Public speaking tips for introverts (like me)

Public speaking tips for introverts (like me)Public speaking tips for introverts (like me)It welches just an ordinary Tuesday. I woke up, made a strong pot of coffee, and groggily checked my email. At the top of my inbox welches no ordinary email.Hello Were producing an event in New Mexico. Wed love to fly you down there to teach a writing class, if youre interested.Me? Fly?? Teach??? Class??? This was quite a few years ago, and - aside from a smattering of small 1-hour workshops here and there - Id never done any public speaking or teaching. Not like this. But its something Id been dreaming about.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreI grazed over the rest of the details in the email, practically shaking with excitement. I typed back, Oh my goodness a thousand times yes or something to that effect. Fairly quickly, the details got sorted out, my flight was booked, and it was really happening. My very first real speaking engagement at a real event with people purchasing tickets and whatbedrngnis.For about a week, I felt so excited, like I was prancing on clouds. But after initial exuberance wore off,I began to feel doubtful and anxious.Im not a world famous author or anything like that. What if Im not really qualified to teach this kind of class?What if Im boring? What if I forget what I meant to say? What if I run out of things to say?What if I talk too quickly? What if I talk too slowly? What if I say um constantly?What if the event producers regret inviting me?And so forth.To manage these anxieties, my strategy was toover-prepare.I was scheduled to teach a 3-hour writing class, so naturally, I compiled approximately 300 pages of notes (haha) to ensure that we wouldnt run out of things to do. I rehearsed endlessly, pacing in circles around my bedroom, trying to pummel every detail into my brain. And of course, the night before the event, I had bizarre dreams about people yelling angrily at me. Fun timesThen at last, it was time for the actual class to begin. It was much cozier than I imagined it would be - just me, and a lovely group of people, all gathered around a big wooden table with comfy chairs and couches arranged around the room.The class started. We got through about 3 of my 300 pages of notes, did a couple of writing exercises, shared a few stories, and just like that, it was over. The time soared by.As we wrapped up, everyone was smiling. Nobody was mad at me. Turns out, I was a pretty decent teacher after all.That experience bolstered my confidence. In the years that followed, I wound up teaching classes, workshops, and retreats in 18 cities around the world - and also on a cruise ship, crossing the Atlantic Ocean.Ive discovered that Iloveteaching. And Ive also discovered that its possible to be a captivating teacher, presenter, and storyteller even if youre a very quiet, introverted person like me._____If youve got an int roverted personality, too, here are some public speaking tips for you1. Be completely yourselfIf you have a soothing, soft-spoken voice, use your natural voice - dont try to force yourself to sound peppier or more like Tony Robbins. Just be yourself.If you want to begin your class with a few moments of silent meditation, or by reading your favorite poem to set the tone, do that.If youre more comfortable having everyone sit in a circle rather than in rows of chairs, rearrange the room.When you feel at ease, then your students feel at ease, too.2. Start with small groupsIve spoken to groups of 400 people, 50 people, 20 people, 8 people, 6 peopleBig groups are fun. But personally, I prefer the intimacy of a small group. 6-8 people is my favorite size. I like being able to see everyones faces. I like knowing everyone on a first-name basis.If youve never done much public speaking or teaching before, I definitely recommend starting with a small-group setting. It tends to be more relaxed, cozy, and introvert-friendly.I often say to folks, If you can host a small dinner party with 6 people - and make those 6 people feel welcomed, appreciated, and comfortable - then you can probably teach a small workshop or seminar, too.3. Build confidence with podcasts, webinars, and other erreichbar appearancesPublic speaking, presenting, teaching these are skills, and like any other skills,the more you practice, the more confident you feel.A great way to practice is to do some type of online speaking engagement - like a podcast or webinar. You can sit at home in your pajamas. You can clutch a comforting mug of tea. You can refer to your notes if you feel anxious. Nobodys physically in the room with you, so nobodys going to see you sweating or nervously tapping your feet.You can speak into your microphone and pretend that youre having a conversation with just one person, not dozens or hundreds of people. Much less intimidating4. Trust that you are qualified enoughA mentor once t old me, If theres a path, and if you are 3 steps ahead on that path, then you are qualified to teach the people who are 3 steps behind you. You dont have to be 1,000 steps ahead of them. Just 3.If you know how to change a flat tire on a car, then you can probably teach someone else how to do that, too. If youve been blogging for 2 years, then you can probably teach someone how to set up a blog and publish their first post.You dont necessarily need to be the worlds foremost expertor world famous or the recipient of a Nobel Prize in reservierung to be an inspiring and effective teacher. You just have to know a few things that your students dont know yet, and be willing to share. Thats all. If you can do that, then you are qualified enough.5. Dont be afraid of silenceOnce, I attended an event where the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh was speaking to a crowd of thousands in a packed auditorium. He spoke so softly. He laughed so softly. Sometimes, moments would pass and hed say nothing at all . The auditorium was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. It was a magical experience.I realized,Being quiet, being introverted, being gentle, allowing silence to elapse these qualities can make someone a very powerful public speaker.When Im teaching, I try to build some silence into every class. I might give my students a writing exercise to do, and then set a timer for 5 minutes, and let them scribble away in silence, or with peaceful music playing in the background. Ive learned that we dont need to fill every single moment with talking - me talking, or anybody else. There can be spaces of nothingness, time for people to think and reflect. Often, those spaces of nothingness are more valuable than anything I could possibly say.Public speaking doesnt necessarily mean fireworks and flashy presentations on a projector screen and pacing across the stage with a microphone in your hand. It can mean candlelight flickering around the room, and moments of silence, and intimacy, and hugging everyone goodbye on their way out the door.There are many types of speakers, and many types of events and classes, and many different ways to leave an impact on your audience.Ultimately, if your intention isto help, inspire, and uplift the audience - to make their day a little better than it was before,then your intention will shine through.Even if you fumble a few things, even if youre not completely perfect, your intention will come across. Thats what your audience will feel and remember about you.This article first appeared on Be Leaderly..bxc.bx-campaign-1012255 .bx-group-1012255-lyDBLV9 width 900pxheight 550px