The importance of learning public speaking skills

It’s not uncommon to hear people say that they are terrified of public speaking. It's natural. We're putting ourselves out there, in front of others, sharing our message with the possibility of rejection and critique. It's hard.

However, as we grow in our careers it’s important to develop this skill of public speaking. Especially if we’re going to climb the career ladder to Leadership roles, or we’re leading in some other aspect (you don’t need a job title of "leader" to lead), or we’re looking to boost our career. 

As we grow in our career, certainly into Leadership, it becomes a lot less about technical skills, and more about our ability to sell an idea, align people, win hearts and minds, and move people into action.

Public speaking skills then become an essential key skill to get this done. 

There’s also a growing conference speaking industry catering for the desire of people to share their messages with others. There are meet up groups and community events all over. The need for decent public speaking skills is essential here too, if we're to share our story, promote something, sell something or persuade people to do something. 

I share lots of insights, guidance and ideas in my Zero To Keynote book about effective preparation for a conference talk.

In my Super Power Communication Skills Course, I also share the principles of communication, and how to put that into action from the stage too. 

In this article I will share a few thoughts on public speaking. For more, check out the Zero To Keynote book.

Competency in the job does not mean competency in public speaking

It’s often assumed in our business world that people who are competent at their job are therefore competent in public speaking. This is a mistake.

As a manager and leader, I have spent lots of time ensuring every person in my team is an effective communicator, and public speaker. 

Either through the Zero To Keynote workshop, or the Communication Super Power Workshop, I’ve encouraged people to develop the key skill of public speaking, not only for their day-to-day work but also for professional career growth.

Public speaking is a skill that needs some fundamental building blocks - and plenty of practice. Just because someone is competent in their job, does not mean they are competent in public speaking.

Facts need to be brought to life

It’s not uncommon, in many public speaking contexts, for there to be facts underpinning the presentation.

Data, historical facts, business numbers, market shares, evidence, scientific facts…facts, facts and facts. 

But facts don’t say much on their own, nor do they persuade people; they need context, they need bringing to life and they need placing into the minds of others with anchors and relationships to existing beliefs. 

When we present we are typically trying to persuade people.

Buy this, support this, understand this, join me on this, move this way, move that way, stand up and be counted, approve this, provide funding, give me support, buy my book and on and on. 

Facts alone won’t do this. Stories, context and the human touch are needed. "Stories go where facts cannot" is one of my Principles of Effective Communication. 

Persuasion needs emotion, desire, stories, connections and feeling. This must come from the speaker. Facts (and argument) need to be made human - and that is through the speaker’s ability to present. 

Those facts need a human to bring them to life - to make them sing and mean something. 

Listing facts is easy to do, bringing them to life is much harder. Bringing them to life with emotion, energy and enthusiasm is even harder. But this is the skill in Public Speaking; being clear, providing context, exuding credibility and being human. 

Provide stories of your experience, show how much you care about the topic and be enthusiastic. If you’re not enthusiastic about what you’re presenting, why should anyone else be?

Facts can be a record of the data for decisions, review, governance, the conference talk - but bring them to life through your talk and delivery. Details don’t persuade people - it's the humanising of that data that does. 

Don’t imitate others

I always advocate watching as many presentations as you can - and studying what works and what does not. But do not copy others.

Take elements of what you feel is a good presentation and weave that into yours. Do not mimic or copy, but add your own flavour and personality. 

Many speakers make the mistake of trying to be someone else.

They exude bouncy energy rather than their natural enthusiasm. They use words that don’t feel natural. Their slides are carbon copies of others. Their stories are not original nor from experience. This is a mistake.

Be you and be authentic but weave in good communication principles and ideas you’ve seen work elsewhere. It is a journey of trial and error and practice. Try new approaches, techniques and ideas - but don’t lose yourself in the process. 

In Zero To Keynote I focus more on the preparation of a good talk, the practice of it and the structure of flow, than I do on the style in which you deliver it. That style is yours to own.

Most presentation advice is based on tactical ways to move, or talk, or operate on the stage. This advice is helpful but you run the risk of becoming neutral and bland, and dull. Be you.

Use words you would naturally use. Bring your own experience to the talk and speak like you speak. Tweak and evolve and improve, but don’t lose who you are. 

It’s precisely your own style that will enable you to persuade and influence others. Humans influence other humans, so be you. 

Practice and do more presentations, then reflect and improve, but don’t wear the mask of someone else. People will see through your mask and it will fall off at some point, revealing who you naturally are. Focus on who you are first therefore, and nudge to better where needed.

Be clearer in your thinking and communication, structure your talks better, tell better stories, focus on your purpose, understand your audience and develop a more compelling voice - but don’t become someone else. Don’t mimic and copy. Not only will your talk not sound like you, but you could lose yourself in the process. 

You will garner affection for yourself, and your ideas, if you are YOU. Just don’t use that as an excuse to not improve the way you communicate your ideas.

Don’t aim for perfect

Many people avoid public speaking because they strive for perfection. Perfection does not exist. It is always elusive. There is always something you could do better. Perfection is also subjective. 

Even now, 20 years on in my public speaking experience, I still leave the stage knowing I could do something better. 

People will tell you that practice makes perfect. I disagree. If we’re aiming for perfection no amount of practice will work - and you risk using the goal of perfection as a way to put off doing the talk; a form of procrastination. 

Practice however, does make it permanent. Practice your talk until you cannot forget it. Practice presenting until the basics are fluid and natural.

Once you deeply know your subject, your talk and your style, you can hit the stage and give it your best. You will always find something to improve, but that’s all part of the journey. 

Enthusiasm (and feelings)

A common mistake many speakers make is slowly nudging out their enthusiasm and feelings and personality.

This is especially so in corporate settings where once lively, enthusiastic and motivated people present with corporate dullness. They take away the emotions and feelings that would make a good presentation and replace it with neutral, boring corporate standards. 

It is highly likely you will not meet your purpose, or persuade others, if your talk has little feeling, emotion or enthusiasm. 

You do not need to bounce around the stage to show enthusiasm - it will come through if you know your topic, care about your work and are enthusiastic about your subject. I’ve seen enthusiasm come through in a quiet equine way. I’ve seen it come through with wild gestures and giddiness on the stage. It will come through if you let it. Don’t water down your enthusiasm. Don’t neglect your feelings for the subject. 

Let these come through in the most appropriate way. Communication is a two way process - the audience matters, so focus on them, but don’t let that take away your enthusiasm nor feelings for the subject.

Believe in what you are saying - and others will know you believe in it too.

Focus on your purpose

I’ve seen plenty of speakers do a presentation that appeared to lack any guiding purpose. Words for words sake. Dull slides. Boring delivery. No human touch.

Any public speech will have a purpose - in fact, all communication has a purpose. 

Work out what that purpose is and morph your focus and talk around it. Is it to sell? Convince? Promote? Influence? Make people laugh?

At the end of any presentation should be a solid and rightful conclusion of your purpose. 

Appearance Matters (but not after a while)

The science around first impressions and appearance seems pretty strong. People judge and make up their minds quickly. 

With first impressions people are looking for two key aspects; is this person a friend or foe AND are they competent? 

These are important considerations in life. The more dangerous someone is, and the more competent they appear, the more we back away. It’s a helpful natural mechanism for life. 

It’s the same when you hit the stage to talk at a conference, or deliver a presentation for a client (although clients will have already met you probably). 

1. Is this person friendly and likeable?
2. Are they competent?

Our clothes, appearance and posture will create these first impressions. People make up their minds quickly, so of course, it pays to ensure you look the part (contextual) and you carry yourself well. In this short-term people will listen to what you are saying, and watch what you do, to reinforce that initial first impression. 

Make a poor first impression and people will find ways to reinforce that impression. Make a good first impression and people will find ways to reinforce that impression too. It’s why I always advise you to try to make a good first impression. 

However, in the longer term it’s entirely possible to change that first impression.

I’ve seen many speakers take to the stage hunched over, looking worried and scared, and then deliver an outstanding talk that grabbed attention and warmed the hearts of the audience. 

I’ve seen people hit the stage with confidence and smiles - and lose the audience after 10 minutes with incoherent arguments and a poor delivery. 

First impressions do matter but the talk you deliver matters more. 

The fire, energy, content, delivery, clarity and emotion will either grab the audience and take them on the journey, or leave the audience feeling unsatisfied and bored. 

People will forget their first impressions if you deliver a good talk, bring facts to life, tell compelling stories and deliver all of this with style, authenticity and clarity. 

Your enthusiasm, emotions, feelings and natural style will come through.

It’s why, earlier in this post, I said don't lose who you are. Don’t mimic, don’t copy, don't lose yourself, because it’s precisely who you are that will connect people to your talk. 

Improve, get better but don’t lose yourself in the process.

It all comes down to your presentation and how you weave who you are into it. Add your emotion, add your flavour, follow good presentation principles and ditch the generic, dull and boring advice - and people will appreciate you for it.

They will connect. You will impress people. You will share. People will be moved. And your purpose will likely be achieved. 

Zero To Keynote

A field guide for the budding conference speaker.

Learn how to overcome the fear of public speaking, go from idea to talk, get your submission accepted, deal with speaker's remorse - and structure, then deliver, a talk worthy of being a Keynote.

Buy the book