Standing up and speaking in front of an audience - whether sharing a story, giving a speech, or presenting your work - can be a wonderful experience.
It’s an opportunity to have an impact on people who matter to you, personally or professionally.
And it can also be completely nerve wracking.
Our minds can go wild - the doubt can creep in and the ‘what ifs’ start - and our body can get in the mix too.
My tells? My heart begins to pound and my legs start to shake - a winning combination!
And I know I’m not alone.
So many of us love to connect, to communicate, to contribute our voice, yet find it harder on a bigger stage.
The stakes feel higher, the risks greater, the nerves harder to manage. We can feel uncomfortably on the spot.
So how can we calm our brain and our body so we can show up and speak up with confidence?
The good news? It’s a learnable skill, and there are lots of practical tips and approaches to help.
Here are a few things that make a difference for me, and that others have found useful too:
Find your focus | Before you start writing, take a moment to get clear. Who are you talking to and what do you want to communicate to them? It creates a strong foundation, and keeps us connected to the message.
Practice out loud | Often something that looks great on paper or PowerPoint doesn’t flow when we speak it. We can find the places where we stumble or get lost, and change them.
Regulate your body | Just before speaking can be the hardest part! We can release the energy - through breathing, shaking it off, a few jumping jacks - or switch our attention outward e.g. fully listen to the person before us.
Shift the spotlight | Just before I start, I imagine a literal spotlight moving from me (hot, uncomfortable, yikes!), to the audience. It helps me focus on them, not my own inner swirl.
Partner up | Is there someone who can ask the first question? Cheerlead from the crowd? Be a friendly face to focus on? We really don’t have to go it alone, even if it can sometimes feel like it. A support person or team is a gift.
As with so many things in life, there’s no one size fits all, so it’s important to test and learn what works for you.
We don’t have to love being in the spotlight, but we can make being in it feel a lot more comfortable.
Wishing you all a week of showing up and sharing in a way that works for you✨
