You’re Giving a Talk? Tips for Avoiding the Goosebumps

Skill in delivering talks or presentations can be a significant boost to your career. You can do this!

By Rodger Dean Duncan

Do you have glossophobia?

That’s a fear of public speaking, a phobia believed to affect up to 75% of the population.

The physical symptoms range from slight nervousness and brain freeze to trembling, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and full-on panic.

For most people, fear of public speaking is not a hindrance because their work doesn’t require speeches or presentations. But if your profession places value on speaking skills, you’d be smart to be strategic about developing your capacity.

The ability to persuade an audience is an important trademark of a leader. My early career experience as a speechwriter and communication coach (for cabinet officers in two White House administrations as well as for C-suite executives in many corporations) provided some key take-aways.

• Effective public speaking is definitely a skill you can learn.

• Talk about things you know well and want to share with others.

• Manage your discomfort by thoroughly preparing, practicing, and visualizing.

• Even if you plan to speak from abbreviated notes, write out and refine your entire presentation. This will help you develop your content and build your confidence.

• Sharpen your delivery with repeated, focused practice.

Let’s zero in on those last two points.

The act of writing your “script” will help you explore your material and select precise wording. Focus on vocabulary you’re comfortable using. Choose words that have impact. Use short sentences. Provide evidence to support your key points. In your closing, repeat the points you want your audience to remember. Edit your draft carefully. Remove redundancies and cut out material that clutters rather than illuminates.

Does that sound like work? It is! And if you do it right, your investment of time and effort will pay big dividends.

Think about it: musicians, athletes and other professional invest much more time training than in performing. So why would you expect to successfully prepare and deliver a speech without paying the price?

Years ago, I was coaching a business executive who was scheduled to speak at his company’s annual shareholders meeting. He was nervous about the assignment and displayed all the symptoms of glossophobia. I was videotaping his practice session.