Don’t imagine everyone naked: Public speaking 101

Glossophobia, the fear of speaking in public, may not be a common word to hear these days however I think it's probably a reasonably common thing for people to have. I used to. The word originates from the Greek words glōssa [meaning tongue] and phobos (meaning fear or dread).

Fear or dread of the tongue is pretty common in society really and the thought of standing in front of a group of people brings high levels of stress and anxiety. I used to get a dry mouth right before having to speak in front of a group and my hands would shake. I've hear sweating is another by-product of the stress and anxiety around public speaking.

This evening I had to speak to a group of first-home buyers, about 60 or so, who had been invited to an after-hours seminar at a local ANZ bank on the topic of preparing for their first purchase; Sort of a what to do and what not to do thing. As a registered Land Agent and Business Development Manager for one of Adelaide's largest real estate companies it's a topic I am very familiar with and public speaking is part of my role. Simply put, I have to do it.

Imagine everyone naked
I've heard that the speaker should imagine everyone naked to make it easier to get through the speech but I'm not so sure. I've never done it that way. I think it would be distracting and would possibly take to much focus away from my train of thought. Here's a few things I do, and don't do.

Things to do

• Decide what it is you want your audience to "take home" with them: The message you want to leave them with.
• Know your time limit and prepare your content accordingly.
• Be energetic and excited about your topic.
• Speak loudly enough to be heard by your entire audience.
• Define terminology that your audience may not be familiar with.
• Don't use jargon if it can be avoided.
• Answer questions in a brief and succinct manner
• If using slides use engaging Powerpoint slides with big bold writing and images.

Here's a couple of things not to do

• If you don't know the answer don't make it up. Acknowledge it as a great question needing more research. Invite the questioner to seek you out later for an answer, or just get their details and contact them once you know the answer.
• Your audience will only take in 4-5 things, studies prove it. Make clear points and don't get side-tracked with peripheral topics or detailed information.
• Don't fidget. I pace a little bit, but fidgeting is not a good look.
• Don't use your laser pointer like harry Potter's wand. You'll give your audience a headache as they try to follow it.
• If using Powerpoint slides BE ORGANISED and don't flip backwards and forwards through them.
• Don't be an idiot and make sure your projector and slides work prior to the audience getting there.
• Don't treat it like a stand-up comedy show. You are not Jerry Seinfeld, so don't act like it. If indeed you are Jerry Seinfeld and are reading this, thanks for reading my post.
• Don't imagine everyone naked.

The above is only a very brief outline of some of the things I do in my presentations. I rarely use Powerpoint slides as I am usually speaking in a bank or office boardroom and never know if the set up will accommodate a projector very well. I have some handouts but usually hand them out at the end rather than have people reading them as I speak. That's unnerving to me. And annoying.

I think the underlying message is to be prepared I suppose.

In this day and age when people seem more comfortable engaging with others with social media I think people are becoming less and less comfortable with speaking in public. How often do you see groups of people out socialising together at a cafe or some such public space but they're all focussed on their respective mobile phones? This happens a lot and I think it's destroying many peoples' ability to converse. This social disease is conditioning people to communicate in this way and on those occasions when public speaking or interacting in groups face to face arise the stress and anxiety of Glossophobia raises its familiar head.

As for the bank seminar tonight? Well, I think it went really well. I fielded some excellent questions and helped a group of young first-home buyers gain greater understanding of the journey they are about to embark on. There are many legal and financial issues around a property transaction with loads of red-tape and documentation but the group tonight are more prepared for it.

It feels good to help people in this way and these group tonight were a particular sharp group so were a pleasure to deal with.

Thanks for reading my post.

Images:
browncoattheatre.com
edge.alluremedia.com.au