Effective public speaking requires patience, poise and preparation.
For many team leaders and those hoping to climb the corporate ladder, an often debilitating fear of public speaking can be a deal-breaker.
Glossophobia, as it is known, is common, with up to 75 per cent of people experiencing some level of anxiety about addressing an audience.
The fear manifests physically, with symptoms such as sweating, dry mouth, scratchy throat, heart palpitations, headaches and muscle tension, among others.
These reactions occur for some whether addressing a meeting with a few colleagues or presenting to a large group of strangers.
British comedian Sarah Millican was in town last month and posted to social media about her show.
“What a highlight of my career and life. The biggest room I’ve ever played. Actually pretty much twice the size of the biggest room I’ve ever played. 11,500 glorious people [at] RAC Arena in Perth,” she wrote.
I expect Ms Millican had more than a few nervous moments before walking onto the stage, but her joy shines through post-event.
The number of likes and positive comments confirm she put on a great show.
I’m sure she only received such positive feedback because she was well prepared. Clearly she didn’t wing it; there would have been considerable skill, thought and effort that went into ensuring thousands of people laughed hard, and at all the right moments.
One of the world’s greatest comedians, Sir Billy Connolly, said during a BBC Maestro Course, “I’ve never known anything quite so frightening as going up on your own and doing it. It’s terrifying.”
Sir Billy understands that people have paid good money to hear him be the funniest guy in the room, suggesting that overcoming the fear and learning the skills to present to an audience makes for an exhilarating and addictive experience.
Our job as leaders is more challenging because we are paid to lead a diverse group of individuals towards a common goal, inspiring them and harnessing their talents year after year, not just at a one-off gig.
Being able to communicate effectively and with confidence is the key skill that enables this.
Throughout my career, I have delivered thousands of planned and impromptu speeches, each one eliciting a level of anxiety which, over time, diminished to just a second or two ahead of the buzz that followed.
In an article for Harvard University, ‘10 Tips For Improving Your Public Speaking Skills’, Harvard instructor Majorie North offers ways to improve public speaking skills and deliver a memorable speech (with my commentary added).
• Nervousness is normal, practice and prepare
Having first had a microphone thrust into my hand more than two decades ago, I can attest to the notion that practice makes perfect.
• Know your audience
Nothing is more misdirected than a bog-standard speech that has gone stale in the speaker’s mouth.
• Organise your material, be clear on the purpose
Create a framework to deliver that includes something to capture the audience’s attention within the first 30 seconds.
• Watch for feedback and adapt to it in real-time
• Let your personality come through
This is a lesson that I took a while to learn, but it is a key ingredient in the best of my speeches.
• Use humour, tell stories
Sir Billy is a journeyman in his ability to observe, reflect, and entertain, so watch reels of his delivery.
• Don’t read unless you have to
I worked with a coach to learn how to deliver content without the safety blanket of printed speech notes, and it was a game-changer.
• Use your voice and hands effectively and omit nervous gestures
Yes to expression, no to fidgeting.
• Grab attention at the beginning, and close with a dynamic end
TED Talks are compelling, and their story arc, easily found online, is worth studying.
• Use audiovisual aids sparingly
The rhetoric suggests the go-to tool for presentations, PowerPoint, is now dead because of overuse, so only show what you need to and talk to the rest.
Even a skilled communicator like Sir Billy gets it wrong sometimes. His advice: “Just lick your wounds and get back to work.”
• Marion Fulker is an executive coach and mentor, chair of Perth Zoo, and the WA chair of Smartgroup
