Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a training session to enhance my public speaking skills - an activity that aligns with my work goals for the year, as set by my manager.
I really appreciated the chance to participate in this training, even though it terrifies me a bit. Public speaking is a huge stressor for me, but maybe I can overcome it one small step at a time, starting with this training.
Why Public Speaking Scares Me
Whenever I speak in front of anyone - except my husband, who has to endure my monologues and ramblings since I rarely speak so freely with others - I overthink every word, sentence, and thought. I tend to forget basic principles or even the names of everyday things. It's like playing Pictionary and suddenly not knowing how a car looks, even though you see them every day (a reference from a book my sister lent me for this training: TED Talks by Chris Anderson, which I loved and borrowed). I feel that way every time I have to speak, and I'm not sure how to overcome it. I guess practice is one of the keys.
I'm not just talking about speaking in front of large audiences. Even talking with colleagues, friends, or family - any situation where I have to say something and want to sound at least somewhat intelligent - makes me nervous. I often end up sounding silly, but luckily, it usually makes people laugh, so there's a silver lining. I'm proud to say I've learned to ask questions when I don't know or understand something, which makes communication much easier.
My Secret Weapon: Preparation and Planning
A few days before the training, we received an email with homework: we had to prepare a short presentation (up to five minutes) on a topic of our choice, to be delivered in the afternoon of the training day. That sent my stress levels through the roof! I was planning to ignore the training until the morning it started, but this assignment ruined that plan.
I asked about the specifics: the presentation should be work-related, short, and in the style of a TED Talk. I started planning how to prepare and how much time to spend on it, but then I wondered if I was overthinking it. Maybe nobody else would prepare as much. Also, we were told we’d get tips during the first part of the training, so even if I prepared a perfect speech, I might have to change it based on the instructor's feedback. So I decided to prepare an outline and a script, but not to spend too much time on it. In fact, I used AI to generate the script and just tweaked it to my liking before printing it.
I chose CX (Customer Experience) as my topic - specifically, how CX isn’t just for big corporations but can also enhance anyone’s personal brand, not just people in customer care. I wanted to convince my colleagues that CX is important for our work. In June, I'm actually scheduled to give a one-hour presentation to all my colleagues (about 30 people, maybe more or less) about CX in our project. Fingers crossed I survive! So I wanted to try out a short version in this training. I hoped the other attendees wouldn’t judge me, since most of them interact with clients every day (I work at a bank - bankers, financial advisors) or work in communication, marketing, or product development.
I tried not to stress too much, but two days before the training, I had my script ready (started with AI, but customized and tweaked) and was working on my PowerPoint. I started to panic a bit. Originally, I planned to have just bullet points on the slides, but I ended up memorizing the entire script word for word. Not ideal, I know. While memorizing might reduce stress for a four-minute talk, it can be more harmful for longer presentations. If you mix up a word, it can throw you off and cause even more stress. But for this short presentation, it worked out fine.
Morning Theory: TED Talk Essentials
On the day of the training, the lecturer was very nice and likable - someone around my age, which I didn’t expect (then I realized I’m not that young anymore, and people can be trainers at 28). The other attendees were friendly, and I was lucky to have a supportive group. There were eight of us.
During the morning, we dove into the theory of giving a TED-style speech. We did small exercises like:
- What to do before the speech
- How to prepare your voice
- How to structure the speech
- How to connect with the audience
- Writing the main thought behind the presentation - just one sentence under 15 words
We had only three hours for all this before lunch. I was glad to attend, but I wished the training had been two or three days instead of just one.
Surprisingly, I was almost okay the whole morning. I had one little stress episode after the coffee break - probably because I had time to stop focusing on the training and start worrying (thanks, brain). But I overcame it and even ate almost all of my lunch (which says a lot - when I can eat, I’m not too stressed).
Presentation Time: The Countdown Begins
After lunch, it was time for the presentations. We had only five to ten minutes to prepare, which was nerve-wracking. I was surprised, but I thought my speech was structured well - not perfect, but good enough. I decided not to change anything, since that would just freak me out and make me forget. I spent the time reading and re-memorizing my script. The lecturer let us bring notes, which helped me relax.
He explained the system: four of us would have specific roles:
- Summarizer: Summarize the main thought behind the presentation, and the presenter would confirm or clarify.
- Questioner: Start asking questions about the topic (others could join in).
- Positive Feedback: Start giving positive feedback (others could add theirs).
- Constructive Feedback: Start giving constructive feedback to help the presenter improve (others could add theirs).
The lecturer would always add his own comments, observations, and insights.
He asked who wanted to go first. After a long silence (no surprise), I pointed out that one woman needed to leave early and had said in the morning she’d go first. As a “punishment” (I deserved it), I ended up going first. Looking back, I’m glad I did. It was over quickly, I didn’t have to stress all afternoon, and I didn’t have the chance to compare myself to anyone else. I’ll probably try to go first more often for those benefits.
I went up, presented, and survived.
Feedback Highlights
And I actually got pretty good feedback! As I usually do. I wish I could have more confidence based on that, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m looking forward to the day it does - I believe it’s possible to gain at least some confidence. I’m pretty optimistic about everything!
What Went Right
- Good speech and expression
- Well-prepared
- Good eye contact with the audience
- Good body language
- Soothing, pleasant voice and presentation
- Example at the beginning (mini story)
- Each person found something of their own in my speech
- Language adapted to the audience
- Stories used
- Interaction with the audience
Areas for Growth
- Paper in hand (would be more natural without it)
- Presenter for the presentation (I stood at the computer and clicked right on it)
- More interaction with slides/television
- Speech was abstract - would like to add actionable steps
- General slogans - would like a specific story where CX helped
- Animation slides to manage audience attention - always reveal only the part I’m talking about
- Too much memorized speech - should lighten it up, smile more
- Add numbers and stats to a later presentation
Some of these points could be addressed with more preparation or a longer presentation, but all the feedback is great for my upcoming talk in June. I’ll try to use these tips to make it better and less stressful.
Learning from Others
Then it was the others’ turn. I must admit, even though we were supposed to prepare a work-related topic, not everyone did -and the non-work topics were much more interesting. One colleague presented on how to buy much cheaper plane tickets to exotic destinations, another talked about teaching children financial literacy, and another explained why investing is great and important for our finances (this was hilarious because he started by asking how many of us actually invest, and all hands went up - he had to adapt his speech, since that’s unusual).
The whole afternoon was amazing. I learned a lot from the feedback others received, and I can apply those tips to my own presentations.
But the main thing I took away from the training is that preparation is key.
Actionable Tips for Introverted Speakers (You Can Do This Too!)
I used to think that being introverted meant I was doomed to dread every meeting, every presentation, and every time I had to speak up. But after my recent training, I realized there are ways to prepare that actually help - without draining all my energy or making me want to hide under the desk.
Let me be clear: I am not an expert after one day of training. This is just one step in my long journey to get better at public speaking. But I’ve learned a few things that help me feel a little less terrified - and maybe they’ll help you, too, if you’re like me and would rather be anywhere but in the spotlight.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Start Small: Don’t try to conquer a room full of strangers right away. Practice with a friend, a pet, or even the mirror. It’s less about perfection and more about getting comfortable with your own voice.
- Outline, Don’t Memorize: For small talks, it’s tempting to memorize every word (I did it too), but for anything longer, just stick to a clear outline. This way, if you lose your place, you can find your way back without panicking.
- Use Tech to Your Advantage: AI tools helped me draft my script, and I just tweaked it to sound like me. It saved time and took some pressure off.
- Practice Out Loud: Saying the words out loud, even alone, helps you catch awkward bits and get used to the rhythm of your speech.
- Prepare Your Space: If you’re presenting online, test your tech. If it’s in person, arrive early to get comfortable with the room.
- Breathe and Ground Yourself: Before you start, take a few deep breaths. I like to count: inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for six. It’s simple, but it really helps calm my nerves.
- Embrace Your Style: You don’t have to be loud or flashy. Be yourself. People appreciate authenticity, and your quiet confidence can be just as powerful.
- Ask for Help: If you’re stuck, ask a trusted colleague or friend to listen and give feedback. I’ve learned that most people are happy to help - and they’re often just as nervous as you are.
- Remember: It’s okay to be nervous. It’s okay to make mistakes. And it’s definitely okay to be introverted. The more you prepare, the more you’ll find your own way to shine - even if it’s just a little bit at a time. I’m still working on it, and I believe you can too.
What’s your biggest public speaking challenge? Share your story in the comments!
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