Last year I worked with a client coaching her on enhancing her confidence in her career – specifically when public speaking.
Before seeking coaching support her role had changed and she now found herself being asked to contribute to meetings without preparation, to present to internal and external stakeholders as well as run meetings with senior leaders sitting in.
All in all she felt terrified, lost in how to approach her nerves and was very concerned this would mean she would lose out on progression in her career.
Through our coaching, she created her toolkit to cope with meetings and presentations.
This is what I do with all of my clients and I wanted to share with you the main tools and techniques I teach them so you feel confident and courageous whenever you have to speak publicly.
This could be asking or answering questions in meetings, perhaps you now have to run meetings, maybe you are needing to present or pitch or be on panel discussions.
With my core tools and top techniques you can keep your nerves at bay, feel more comfortable speaking up and invariably look and be more confident.
Get an agenda or at least the aim of the meeting clear so you can plan out your input and the questions you wish to ask. This will decrease your concerns about having to say something ‘off-the-cuff’ or in the moment and leads to more engagement in the meeting.
Go First
Speak up early in meetings to be seen as open & willing to engage and therefore confident. You have then faced your fear so can relax. Bonus is that you get your ideas in before anyone else.
Be Fascinating
Story tell your ideas helps you own them and won’t give anyone a chance to ‘steal’ them. Set a clear message, draw on your own experiences and use emotive language.
- Use firm and direct language so lose the jargon: “this is the case” rather than “it could be the case”
- Be clear & concise – pause to take a moment to give an impactful answer rather than speaking your thoughts.
- Remind anyone who interrupts you that you are still speaking and you have more to add – can they please be patient. It isn’t a question to be answered – it is a demand to be met.
- Stand up to increase your physical presence as this makes what you say highly important and it is much harder to interrupt someone when they are standing up.
Arrive early for meetings and networking events to have one-on-one conversations before the room gets busy, find your place and get used to your environment.
Plant your feet firmly on the floor and breathe to them. By sending your breath to your feet you immediately anchor your breath and thoughts, take in more glorious oxygen and can think clearly.
Breathe around your screen is a simple yet highly effective breath tool as this mirrors how your body calms you down after exertion or experiencing stress so you are immediately taking back control.
- Inhale through your nose up the short side of your laptop or phone screen.
- Exhale through your mouth along the long side of your screen.
- Repeat until you feel calm and in control.
Have an Aim and a Role
My number one tip is to have an aim whenever you are to speak publicly. Consider what you are there to do: inspire or educate? Perhaps you are there to learn or initiate action in the team?
This helps to deflect your nerves away from “I have to speak” and starts to establish your role within the team and organisation.
I worked with a client last year and she realised her role was to be the voice of common sense. Perhaps you are the challenger or maybe the peacemaker?
I sincerely hope that these key tools and techniques have helped you to feel and be more confident when you speak up in public.
Discover even more and how to put them into action with your Free Career Confidence Foundation Session today.
