The Introvert’s Guide to Nailing Presentations and Speeches

We all fear public speaking at times. But for introverts, the anxiety can be paralysing. I know — I used to dread presentations. Honestly it was like a horror show in my early career. I loathed it, I would get tied up in knots for weeks in advance at the mere thought of doing it. There would be sleepless nights, stomach churning, shortness of breath, sweaty palms and my whole body would shake.

I remember one specific occasion when I got so wound up about delivering a presentation I hired a hypnotherapist to help me. It didn’t work. The night before the presentation I didn’t sleep. Not a wink. The next morning was a haze of caffeine and red bull (other energy drinks are available), and the presentation was, as you’d expect, a car crash.

I vowed never ever to be in that position again and, so far so good. In fact I’d go as far as to say that I really like public speaking now. I get a real kick out of it.

In this article, I’ll take you on my journey from anxious mess to confident presenter as an introvert. You’ll learn:

• Why we fear public speaking and how to reframe it
• Getting to the root of your personal fears
• Preparing a presentation focused on your audience
• Creating compelling, visual slides
• Practicing effectively
• Exercises to warm up before you present

With these steps, you can kick fear’s butt and thrive as a public speaker.

Accept Your Fear is Normal

The first step is accepting fear of public speaking is universal. It’s our brain’s protective mechanism against vulnerability. Even seasoned speakers feel it. Knowing your nerves are normal makes it less scary so stop judging yourself.

I accepted my fear by speaking it out loud. Yep, I would talk to myself to acknowledge the fear and then tell myself that I would be fine.

Understand Your Personal Fears

Pinpoint the root of your fear. Is it worry about imperfections? Fear of judgment? Past failures? I realised I dreaded a perceived lack of acceptance and chased perfection. That and reflecting on a mortifying childhood choir audition also helped.

Once you identify your unique causes, you diffuse their power. You can then develop tactics to overcome them. For instance, if you fixate on flaws, remember the audience can’t see them like you do. They don’t know that you forgot something or switched things up a little.

Prepare With Your Audience in Mind

Thorough preparation is key. But focus first on who your audience is and what they want to learn. Let that guide your content.

Boil your speech down to three key takeaways they should remember. Back those with clear points and examples your audience will relate to. Keep it simple.

Create Appealing Visual Slides

Build your slides around those key messages. For each point, think:

• What do they need to know?
• What image or example will drive it home?
• How can I summarise it visually?

Keep your text minimal and your slides simple. Use large fonts and visuals like infographics, photos or quotes. This engages audiences better than dense text. And please, don’t read from your slides. They’re there as an aid to you and an illustration for the audience.

Practice Effectively

Practicing builds comfort with your material. Remember you’re not trying to learn your speech parrot fashion, you’re building familiarity with your content.

Stand up and rehearse out loud as if you’re there in the room and focus on:

• Opening with a story that shows vulnerability — this will help your audience connect with you.
• Making eye contact
• Varying tone and pace — keep it interesting by pitching your voice differently to emphasise key points
• Pausing for emphasis — when you want something you’ve said to land powerfully, take a pause.
• Moving naturally around the stage

While you’re practicing remember to time yourself, and continue rehearsing until the flow feels smooth but don’t overdo it. Don’t obsess over it, trust yourself to stop when you get to a point where you feel comfortable.

Warm Up Before Showtime

Right before going on stage, warm up your body (including your mouth) and voice. Shake off those excess nerves through movement. Breathe deeply to activate your vagus nerve and lower your heart rate.

Try listening to a song that uplifts you — my go to song is James Brown — Living In America but whatever works for you!

Most importantly, stay present and focus on connecting with your listeners, not your fears.

Public speaking as an introvert takes work. But with preparation and practice, you can get comfortable sharing your insights from the stage.

You’ve got this!

If you’re interested in hiring me to help you with your presentation skills book a free consultation call with me.