Public Speaking tweetchat

What is scarier than zombies? Drowning? Snakes and bugs? According to the Chapman University Survey On American Fears, it’s none other than… public speaking, which clocks in as the #1 phobia amongst Americans.

If you thought you were the only one with sweaty hands and shaky knees before a presentation—you’re not in the slightest alone. Glossophobia, or public speaking anxiety, affects a staggering 73% of the population (The National Institute of Mental Health). If you’ve experienced it, you know it can really hinder your ability to connect with others and demonstrate your knowledge, especially in the most pressure-spiked of moments. 

That’s why we’ve dedicated this week’s Tweet Chat to helping you pump up your public speaking, so you can defeat your nerves and remove the barrier between you and your most confident self.

We’re so excited to welcome panelists Ronda Carnegie @CarnegieRonda and Julie Lythcott-Haims @jlythcotthaims this week, here to share their expert advice on preparing for your gig, battling stage fright, engaging your audience, and more. With their aid, you’ll be on your way to conquering public speaking in no time.

Missed the Tweet Chat? Here’s a recap:

Q1. Communication is always continuing to evolve, and therefore presentations as well. How have the communication styles of public speaking changed over time? What are the best tips for effectively communicating with your audience?

Julie Lythcott-Haims: Humans have taught humans how to be humans since humans were human... via storytelling. That will ALWAYS be our best method for helping people feel seen, supported, helping them learn, persuading them, whatever. It's all about storytelling.

I recommend NOT trying to memorize. (I used to do that... but then I had a panic attack and had no notes to guide me.) Instead, I create concepts in little bubbles on the page & write numbers next to them to show me the order. Then I trust my brain and heart combined will say what needs to be said. Even if it's not "exactly" what would have been said if I typed it all out or memorized.

Ronda Carnegie: Great question. One of the things I love about the TED format is that talks range from 3 minutes to 18 minutes. What that means is that talks and our capacity to consume them are not created equal. I also think there are less powerpoints and more storytelling as we think about how to master people's attention. The best tip is to simplify your idea, take out jargon, and focus on one big idea listeners can take away. 

Q2. Even the most seasoned of speakers encounter nerves before / during a speaking event. How do you deal with stage fright? How do your nerves differ whether in person or virtual? What are the best ways of calming your nerves when speaking via either avenue?

Julie Lythcott-Haims: My backstage ritual is: close my eyes, take a few deep breaths. Thank God, the Universe, and Everybody for what is good in my life. Ask for help in being thoughtful, engaging, kind, inspirational, genuine. This centers me.

I don't rehearse. Because I want to go with the flow. I write concept bubbles and draw lines or numbers for the order in which I want to go. Then I let it flow. That, for me, is how to be authentic instead of performing.

Christopher Thames @CTAtlantaGa: Being knowledgeable relieves stress. Be the SME that people expect you to be and have some good open-ended questions prepared to engage the crowd to put the focus on the topic at hand and not on you as the individual.

Ronda Carnegie: Breathe, know your topic and practice, practice, practice.

Q3. Is a presentation necessary when speaking? Why or why not? What are the benefits of creating a presentation? What are the best tips for creating a presentation to complement your session? What visual aids are a must?

Ronda Carnegie: I am a believer in storytelling vs a presentation unless you are presenting complex information that needs to be better understood through visuals, infographics. Slides with pictures vs. data is also a fav of mine. 

Suzanne Brown @mompowerment: I give mainly workshops to a professional audience, so they like PPTs. I tend to use a lot of photos and icons on my slides with few words. It's more a reminder for what I want to say. You don't get a lot out of only looking at the slides without my commentary. 

Q4. Practice makes perfect! When practicing a speech, what tips are you most fond of? How do you remain mindful of your body language, posture, and mannerisms? Do you prefer to stick strictly to your script or do you wing it? Which is more your style and why?

Suzanne Brown @mompowerment: I practice a few times to ensure it flows the right way, to see which stories I want to include, and to test timing. It also helps me see where I might have hiccups because something doesn't make sense or I need to make changes to words, visuals, etc. 

Ronda Carnegie: If informal I wing it and if it is more formal I prepare. I am a believer in the power pose and standing one place vs. walking back and forth on a stage. For more formal speaking engagements I practice in front of friends and sometimes video or record audio. I try not to use a script if I can. 

Christopher Thames @CTAtlantaGa: Change your pitch and tone based on the points that you are making. Don't stay "podium-bound" but don't bounce around too much either. Don't allow your hands to do the talking for you and PAUSE often!

Q5. What are the best techniques to engage & create a connection with your audience while onstage / on screen? How does your communication style change depending on the type of event you’re speaking at and the demographics of your audience? Why is this important?

Julie Lythcott-Haims: I acknowledge that no matter what we're there to talk about, they've been through A LOT. Pandemic, etc. I hold space for that. I know if they know I give a damn about them as a human, they're more likely to listen to whatever else I'm about to say.

If the group is <25 people I'll have them go around and say who they are, what they do, and "what do I need to know to really know YOU." They then have skin in the game. More likely to lean forward, participate, engage.

Christopher Thames @CTAtlantaGa: Feel the audience out with ice breakers. Establish yourself as an SME and talk about pain points that your audience will be interested in discussing. Empathize with their problems then present evidence-based solutions.

Ronda Carnegie: Eye contact, hand gestures and acknowledgement of the audience and where ideas seem to be hitting. Speaking is a shared experience and it is about idea connection. When done right it is the ultimate campfire experience filled with wonder, wisdom and delight. 

Q6. What is the most important thing to remember when speaking for a large group of people? How do more intimate events differ from larger scale ones? What are the best tips to keep in mind when speaking to a diverse audience in either situation?

Julie Lythcott-Haims: Speak as if you're speaking to one person. Say "you" not "all of you" or "you all." They want to feel seen as the individual they are. When I'm at my best the feedback is "It was like she was talking directly to ME." That's what I aim for.

Being a POC and queer I'm hyper attuned to how speakers can neglect to "see" all of us in their efforts to speak generically to all. Make sure your language is inclusive and make sure your examples don't come from one narrow slice of the human population.

I always say "Notice what comes up for you in your body as I speak. That's a clue from you to you that something I said matters to you. Take that forward into tonight, tomorrow, the weekend. Be curious about what your body is trying to tell you." 

Simply Ebody @ebonyagrey: Larger audiences require more control. I usually go through my speech or session and allow questions at the end or periodically during the session. I remind myself to engage with the entire audience vs. one person.

Q7.  Everyone is human, so mistakes are bound to happen. What advice do you have to recover & continue if you’ve made a mistake during your speech / presentation? How do you handle technical issues, etc., that happen live?

Julie Lythcott-Haims: Sometimes I say "You're like wait, the expert just screwed up, well, what can I tell you, I'm human." Audiences appreciate that kind of frankness and vulnerability cuz they're human too.

I've had panic attacks, so when I feel that feeling coming on stage, I do a power pose and take deep breaths and tell myself that I'm totally okay. That takes like 2.1 seconds. Then I continue to talk.

I've had the power go out on me. I turn it into a joke about the impact of something I've just said. (Bonus, it happened AGAIN when I visited the same city (McLean VA) a few years later! They probably think I'm a witch!)

Simply Ebony @ebonyagrey: Mistakes happen. Technology often fails. Always be prepared to pivot. If Zoom doesn’t work, have a backup teleconference line. If your presentation doesn’t load, have it printed out on paper or keep your iPad handy. Be ready and don’t sweat the hiccups.

We know that with the right practice, you’ll get to grow more and more comfortable in front of an audience. Understand that it won’t be a miracle overnight transformation, but good and steady improvement over time. You’re taking your first step today by learning from this Tweet Chat, and now you’re closer to becoming a more comfortable, confident YOU!