Archive for February, 2010

It’s nearly impossible to find an entry on Google for Public Speaking that doesn’t include the phrase “overcoming fear.” Speaking in front of an audience is considered a challenge by many people. Fear is part of the experience. Almost no one stands up in front of a group of people without practice and knocks it out of the park.

To give you an idea what I get to go through (and these are my own challenges, I assure you), let me share four public speaking opportunities I have in the next few days. Some of these are common for me. Others are rare occasions.

I consider playing live shows with bands Division and Just Wanna Play as public speaking. Be definition, the goal of a public speaker is to “make effective speeches before an audience, “but that can just as easily be done through song and banter than through a speech. As a singer, the goal is to convey the meaning of the song to the crowd, so that the music and the message are accepted.  In Division, I sing largely about serious topics (check out the new CD, “Control Issues” for proof). In JWP, the goal is often just to get people up and dancing.  Either way, I have to be convincing.  Sometimes that takes a smile.  Sometimes it takes a growl.  It all depends on the situation.

As a computer security professional, I speak with companies on their many business needs. I meet with I.T. guys, CIO’s, system admins and even lawyers to determine how we can provide software solutions to address their objectives. When the wrong decision means man-hours in fixing a virus outbreak, or potential fines due to civil litigation, people aren’t interested in hearing jargon or gibberish.  They want to speak to a trusted advisor, and that’s my role.

In the next two days, I get two very special chances to speak publicly.  First, my dad’s retirement ceremony is tomorrow and I get a few minutes to engage a room full of FBI forensics professionals.  I know three or four people attending.  There will be close to 150.  Am I nervous?  Normally, I’d say yes, but I have no slides, no demo, no whiteboard.  What I have is very fond memories of growing up under my dad’s watchful eye, and I can speak about that for hours.

Saturday, I get a chance to present to my fellow small-business owners about nutrition, glycemic index and healthy lifestyle training.  This is a relatively new field for me as a leader, instead of a participant and I simply can not wait for the chance.  I went through radical diet and exercise changes about six years ago and I have been very happy speaking with anyone interested in getting healthier and living longer. The opportunity to train others in these endeavors is an absolute blessing.

What are a few tips to help overcome fear of public speaking?

1. Know your audience. You may not know every person by name or how they came to your speech. Still, it’s a good idea to have a general idea of who is in the room.  You can tailor your grammar and language, and avoid jokes that may be offensive to certain individuals, if you know the audience.  If you’re debating on a joke or story that might be too much for some people to handle, leave it out.  Don’t sacrifice your personality in the name of safety, but don’t burn bridges either. There are plenty of ways to be engaging without being offensive.

2. Know your message. Note, this isn’t know every line of every slide or every paragraph. It’s okay to steer off of the script if it’s relevant and important to the audience. Many times, you will discover that what you’ve prepared is not exactly what the audience came to learn. Don’t force material for the sake of a script. If someone in the crowd is giving you feedback, be responsive and flexible. On the flip side, if one person is hijacking the meeting, respectfully let them know you are available outside of the meeting for their questions. Don’t let one person cost you the entire room.

3. Be willing to learn. The best presenters are open to feedback. I’ve asked my friend, Gary Plaag from Couragio Consulting to come video tape me Saturday and tell me what I do well, and what I can improve upon. Even the best can get better, and someone else’s perspective can really help. You’d be surprised what you do well, and how a few easy changes can massively improve the way your message is received.

I’ll be certain to post up next week on how these engagements went, and my areas for improvement. Is public speaking part of your business or career, and if so, do you fear those times when you address a room?  I’d love to hear your stories.

All the best,

nK

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