“I used to be terrified of public speaking, and I still mostly am. However, I had the opportunity to speak at a couple internal conferences and gave a killer MOH speech at a friend’s wedding. Despite the nerves, I really love sharing and hoping I can reach someone through a well-designed talk. How can I find more opportunities for speaking engagements?”
- Speaking, slowly but surely
Kudos on conquering your fear (truly one of the most terrifying acts humans sign up for). I love the idea of pushing yourself to do more speaking.
To get you started:
Join existing events. Think TedX, Disrupt HR, The Moth, industry conferences. Research what is coming to your area and build a pitch. There are also online opportunities to check out - I particularly like Creative Mornings Virtual Field Trips. You may find it helpful to build a relationship with past speakers or event organizers as a way to hone your potential story and/or find the right opportunity.
Create your own opening. Not every speaking engagement comes from an existing event. Brainstorm what you want to share: expertise on a specific topic, your personal story, something interesting you have researched extensively. Once you have a few ideas, start making offers. Call up friends with a podcast and ask to be a guest. Local organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, co-working spaces or entrepreneur groups may want someone to shed light on a timely topic. Be prepared to hear no a lot and get creative! The key is to make connections and be bold about asking people to consider you.
Teaching! This one might seem a little farther-flung, but stick with me. If you live near a university, reach out to teachers and advisors to ask about leading a class or club discussion. Explore offering a community education workshop or hosting a webinar. Think about what course you want to teach and build it. Teaching provides real time feedback from your audience and a chance to present the same material multiple times, allowing you to both hone the message and your presentation style.
Finally, I want to share an insight from my coaching experience. Speaking is a learned skill, not an inherent talent.
I hear a common misperception that great public speakers do not feel nerves or have the physical sensations that so many of us dread (heart racing, sweaty palms, that quiver in your voice). I’m here to debunk that myth. Most people experience a physical reaction to the stress of public speaking. The lucky few who don’t go through this chain of events are the exception not the rule.
What you see from great public speakers is that 1) they know their own reactions and prepare (i.e. wear a dark top on stage if they sweat through their blouse) and 2) they are able to get through the physical reaction quickly and move on to a more relaxed and natural state.
The more you speak, the more comfortable you will get with your body’s reactions and how to prepare or get through them on stage.