If you are an introvert with issues making a public speech, you are one of many. There are many resources online to give you a hand in becoming more natural and confident speaking in public. Working on those skills makes it much easier to meet new people and enjoy a larger social circle. There are significant benefits to being able to use those skills, both in a professional setting and outside the office environment, so let’s cover how you can get better:

Consider What You Can Improve

Think about the public settings you feel most comfortable in, and compare those with situations where you feel detached from a conversation or like an outsider. There is often a shared theme between those that make you feel like you don’t belong. The common situation leading to shying away from public speaking include:

Attending an event alone

Communicating at work, specifically people in power

When friends bring strangers into a conversation

Small get-togethers or dates

Crowded groups and settings

Give Yourself a Speaking Target

Now that you are aware of your challenges regarding public speaking,l you should set a target you can achieve to get yourself moving toward it. That may mean something as simple as introducing yourself to a stranger at the next party or speaking up a bit in public when you attend a gathering. You will often need to force yourself just a bit outside your comfort zone so that you can expand it, bit by bit. You may volunteer to give presentations at the office or have a friend introduce you to a social circle, or even join an acting class or book club, where you can practice speaking in public in a more tightly knit group.

Never Compare Yourself to Others

If you love to look up and research public speakers and speeches for reference and inspiration, you may set yourself up for failure if you try to compare yourself to those. You can observe famous public figures, but you don’t need to set that high a bar for yourself if you want to be successful. You need to aim at a level of competence that will satisfy your needs and impress your audience, but nothing too far removed from that if you want to retain your sanity and avoid stress. Connect, interact and learn from your audience’s reactions.

Preparation and Practice

Since introverts enjoy more time alone, it is perfect for preparing and researching your chosen subject. You can put in the time to master the material and work on the delivery and timing. You would do well to rehearse at least an hour per minute of your presentation. Shorter talks may require more practice to get the timing and rhythm right to get the best results possible. Create a mental picture of what you intend to talk about and stick to it as you go forward. You don’t need to memorise the points and quote them word-for-word, as that will only make your speech sound mechanical and unnatural.

Mastering the Content

You need to focus on being the author of your speeches and presentations. That will give you a better understanding of the subject matter and how you present it. Your content will feel more natural, authentic and convincing than simply parroting something someone else wrote. If you are an expert in your chosen field, you will find it much easier to convey that knowledge to any group out there. Approach the subject openly as a conversation and less as a formal presentation. Remember that you want to educate your audience and leave them happy with the time they spent listening to you.

©Presence Training