How Introverts Can Make Great Public Speakers and Tips To Overcome Common Challenges
Public speaking is often seen as a strength of extroverts, those who thrive on being the centre of attention. But introverts have unique qualities that can make them equally or even more effective public speakers.
1. Preparation is Key
We’ll go to great lengths to prepare for our moment in the spotlight. Whether it’s a meeting, a performance review or just a couple of well rehearsed intro’s for a networking event. And public speaking is no different. Because we like to have all our facts in place, we think before we speak, and organising our thoughts is a must, so naturally this means we prepare more thoroughly for these events. All the ingredients for a well-organised and concise message.
2. Listening Skills
We are often better listeners and definitely highly tuned observers, channelling into the audience’s needs and reactions allows us to gauge engagement and adjust our delivery accordingly. We connect with audiences through listening and observing.
4. Authenticity is Key
Audiences can sense when a speaker is genuine and authentic and what we don’t do is use the opportunity for blatant self-promotion. Rather we tend to speak from the heart and our quiet confidence projects sincerity. This enables us to build trust and rapport with our audiences.
5. Focus on Substance
We’re definitely in the substance over style gang. While extroverts may get caught up in being entertaining, we zone in on meaningful content and impactful ideas. We have the ability to captivate audiences with our insightful messages rather than just our personalities.
6. Calm Delivery
Our calm presence provides reassuring stability for audiences. Our steady delivery projects confidence and level-headedness.
7. Thoughtful Responses
Q&A sessions are carefully navigated with thoughtful, deliberate responses rather than quick, glib answers, and audiences appreciate how we take time to reflect before responding. It’s received as a demonstration of respect for their question.
Why Can It Go So Dreadfully Wrong?
First off it doesn’t always go wrong, there are some introverts who manage this just fine. But the public speaking process is more mentally fatiguing for us so it’s important know this and adapt accordingly. Schedule in pre-charge time beforehand, and down time afterwards to recharge. Managing our energy allows us to sustain quality but also ensure we’re not allowing one single event to become all consuming.
While preparation is our forte, we need to be careful not to over prepare every single word. I tried this approach when I started out in my career and it only leads to disaster. Why? Because you can’t possibly remember every word and when you’re standing there, all eyes on you and you forget your rehearsed lines, panic sets in. BIG TIME. Then it’s game over. So it’s important to find a balance between preparation and flexibility. Know your topic, be clear about the key messages and talk around them. Also, having this outline leaves space to adapt based on how the audience is reacting. The goal is conveying meaning, not perfection.
Another pitfall is our dislike of being the center of attention, it goes against our nature. So if this is an area you want to improve in starting with small, low-stakes presentations is a really good idea. Just get used to the feel of having eyes on you and gradually widen your audience until you’re ready to take centre stage.
You might struggle with self-doubt and feel like you don’t deserve to be there, but this will only hurt your delivery and rapport with audience. This is something you’re going to need to get your head around before you start prepping, otherwise those thoughts are going to consume you and you won’t create compelling content. So reframe those anxious thoughts, focus on why you’re doing it. Why you’ve been asked to do it, your strengths and your knowledge of the topic.
You might have heard a lot being said about channelling your nervous energy and to be honest, it took me a long time to figure out how to do this. It takes practice and a lot of mind work but it can be done. For every negative thought I have a positive comeback. I focus on the physical feelings and notice what I’m feeling and where in my body I’m feeling it. The nervousness is a good thing, it shows you care. Ask yourself, are you really nervous or is there a little bit of excitement in there too? Then focus on that and only that. I use visualisation techniques to image how it would feel to be on stage and loving every minute. I think about how it would feel for me to have finished the speech, for it to have gone well and to have enjoyed it. That excites me and I’m able to move from a place of fear to fired up and helps me deliver with passion and enthusiasm.
No audience wants to listen to a perfectly crafted and delivered key note. They want to see your personality. They want to see your human side, so relax, smile and give it to them.
