Let’s face it, when most folks think about public speaking, their fears conjure up so many “myths” that they just get stuck in their own way. I don’t want that to happen to you. So today, I’m tackling four public speaking myths that may be holding you back, and concluding with “The BIG Kahuna Truth,” aka, the best reason for you to move forward. Let’s dig in!
#1: I’m a business professional and a subject matter expert, not a professional speaker. Why should I care about public speaking? — The thing is, people will make decisions about a speaker based on how they present themselves, right from the very first few critical seconds and beyond. Whether you’re a professional speaker or not, your goal is to connect with your audience. No connections… no next conversations!
The truth is, whenever you’re trying to connect, whether it’s a one-to-one situation or one-to-many situation, the level of confidence you have around sharing your problem-solving content will be evident. Honing your public speaking skills will greatly improve that self-confidence, which will help you begin establishing yourself as a leader in the topic you’re speaking about.
#2: In order to be successful, I have to fill the room — There are so many different ways to measure success. But more to the point… how you will measure your success? Don’t believe you have to become the next Tony Robbins or Brene Brown to fill the room. People don’t want to listen to wannabes. The truth is, they want to hear from speakers who are the real deal—speakers like you.
I know a speaker who spoke at a small Rotary club meeting, connected with someone in the audience, and was offered a $25K contract as a result. Don’t put your speaker eggs in the “sales is just a numbers game” basket. Develop a signature talk that offers valuable content and problem-solving solutions, and it won’t matter how many people are in the room!
#3: I have to use a PowerPoint presentation every time I speak — There are times when a PowerPoint (PP) is the good choice, but too many speakers, both new and seasoned, create PP presentations simply because they think this is what speakers are supposed to do. Worse than that, for some speakers, their PP becomes a crutch for making sure they don’t lose their place, to read their content from, or to give people something other than themselves to look at. The truth is, it’s your words that need to resonate and connect with the audience. Think about PP as a great sidekick, because that’s all it should be… a sidekick.
#4: I have to know everything to answer any questions that might come up in a Q&A session — Seriously, no one knows everything! Not only that, people can and will come up with bizarre questions no one could answer. But let me share an insight about Q&As. The only real difference between the Q&A part of your presentation and your signature talk is that you can’t script out the questions people will ask.
The truth is, if you’re nervous about being asked questions you might not be able to answer, it could mean there are parts of your presentation you aren’t confident about. The solution is simple. Make sure you have absolute confidence in your ability to speak about everything in your signature talk. Stated another way, make sure your talk is filled with stuff you know inside and out!
And now for The Big Kahuna Truth….
This is so true! And the best part about it is that public speaking is a learnable skill worth cultivating, because it’s a skill we can use throughout our entire life! It’s never too late! That’s what inspired me to debunk a few public speaking myths and share one great big truth about public speaking with you. I wanted you to feel both empowered and inspired to let go of any public speaking myths that might be holding you back. Why? Because people are waiting for you and your brilliance to take the stage!