33 Helpful Tips For Public Speakers

 

People seriously think that Public Speakers, including Pastors have an easy job. They think it’s easy to get in front of a crowd of people and present an audience captivating, attention grabbing, action inspiring message several times a week. That is of course until they try it.

I’ve been in the professional public speaking field since 1990. I was a kid when I started. 18 years old and fresh out of high school. I remember those early days. My fee for speaking was lunch and a coffee. I wrestled with the jitters in the beginning. Like most things, the more I did it, the better and more comfortable I became.

Today, not to toot my own horn, but I can deliver a 45 minute speech with less than an hour of preparation. That’s not an ideal situation, but if the need presents itself and the pay is adequate, I can guarantee I will not disappoint. I proved this at a real estate convention with 5,000 people in attendance. The keynote speaker was stuck at another airport. The organizer asked me if I would step in. I agreed, for the same pay plus hazard pay as the keynote speaker would have received. I was given less than 5 minutes to prepare. I delivered a 45 minute speech and the reception was such that I was immediately booked as the keynote speaker for the following year. I became #GeorgeTheSpeaker that day.

Some people go so far as to spend minutes, if not hours, if not days criticizing the way a Speaker delivers a message. You know the type of person I’m talking about. These are the people who will go to an event, or go to a class, or go to church, sit through a message shaking their heads, and then seek people out to listen to them spew poison out of their mouths about the speaker. These are also the same type of people who would probably never work up enough courage to speak in front of a room full of people.

I started this off like this to assure you that if you become a public speaker, or if you just agree to speak at an intimate event, odds are that you will have at least one person in the audience who will criticize you. So don’t ever think you will be a perfect public speaker. As someone who has been speaking since 1990 (I was 18), I can assure you that over 3 decades later still haven’t made me the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) in the speaking arena. That title sits with my Lord Jesus Christ, who over 2 centuries after His last public speech is still changing millions of lives a year.

Now that you know you will never be perfect, understand that having a fear of public speaking doesn’t make you an odd ball either. This is such a common fear that there is even a scientific term for it; Glossophobia. Experts estimate that as much as 77% of the population suffers some form of anxiety regarding public speaking. It’s perfectly common for people to feel nervous about speaking publicly, presenting at work, or giving a speech. I have worked with Pastors who needed additional coaching & training for every step of their churches growth; the bigger the church, the more nervous they became.

Some people have a more serious phobia known as social anxiety disorder (SAD). This form of Glossophobia can become severely damaging to an individual’s social life. These require extensive therapy and a lot of patience. It’s not a condition one can conquer overnight. Not treating this disorder correctly can create an even greater problem. People with social anxiety disorder often experience real physical pain and discomfort when attempting to speak publicly.

Fortunately, most individuals can be helped with the proper training and coaching. We’ve seen huge improvements in people who suffer from a mild case of butterflies in the stomach, to those who are crippled by more severe conditions. I’ve seen some individuals becomes paralyzed with fear, and some even passing out. Surprisingly, I’ve seen many of these same individuals graduate to become much better speakers.

Since not everyone can afford coaching, training or treatment, I’ve decided to give you some basic tips to help you become a better speaker. I will list 33 of them and if you want any further information on them. simply email GC Rosario Group at gcrosariogroup@gmail.com for more information. If you are a public figure (business owner, leader, manager, presenter, public speaker, Pastor, educator, etc.) who would like professional assistance for yourself or your team, you can schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation here to see how the professionals at GC Rosario Group can best serve you.

1. Speak on topics that interest you. Your passion will show.
2. Preparation is key. Study the material well before presenting it.
3. Practice makes almost perfect. Practice with a friend or in front of a mirror.
4. Study the crowd. Know who you will presenting in front of.
5. Stay positive. Don’t spend time with negative people before going on stage.
6. Visualize a successful presentation. Expect the crowd to enjoy your speech.
7. If possible, visit the venue or space before presenting there.
8. Go for a brisk walk before presenting. Get some oxygen to the brain.
9. Don’t eat foods that make you edgy or jittery. No sweets, coffee or alcohol.
10. Get enough rest. You know your body best. Get as much sleep as you need.
11. Don’t eat just before speaking. Let the food digest before you present.
12. Dress appropriate for the event. Be the attraction, not a distraction.
13. If you find yourself thinking negatively, think of something positive.
14. Talk to someone about your fear. Make sure the person cares about you.
15. Have notes & bullet points ready. This is separate from the whole speech.
16. Practice one last time a couple of hours before you go up to speak.
17. Check all equipment and the room before your guests start to arrive.
18. Walk up and down a set of stairs a few times. Motion creates emotion.
19. Relieve some tension by hitting the can before you hit the stage.
20. Have water on stage. Hydrates and gives you a break to regroup.
21. Being nervous and being exited feels the same. Call it excitement!
22. Own the space. The stage, the mic and the podium are yours.
23. Do NOT read your speech/talk on stage but still have a copy just in case.
24. Props and visuals are great attention keepers, but don’t have too many.
25. Welcome audience participation with yes and no questions.
26. Find the smiley, engaged people in the crowd and focus your eyes on them.
27. Don’t be a comedian, but if you get people to laugh, you got ’em hooked!
28. Don’t stay stuck at the podium. Walk around when comfortable to do so.
29. Robots suck! Speak clearly, at your pace, breath, smile and change volume.
30. Move your hands around. Be animated. Your not a photo.
31. Volunteer to speak often in smaller settings to get used to the stage.
32. Join social/networking groups and speak to as many people as possible.
33. HAVE FUN! Laugh at small mistakes. They make you seem authentic!

• ** BONUS: If you are still uncomfortable being the center of attention, look for speaking opportunities where you are a member of a panel of speakers. That way, you are not solely responsible for carrying the event, and can actually feed off the energy of the other speakers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

George L. Rosario is a Brooklyn NY born & raised businessman & entrepreneur turned consultant. He started GC Rosario Group with his lovely wife Claudia. With over 30 years of service to the marketplace in NYC, George has relocated and been graciously adopted by the business community of South Florida. He now travels the country helping businesses and organizations thrive in today’s noisy environment. The post-Covid era forced many to close their doors, but also opened new doors of opportunity, growth and prosperity for innovative thinkers. George & Claudia Rosario help companies, businesses, organizations and teams develop the necessary skillset and plan of action to not just survive, but thrive in this new world. GC Rosario Group helps both secular and Christian based institutions meet their goals.