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PUBLIC SPEAKING:
Four Tips to Move You from Chaos to Calm
SBY DEBBIE ROOS
weaty palms. Racing heart.
Nervous stomach.  at’s how many attorneys feel when asked to give a speech. Standing up in front of
prospects, clients, or peers can reduce even the most con dent among us to uncomfortable middle schoolers. Conversely, we stand in awe of those who command an audience, master a presentation, and make it look easy.
Some of us are naturally wired to hold public court in this manner. For the rest of us, we have to learn to be- come comfortable in this vulnerable space. And vulnerable it is: just by standing there, we’re o ering our- selves up for judgment – how we’re dressed, how we’re holding our body. When we speak, we’re evaluated on not only what we say but how we say it.
With all that pressure, why do we do this to ourselves?  e answer is simple: for most, it’s just part of the job. Sharing our knowledge, connect- ing our name to our work happens, in part, through speaking engagements. It’s e cient marketing and can be ef- fective networking.
Given that speaking is a relative “must,” making it as comfortable as possible is also a “must.” Shi ing per- spectives, tapping into our natural gi s, and being intentional can help move the public speaking needle from red to green. While the public space is  lled with advice like “Imagine people in their underwear” and orga- nizations like Toastmasters, I o er my four favorite (and well used) tools for your public speaking arsenal:
No. 1: Embrace the Suck.
 ose feelings are there for a rea- son. It’s adrenaline. When athletes prepare for a big game by listening intently to music, they’re channeling that adrenaline.  ey’re getting ready to compete, to perform, to do their best.  e same is true for speaking en- gagements. Let the adrenaline pump
you up. Your audience awaits. Secondly, you wouldn’t be nervous if you didn’t care. You care about your reputation, the topic you’re sharing, your career, your audience’s experi- ence. None of those are frivolous. If you quit being nervous, you might ex- amine your care factor and then your
career.
No. 2: Be Smart.
A speaking engagement is not the time to “fake it til you make it.”  e fastest way to settle your nerves is to sit in “the pocket.” To do that, start with mastering your content.  e law is complex, complicated, and ever- changing. People came to hear you speak because you know more than they do on a topic. Ensure this to be true: Do your homework. Check your facts. Know your stu .
Tactically, be 100% comfortable with every slide. Know the point are you trying to make. If you keep stum- bling on a slide, polish it until it shines or get rid of it. Your audience will nev- er know you omitted it, but they’ll see your discomfort as you trip through an awkward slide.
No. 3: Create Lily Pads.
Getting through a speech is like a frog crossing a large pond: the jour- ney is doable, but easier with resting spots along the way. Presentation “lily pads” are intentional experiences that you insert into your speech that help you catch your breath, recharge, and tackle the next leg of the journey.
By way of example, some of us are great conversationalists. Pausing to engage the audience in a short, facili- tated discussion over a section you just covered might be the jolt you need to keep going. Others’ interest in history might inspire them to educate their audience on a case or piece of legis- lation. Still others have great sense of humor, and embedding a cartoon or a joke to illustrate their point energizes both them and their audience.
Your audience is none the wiser to these lily pads because they are part of the mechanism for moving your pre- sentation along.  ey work because they’re expressions of you, in your most natural, comfortable form. And being natural and comfortable is the best way to tap into self-con dence.
No. 4: Amp Up Your Rehearsal.
I once complained to my personal trainer that I couldn’t master triceps pushups. He excitedly responded, “I have just the thing!” His solution? MORE triceps pushups!
 e same is true with speeches. Do more speeches to master speeches.  e nerves around them lessen as we become more familiar with the envi- ronment, the adrenaline rush, and the power of “sitting in the pocket.”
“Doing more” speeches begins with how you practice. Rehearsing in front of the mirror is good. But your re ec- tion, your cat, or your kids’ stu ed animals are not human audiences. Alternatively, work colleagues, fam- ily, and friends are humans who are generally available (especially if there is pizza and a bottle of wine) to listen and give you feedback. Test driving it in front of this kind of audience al- lows you to break it in, get your ca- dence down, understand how people respond to your lily pads, your bullet points, your content and you. Most importantly, this dress rehearsal gets the “ rst date” experience with your presentation and a live audience out of the way, so you are better prepared and more con dent for your o cial presentation.
DEBBIE ROOS, SHRM-SCP, IS THE FOUND- ER OF SIMPLY PEOPLE AND A CERTIFIED GALLUP STRENGTHS COACH. SHE WORKS WITH SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED ORGANI- ZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP TALENT AND LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES, BUILD TEAMS, AND GROW PROFITABILITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW. SIMPLY-PEOPLE.COM OR CALL (210) 867- 4330.
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