What To Do If You Hate Public Speaking: Try These 10 Interesting Hacks
In today’s article you’ll learn everything you need to know about what to do if you hate public speaking.
If you must give a speech, and want to give one that’s effective, then this article is for you! In this post, I share 10 easy suggestions that I bear in mind as I prepare to give an effective speech.
Things to do if you hate public speaking:
1. Have a Strong Start!
DON’T get routine and boring by giving a standard introduction.
For example: “Hello, my name is John. Thanks for being here today. We apologize for the technical difficulties we faced. Thank you for your time today. I hope you are excited! (That’s boring!)
Providing a standard introduction can lull your audience into complacency. This will quickly put them to sleep. Even though the topic may be interesting, the audience will stop listening once they feel that the speaker is routine.
Start running! Share facts, statistics or trends. For example: “One in four people will be in poverty by the age of 65. So here’s what you can do to avoid becoming poor.”
A robust start quickly engages your audience!
2. Establish Your Authority.
Before giving your speech, ask yourself these types of questions:
Why should your audience spend their precious time listening to you? What gives you credibility to discuss this subject? Why do you deserve their ears?
Here are some possible good reasons: “Because I have written several books on this topic.” “Because I have spent the last 10 years playing the piano for famous music artists like…” “Because I have started my own internet business from scratch.” “Because since I was twelve years old, I cooked three meals a day for my family. I know a thing or two about cooking.”
Audiences are more likely to lend their ear to people who have more knowledge, experience and credibility.
Establish your authority and credibility up front. Establish your authority in a spirit of humility. Try not to brag about your achievements. Focus on your goal which is to help inform your audience a couple of certain subject.
3. Tell a Story with a moral that relates to your subject.
Stories are memorable and can create a long-lasting impression on your audience. Good speakers often weave stories into their speeches. Easy to remember stories. Stories quickly engage your audience.
A good story can quickly defuse the stress between your audience. Tell a brief story about the article you read. You can even tell them about personal experiences to help your audience connect with you.
For example, “About five years ago, I was fired from my job. Since then, my life has changed. I started my own online business by selling goods on the internet. Being let go from my job has left me not complacent. When you think about it, that’s a blessing in disguise.
If you don’t want to share a personal story, tell them one that made a lasting impression or made an impact on you.
4. Build Rapport
Connect with your audience by informing them about the significance of today’s date in history.
The audience is more willing to listen because it is a shared commonality.
For example: “Today is 9/11, a day of sorrow for our nation. Out of this shared grief, we remember the victims and their families in our prayers. We thank the many unsung heroes who have stepped forward to provide assistance such as the Firefighters. Relying on world leaders, may they find a way to work towards world peace. Together, with an unyielding spirit, let us look to a brighter future and seek ways to promote and advocate for peace first in our communities, in our countries and abroad.”
5. Make Use of Humor
Using humor, by far, has to be probably the most difficult tasks for the average speaker.
Humor can be in the form of jokes or funny stories. It can even be a play on words, (not intended).
For example, it was reported to the Church Pastor that somebody stole the air conditioner. So the Pastor put up a sign saying: “If you have an air conditioner, please bring one as it will be very hot where you are going.”
Humor is normally self-deprecating. Caution: Don’t tell jokes or funny stories in which you aren’t part of the punch line. Doing so may cause a mixed reaction from the audience, and since they do not like it, they may stop listening to the speech. For example, if you are a guy, do not tell funny stories that make fun of girls. And vice versa! If you have full hair, do not tell bald jokes. Make sure your audience knows you are being made fun of, too.
Humor can be unintentional. Occasionally, a speaker accidentally makes a mistake that will catapult the audience into a sea of laughter. If you make a mistake, tell your audience: “I was just testing to see if you were awake.”
If you are telling a funny story to no avail, stay calm and tell them: “I have to admit, it was funny when that story was told to me.” At least you will get a few laughs.
Humor relies on truth. Once the reality is established, or usually accepted by the audience, you can use irony and hyperbole to “bring the house down.” For example, Warren Buffet is the poorest person in the world. He is simply worth 600 billion dollars.” Another example is: “We have traditions that we keep in this community. It’s not an old tradition. It only comes from the Middle Ages.”
Don’t treat humor as a goal, but as a method to convey a message to your audience.
6. Weave popular quotes from other people throughout your speech.
Using quotes can help your audience define your own values and beliefs. The quotes you speak are windows to your soul. They can immediately see who you follow, why you follow them, and understand the treasure that feeds your spirit.
Some people might just quote in general terms like: “I heard him say this…, or Someone once said…” Usually, pointing to the author shows that you have done the research, and adds credibility. For example: “Francis of Assisi once said: ‘Always preach, but when necessary, use words.’”
Another example: “Abraham Lincoln once said: ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’”
Saint Paul once said: “Even if I have faith to move mountains, but do not have love, then I am nothing.”
Jesus once said: “What is the gain of gaining the whole world, but losing one’s soul.”
7. Audience Participation
Speakers can engage the audience by asking them to raise their hands or say yes.
For example: “Raise your hand if you have read this special report.”
“How many of you have seen the Pyramids of Giza? Can I see raising my hand?”
“Say “Yes” if you understand what I’m talking about.”
Evangelical preachers often tell their audience after making an important point: “Can I hear an amen!”
8. Relax your audience.
Tensions can build between you and your audience, particularly with regards to a controversial subject.
Calm the audience by saying something similar like this: “This is a controversial topic, and you probably have lots of questions. I will try to answer the questions as best I can within the allotted time.”
9. Standard protocol.
Don’t let the microphone cover your mouth from the audience. Visually, the audience needs to see your lips move. Let your audience see your lips while you speak.
Posture conveys confidence. Stand up straight and display confidence with the subject. Someone once said that 20% of communication is verbal while 80% is non-verbal. Practice in front of a mirror, or record yourself to see how to improve.
Speak clearly. Don’t slur your words. Don’t lower your voice at the end of every sentence. If your audience cannot hear you, they will easily get frustrated. Speech volume is essential.
Have good eye contact. Even if you are using a prepared speech, look over it from time to time and connect with the audience by letting them look you in the eye.
The difference between a good speaker and a proficient speaker has to do with the use of pauses. Good speakers can hijack their speech, but good speakers will give their audience time to digest thoughts and concepts. It’s like feeding a child. If you give kids too much food at any given time, they will choke. Children need time to digest food before receiving another spoonful. After each important point, pause for a few seconds and provide your audience time to digest your great thoughts and concepts.
10. Has a Strong Closure.
Having a clear and definite end to your speech is essential. End your speech with “I really don’t know what else to say,” or “I’m sorry, but that’s it.”
Having a powerful closing statement is just as important as having a powerful introduction. These last words will remain with your audience. Like a fireworks display, the best comes at the end, leaving the audience breathless, and the performance is memorable. This doesn’t suggest that you must leave the audience with a “bang”. But you want to leave a good, positive, and lasting impression.
For example, “In closing, we can see the dramatic difference incentives have had on the productivity of our company. Without incentives, our company would not have seen the increase in profits that we have had in the last five years. Someone once said: “Don’t fix what isn’t broken.” For the good of our company, let’s set aside our budget again this year for incentives. Thank you so much for listening!”
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article on things to do if you hate public speaking. I actually hope that its content has been of good help to you.
