How an Introvert Can Give a Good Speech

I was always the quiet shy type who hated to speak up or even be noticed. But I have to give a speech. What in the world do I do? Where do even start? And how do I get the courage to stand up in front of people and talk?

Does this sound familiar? This was me. It is no longer. I refused to accept defeat and step by step become someone who can talk to strangers, talk to groups of people I don’t know and have even learned how to persuade and influence people by what I say. It was not an overnight success but I think I have some steps that you too can take to change.

1. Recognize that these people you will be talking to want to hear or learn something useful, humorous or educational. They want you to be successful. Give them a chance to be receptive.

2. If you have ever had a group of friends that you could be comfortable with and could tell a story or a joke to then you can give a decent speech that others will appreciate.

3. When you know something that you think is exciting and valuable you want to share it with your friends and the information makes you excited and you become alive and charismatic. This enthusiasm will help you because your body language will tell your audience that something good is coming.

4. In order to have the greatest impact on the people you want to share your information with you have to stop and write down how you will proceed. Write down your talk as if you were going to tell it to your friends (rather than some important strangers). Think up some kind of catchy first sentence that will peak their interest and get them to pay attention. Plot out your information and build it up like you would a novel; giving them pieces of information while withholding the best for the end so you can finish with a flourish.

5. Think of some example or story from your life, or a friend related to the subject you are going to be talking about that you can share that will make any facts more interesting.

6. You must get some practice saying your speech. I would start out by saying it out loud, then I would tape record it and play it back. Listen to it and little by little improve it adding pauses, eliminating those ahs and ums. Finally I would practice saying my speech out loud in front of my mirror without my notes. Play with your arms, posture and expressions to see how you can better add emphasis or dramatic effects (I like to add drama).

7. It is show time. Act as if you are an actor and this is Your Opportunity to be a star. You won’t fail!

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How an Introvert Can Give a Good Speech

How an Introvert Can Give a Good Speech

By Karen MacMurray

            I was always the quiet shy type who hated to speak up or even be noticed.  But I have to give a speech.  What in the world do I do?  Where do even start?  And how do I get the courage to stand up in front of people and talk? 

            Does this sound familiar?  This was me.  It is no longer.  I refused to accept defeat and step by step become someone who can talk to strangers, talk to groups of people I don’t know and have even learnt how to persuade and influence people by what I say.  It was not an overnight success but I think I have some steps that you too can take to change.

1. Recognize that these people you will be talking to want to hear or learn something useful, humorous or educational.  They want you to be successful.  Give them a chance to be receptive.
2. If you have ever had a group of friends that you could be comfortable with and could tell a story or a joke to then you can give a decent speech that others will appreciate.
3. When you know something that you think is exciting and valuable you want to share it with your friends and the information makes you excited and you become alive and charismatic.  This enthusiasm will help you because your body language will tell your audience that something good is coming.
4. In order to have the greatest impact on the people you want to share your information with you have to stop and write down how you will proceed.  Write down your talk as if you were going to tell it to your friends (rather than some important strangers).  Think up some kind of catchy first sentence that will peak their interest and get them to pay attention.  Plot out your information and build it up like you would a novel; giving them pieces of information while withholding the best for the end so you can finish with a flourish.
5. Think of some example or story from your life, or a friend related to the subject you are going to be talking about that you can share that will make any facts more interesting.
6. You must get some practice saying your speech.  I would start out by saying it out loud, then I would tape record it and play it back.  Listen to it and little by little improve it adding pauses, eliminating those ahs and ums.   Finally I would practice saying my speech out loud in front of my mirror without my notes. Play with your arms, posture and expressions to see how you can better add emphasis or dramatic effects (I like to add drama).
7. It is show time.  Act as if you are an actor and this is Your Opportunity to be a star.  You won’t fail!

Are There Really any Presentation Secrets?

The answer is yes and no. You can read books, watch speakers in person or on videos and search Google for speaking blogs by people who speak for a living. You can gain a great deal of information which you can combine with practice and you will find yourself becoming better and better. It should only take you five years or so this way. What if you have do be a good speaker or presenter and you don't have five years? If you have to get to the top as soon as possible there is only one way. You need to do all of the above and make contact with the best speaker you can find. Professional organizations like Toastmasters have contests to vet their best. Contact that person and arrange to have them mentor you one on one. That person will know many little secrets he or she has gleaned from years of excellence.

Speaking and Success

I think speaking and success go together. Becoming a good speaker makes you more successful and anyone who is really successful is usually a good speaker. Becoming a good speaker taught me a lot. I learned how to think on my feet, let go of my shyness and timidity, it helped me to get jobs, increase my income, my presence in the community, allowed me to become a spokes person for my favorite charity, and on and on. If you are to be successful in any endeavor or business you have to be able to stand up in front of people and communicate, persuade, sell, convince or console.

One of the things I like to do is watch others who are good at what they do. Success leaves clues and there is always something I can do to improve. Join me here and I will pass on what I've learned and experienced.