took the feedback to improve. I also learned to present in an authentic way that is me. I used my words, my expressions, my humour and showed up in a real way. These are things that I have done and so far they work.

In my opinion, the best techniques are: 1. Learn about storytelling. Embrace storytelling. Love storytelling! 2. Learn about engaging with your audiences. People pay close attention when they know they will be asked about it. 3. Use a good dose of humor. It is always a good practice, except in funerals! (See what I did here?) 4. Learn about stage presence. Where do you stand when speaking? Why do you stand there? What voice do you use and why? What emotions do you want to evoke with your speech? 5. What are the practices of the best speakers out there? Find the ones you love and copy them! These will make you a powerful public speaker!

Start by practicing in low-pressure settings, like with friends or family, to build confidence. You can also join a public speaking club, like Toastmasters, where you'll get supportive feedback and opportunities to practice regularly. Another tip is to watch TED Talks or other speakers you admire to learn from their techniques. By gradually exposing yourself to public speaking and seeking feedback, you can overcome your fears and excel in professional settings.

Research, research, research. Listen and watch how other influential speakers present themselves, learn key body language, as well as intonations. Gauging attention and engaging with the audience is an important skill when delivering a speech. Always start with a good opening that is relatable to the audience before you get to the key-points of your speech.

When I was starting my public speaking journey, I would record myself giving my speech. When I'd play it back I'd listen to what I was saying and how I was saying it. Did I sound excited about the topic? Did I sound confident in the topic? Did I use a lot of filler word? Were my transitions smooth? From there I would adjust my speech and record all over again; checking to see if the changes made any improvement.

Embracing technology can significantly improve your public speaking skills. You can use presentation software like PowerPoint or Prezi to create visually appealing slides that can enhance your presentation. Additionally, teleprompter apps can help you practice and deliver your speech more smoothly. Recording yourself using a smartphone or camera can provide valuable feedback on your speaking style and gestures. Finally, virtual reality (VR) technology offers immersive environments for realistic public speaking practice, helping you gain confidence and improve your skills.

Few people are afraid to talk on the phone. Practice on the phone with a couple of people , or looking on a mirror. A public speaking class at a community college.

Get a good presentation coach. They’ll ask you to present to them, quickly identify your strengths and weaknesses, tell you how to tell your story, tell how to craft a powerful presentation, watch and critique your rehearsal & give you the confidence that is probably the most important ingredient. They don’t come cheap but then nothing valuable is!

Start with something you love. Have you always wanted to do vocals? Go for it! Passionate about something? Check out of there is a possibility of hosting a webinar or a learning session within your company - friendly faces and a topic of your choice will do magic to your self-confidence and make you a better speaker and presenter.

As your professional career evolves, some of the tactics and techniques that may have been very successful earlier in your career with public speaking may no longer be as effective. It is important to understand your public speaking approach needs to best match who you are today as you continue to learn and grow. You can even joke about some of your early days speaking engagements. That’s the point - we are all a work in progress.

I've found that the more knowledgeable I am about something, the easier it is for me to speak about it. So really dive into the topic. Learn all you can. This will help you if you need to change directions in your speech or even if you get questions. It will also help your speech seem like a conversation instead of robotically talking from memory.