Public Speaking

Comparing yourself with other speakers can be useful and it can be destructive.

If you use comparison to beat yourself up, and stop you speaking up – well, stop it. 😉

Instead, use comparison to see how you could improve your own speaking skills and develop your own style.

A good place to start is to identify the strengths you have now, so you know what to keep.  Here are some examples I’ve seen in speakers who didn’t realise these were superpowers:

• Voice projection 

If you can’t be heard, you won’t get your message across.

• Enthusiasm

Well channelled enthusiasm is very compelling for an audience.  If you’re enthusiastic about your subject, they want to know why.

• Clarity

A lot of people mumble!  Like voice projection, clarity is a basic but imperative strength.

• Calmness

This means you’re more likely to be able to take notice of your audience and tailor your presentation to how they’re reacting in the moment.

Once you know your strengths, you’ll have some confidence to try new things.  Then start listening to other speakers you enjoy.  Take particular note of what you like about them, then try that thing in your own speaking and tailor it to you.  

You might not immediately know what the speaker is doing so listen for the bits that grab your interest, then go back and listen again to see if you can figure it out.  Often, they are good at pausing, they use simple language, or they repeat their message in different ways… or loads of other things.

Comparison is useful when it helps you grow.  

If you’re stuck on identifying your current strengths, come and work with me.