Approaches To Speaking In Front Of Large Groups

I was terrified of public speaking and had embarrassing verbal tics. So what did I do? I joined the speech and debate team. I’ve turned my kryptonite into my superpower & given speeches in front of large crowds, including 60,000 on the lawn of Central Park. 5 tips to help you crush your next talk: 1️⃣ Do not pace. It distracts the listener and projects disorganized structure. Instead - only during major transitions in the speech - move to a fixed point on the stage 3 or 4 steps away, stop and square your shoulders to the audience. Take the listener on a journey with you. 2️⃣ Keep it on the up and up. Always gesture with your hands above the waist. Science shows you command respect when you use your hands to accentuate key points. 3️⃣ Hold space. Early on, project confidence and comfort with tension by pausing so long that it’s almost uncomfortable. But don’t do this too much or else it’s annoying and overly emphatic/preachy. 4️⃣ Be spontaneous. Say something up top that keys off the room, the day, ideally funny or ironic or self deprecating - anything that makes you appear unscripted and more natural. When you show you’re present, the audience mirrors you. 5️⃣ Never read. Sure, write out prepared remarks. Read them as many times as you want in front of a mirror. Then, burn them. Learn how to speak from the heart with simple notes that remind you of the key points. The audience came to hear you SPEAK - not listen to you read. Public speaking can set you apart. You probably are great at it and just don’t know it yet. With these tips, all the world’s a stage.

19 years ago, I used to get incredibly nervous before speaking on stage. Racing heart. Tunnel vision. Dry mouth. Today, half of my job is being on stage. Here’s my 7-step pre-stage checklist for how I conquered stage fright: (Before you step on the stage) Step 1: Set One Clear Intention Nerves often come from scattered thoughts.  So anchor your mind with a single, positive goal: • For a pitch: “Get the buyer to sign and stay firm on numbers.” • For a presentation: “Connect with the audience and deliver value.” Avoid negatives like “don’t mess up.” Your brain clings to “mess up.” — Step 2: Pick a Focal Point Choose a random spot in the back of the room (or bring a grounding object, like a pen). Right before you begin, mentally send all your nervous energy there. It gives your brain somewhere to “put” the anxiety - and frees you up to focus. — Step 3: Breathe Mindfully Most people shallow-breathe when they’re nervous. This just worsens anxiety. Do this instead: • Close your eyes • Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth • Push your belly out with each inhale (deep belly breathing) — Step 4: Release Muscle Tension Anxiety makes us clench everything - jaw, shoulders, stomach. This kills blood flow and increases anxiety. Instead, start at your head or toes and relax each muscle group with one breath: • Relax your face and eyes • Relax your jaw and neck • Loosen shoulders and chest • Relax arms and hands • Relax your stomach and abs • Continue down to your toes You’ll feel calmer and more grounded instantly. — Step 5: Find Your Center Before going on stage, shift your focus to a spot 2 inches below your belly button. This is your physical center - used by athletes and performers to stay grounded. As you breathe, imagine calm radiating from that point. During your talk, return to it anytime nerves creep in. It’s your internal anchor. — (While you’re on stage) Step 6: Repeat Your Process Cue This is your personal “how” mantra. • Interviewer: “Smile and ask great questions.” • Speaker: “Keep it warm and engaging.” • Performer: “Smooth and steady.” Keep repeating it silently throughout to stay focused and intentional. — Step 7: Direct Your Energy Feel the nerves rising? Don’t fight them - redirect them. Use your focal point from Step 2. Mentally “throw” your anxious energy toward it. It’s like dropping a heavy backpack: instant relief. __ Save this post and come back to it before your next big moment. Whether it's a presentation, interview, or performance, these steps will help you show up as your most confident, centered self.

Is public speaking your worst nightmare? For many, the fear of public speaking ranks above the fear of death. Sounds dramatic, right? A couple of weeks ago, an employee asked for my advice on being less anxious and more confident on stage. There is no perfect formula that works for everyone, but I shared what helps me get more present and confident on stage. 1. Remember that the audience is rooting for you. People don’t go to talks hoping to be bored, they go hoping to learn something or to be entertained. If you see people who look like they are not paying attention, often that has more to do with them than with you. 2. Find happy faces and focus on them. There are usually some people in the crowd who are vibing with the talk. When you find them, focus on and deliver the talk to them. As an audience member, it’s hard to know who the speaker is talking to, and it can look weird if the speaker’s gaze is constantly darting around the room. 3. Stand confidently. The audience can sense your energy during the talk. If you are constantly pacing or shuffling, you can look uneasy, which can make you uneasy. Find a position that you feel confident in and own it. How you show up is who they will read your energy. 4. Make clarity your number one goal. It’s easy to set the expectations for yourself out of whack if you compare yourself to an entertainer. An audience can learn a lot from someone who might be nervous but who focuses on making their message as clear as possible. But if you go too far in the direction of entertaining and you don’t have a clear message, nerves can kill the whole talk. The more you build confidence in the clarity of your message, you will be more confident and able to add more jokes and personality. 5. Anxiety is a signal you care. It is normal to feel some nerves before a talk. It signals that you care about the audience and how the message will be received. When you harness that anxiety, it can ultimately drive you to do better and be more prepared, so try it use it that way instead of letting it shut you down. 6. Pick topics you care about. When picking the topic for your talk, find something you genuinely care about. It is very hard to give a great talk about something you don’t genuinely care about. When structuring a talk, focus on putting yourself in a position to speak genuinely about the topic. Bonus: If you are feeling confident and want to take your talk to the next level, you should think about the emotional arcs throughout your presentation. It’s more interesting to watch someone talk through the highs and the lows, than it is to hear only about the highs. Bring us on the journey of your story, or how you found your insights. This is just a start of how to up your presentation game. To my pros out there, what other advice have I missed? What would you say to someone who is starting to hit the talk circuit?

When I first started speaking publicly, my biggest struggles were: 1️⃣ Physical fear (How do I stop shaking and sweating?) 2️⃣ Mental fear (How can I do something so scary?) 3️⃣ Imposter syndrome (Who am I to do something like this?) 4️⃣ Lack of confidence (How do I find the confidence to show up as my best self?) Sound familiar? 🙋♀️ Here’s my advice: 🧠 Understand what’s happening in your body. When you step up to do something risky (like risking judgment, rejection, or looking silly), your body sounds the alarm. You shake. You sweat. You feel like you might throw up. But guess what? You can override that automatic response. Your body is just trying to keep you safe, but your mind knows better. Take a few deep breaths, calm yourself, and get on with it. 🌬️ 💭 Reframe your thoughts around public speaking. Nothing has meaning beyond the meaning you give it. So you get to decide—Is it scary? Or is it exciting? Is it a huge deal? Or is it a way to serve? Choose to see speaking as a conversation, an opportunity, an act of generosity. Shift your mindset, shift your experience. 🌟 📚 Your story is your authority. Think you’re not qualified to share? What could you possibly be MORE qualified to share than your own experience? Sharing the stories you’ve lived, the challenges you’ve overcome, the lessons you’ve learned and earned along the way—that’s your superpower. And no one is more qualified than you. 🦸♀️ 💪 Confidence comes from competence. You’ve got to get your reps in. Take one small step into discomfort, then another, and another. Build a track record of success and let it fuel your confidence. Confidence also comes from commitment—remind yourself why your message matters, who you want to help, and why it’s important. Lean into your commitment to serve, and let it fuel your confidence. 🔥 ✨ Confidence comes from clarity. A confused mind says no. We don’t like to move into the fog. Get clear on your message—WHAT you’ll share to make the impact you’re here to make. Clarity on your message fuels your confidence. 🌈 What’s holding you back? 🤔 Let me know, and I’ll share anything I’ve learned along the way that can help.