7 Things You Must Know Before You Speak

The woman in the blue jacket sitting in the front row gasped when she heard her assignment. Go to the front of the room, plant her feet, smile, and say her name and where she worked to the room filled with 85 others charged with the same task.

Easy peasy, right? It’s information any of us could give, even under the most severe duress. And apparently, that’s what most people in the room were experiencing – severe duress. I knew because I was teaching the group presentation skills and was privy to their angst. And here’s what I found even more interesting. After everyone had gotten up and given their “presentation,” the only people in the room that seemed to recall anyone else’s name or company were those that went first. I’m sure you can guess why: Everyone else was too nervous about their own speaking skills to pay attention to what others were saying. Kind of ironic, huh?

If you have anxiety about speaking in front of a group, you’re not alone. But the truth is, you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable to grow your career, because whether you’re presenting on a conference stage, in the boardroom, or one-on-one with a customer, your speaking skills must be solid.

So, here’s what you need to know:

It’s not about you! It’s about them. Quit worrying about how nervous you are and focus instead on the others in the room. What do they need to know that you can shed light on? When you come from a place of serving, you can release your nerves and simply share the great information you’ve brought to the table.


It’s about you! Okay, that sounds like a big fat contradiction, but what I mean is show up prepared. Don’t wait until the last minute to figure out what you’re going to say. Sales guru Jeff Gitomer has always said that people who are nervous are simply unprepared. As a professional speaker, I know this to be true. The more I “own” the presentation, the fewer nerves I possess.


Go first. Rather than wait, stew, fret, and sweat, volunteer to present your information first. Remember, taking action reduces stress. Bonus, you’re less likely to be judged or compared. And the bigger bonus? You might remember the rest of the meeting (see above).


Gain confidence by doing. All of those 85 individuals that stood up realized the world didn’t come to a screeching halt. You will only get better at speaking by speaking! So quit thinking about it and get up and speak! Say yes to those opportunities, rather than chicken out and let another take the spotlight.


Plant yourself. Be certain to plant your feet before opening your mouth. Let your feet be one with the floor – feel the floor and then begin. Also, never underestimate the power of good posture and a warm smile. Your mom knew it. How many times did you hear, “Stand up straight,” or “We paid enough for those braces you wore. Why don’t you smile more?” Project confidence and friendliness and you’ll not only help put your audience at ease, you’ll also create those feelings in yourself by simply adopting the physical postures.


Create a connection. Build rapport by sharing a story about yourself – but make it applicable to them. We’re wired to want to hear stories, so come up with one that’s a good fit to your audience and you’ll grab their attention. Remember, while it’s not just, “me, me, me,” you do want your story to be personal so that you can tell it naturally. And the best part, you won’t forget a story about yourself. After all, it’s YOUR story, which will get you over that nervous hump.


Z Power. While you may be tempted to glue your gaze to your notes or fixate on a spot right in front of you, both are off-putting to your audience. Instead, practice the “Z technique.” No, I’m not talking about putting the audience to sleep (“zzzzz”), but rather drawing your audience in and being inclusive by moving your gaze through the group in a Z pattern. If it throws you off your game to look directly into someone’s eyes, you can get away with looking at their forehead, as long as you’re not sitting directly across the table from them.

Next time you have a chance to make a presentation or speak before a group, say YES! While you may still experience some anxiety, it’s just one fabulous way to become memorable. And memorable people are the ones others tap for even more opportunities.