6 Steps to Stress-Free Public Speaking

If you’re reading this, you’re probably gearing up to speak in front of an audience online, onstage or in a conference room. Presenting to a group, large or small, can be stressful, but there are ways you can publicly speak with minimal stress. 

I’ve presented to audiences of hundreds at various conferences through the years. Those experiences have helped me simplify my preparation into six, stress-reducing steps that can help you too.

1. Stick with a Topic You Know

Sometimes the topic for a speech has been clearly outlined for you by someone else. Or you might be lucky and get to pick the topic on your own, as is often the case with thought leaders. The wonderful thing about choosing your topic is that you can—and should—talk about what you know. Knowing what to talk about is an important step in becoming confident and more comfortable before and when you present.

The more familiar you are with your speaking topic, the better your presentation will flow. The closer you are to the details, the easier it will be to confidently present them to others. You might, for example, consider explaining your work and any successes you have helped directly influence.  

2. Learn Concepts, Not Lines

It’s okay to formulate a written outline and jot down notes as you’re preparing what to present. But when you begin practicing your talk out loud, put them away. As tempting as it may be to rely on notes, don’t do it. When you try to memorize a script, you run the risk of blundering or forgetting a line on stage. Your stress will significantly rise as you attempt to recover from your fumble.

Focus instead on understanding the concepts you’re wanting to convey and why they matter. This will enable you to speak more naturally and to pivot between explanations as needed when you present. You’ll also be better prepared to answer audience questions. 

I have found it takes less time to research and truly understand concepts than it does to memorize prewritten lines anyway. 

3. Technique When Practicing

Your stage presence will play a large part in how you and your talk are received. If you’re expected to stand alone on an empty stage without the support of a podium, this can be an added challenge. Don’t worry or get too ahead of yourself yet. 

Start by practicing your talk out loud while you remain seated, at least the first few times. Don’t stand and walk around pretending you’re on stage. Instead, focus on whether the words you are using and the concepts you are presenting make sense and have a natural flow. Public speakers and actors use this technique to practice. Before actors enter a film set, they often run through the script seated at group table-reads.

Nail your content before you stand up for a flawless presentation.[SK1] 

4. Brainstorm Questions

Hosting a live Q&A session at the end of a presentation can be nerve racking. For one, you’re entering unknown territory. You also don’t know everyone in the audience and their varying knowledge levels. 

What you can rely on is your ability to research and prepare for these unknowns. One way is to search online for how others are describing or explaining similar topics to yours. Ask yourself:

• Are there other thought leaders publishing materials similar to what you’re teaching? 
• How are they explaining these theories?
• What questions and data are they posing?

From this research, you can begin to develop questions you suspect new learners might have. Pair these with questions you regularly receive in your line of work and write them all down. Then, plan how you would concisely answer them. Brainstorming likely questions can help eliminate stress during the live forum session of your talk.

5. Use Timing Tips

Trying to cram too much information into a short amount of time can make you feel and look rushed on stage. It can be exhausting to listen to a fast-talking, out-of-breath speaker. It can also be self-defeating to be one.

Keep your tempo upbeat and your visuals easy to follow. I recommend allowing about a minute’s worth of content per slide when developing your presentation. If you have a 30-minute talk, you might have 20 to 40 slides in your deck, 50 to 70 for an hour talk and so forth.

If your talk is longer than an hour, don’t forget to consider built-in breaks, plus pauses for questions at key times. Including Q&A time slides in your presentation deck gives you specific places to stop and catch a breath. 

6. Evoke Crowd-Pleasing Energy 

You don’t have to be funny to hold your audience’s attention. You do have to evoke energy. Having passion for what you’re speaking about naturally helps to convey this. This circles back to the importance of choosing a topic with which you are familiar. Let your excitement about what you’re sharing show.

Don’t try to force your whole life’s lessons into a short talk. Instead, provide yourself some breathing room so you still have time to add impactful personal anecdotes during transitions or breaks. Adding personal experiences, data and stories to your topics will make your talk more natural and interesting. This can also help fill gaps between concepts you’re presenting. You’re sure to be perceived as more relatable too. 

Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect

I don’t subscribe to the theory that practice makes perfect. No one is perfect on stage. However, practice does make everything better. Follow these steps and reminders as you train to speak to a crowd. In due time, you’ll be more adept at speaking before an audience and making it your own. 

About the writer

Samantha Kermode is the Strategic Development Director for Investis Digital’s Phoenix location. Investis Digital creates digital experiences that drive business performance. We unite compelling communications, intelligent digital experiences and performance marketing that help more than 1,600 global companies build deeper connections with audiences and drive business performance. Learn what we can do for you.