by Phoebe Kurth, LiveGirl High School Fellow
Plant both feet firmly on the ground, pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and begin. This is how I begin every presentation or formal speaking in front of a group of people. Public speaking can certainly be intimidating and nerve-racking. Whether you are in front of a large group of people or just your classmates, it is common to feel some pressure. However, it is extremely important to master this skill as all leaders are put in a position to talk in front of an audience. While I am still mastering the skill myself, I want to share key insights I have learned from my public speaking experiences.
First, know what you are talking about and be prepared. In 8th grade, I had to give a five minute speech on Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. While I was trying to memorize my writing, I soon realized that I needed to think about my speech as a story, and know the beginning, middle, and end. Breaking the speech into sections as well as creating smooth transitions between stories helped me master the material. Whenever I got stuck or forgot the next part of the story, I realized that part was an awkward sentence and needed to be revised. The better my writing flowed, the easier it was to memorize the material. It is extremely important to educate yourself and know all the information you can. For example, if you are giving a presentation in school about the Women’s Suffrage Movement, be an expert on the topic. Do this thorough research and even come up with potential questions a classmate or teacher might ask after the presentation. Making yourself an expert on the topic will boost your confidence and allow you to speak with clarity.
Next, practice, practice, practice! Public speaking is not something that you can master overnight. It takes multiple trials and it is important to know what methods work best for you. The next time you have a presentation, practice in front of the mirror. Then, present it to your mom, dad, sibling, or friend. Practicing in front of different audience members will help you gain confidence. Ask for suggestions and have an open mind to receiving constructive criticism.
Being relaxed while presenting is essential when delivering an important message. Remember to breathe! Allow yourself to take a few seconds and regroup. Consider doing a quick power pose before your start to boost your confidence. Take your time and don’t rush. Allow your audience time to comprehend the important and interesting information you are giving them.
Another thing that I want to address under this topic is using PowerPoint with your presentation. I’ve seen a lot of successful presentations with PowerPoint and many that were unsuccessful. Here is the scoop! Don’t fill your slides with too many words. The standard rule is to have a maximum of three bullet notes that state broad topics or themes which you will then explain to the audience in further detail. Also, make your slides appealing by adding a few pictures or headings to organize your thoughts. If you are using notecards while presenting, look up frequently and make eye contact with the audience. Reading word for word off the cards shows you don’t really know the topic. Your notecards should really only be a backup tool if you get lost while presenting.
No one is born with a magical gift for public speaking. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and take a risk in order to get better at it. Sometimes I like to watch TedTalks or graduation speeches to see what other people are doing well and how I can mirror it in my presentation. All these things can help make your next speech the best one yet!
