Five tips for giving a talk your audience will love (and you’ll feel great about)
I can clearly remember the first time I got a buzz giving a talk. It was my grandparent’s wedding anniversary and all their family, friends and old work colleagues had gathered together in a hotel banqueting suite. I reckon I was eighteen. I’d written a funny script and I loved hearing the laughs around the room. Then, when I went to university I got involved in the student union. I was the one who stepped forward to take the mic at the welcome talk to the rest of the students. I was in my element.
All these years later, speaking in front of audiences is one of the things I get hired for - leading workshops and giving talks to teams and organisations in countries all over Europe, talking to audiences about subjects including work culture and storytelling.
But I’ll be honest, there was a time in my professional life when I would avoid it. I’d had a few experiences on stage when my mouth dried up and I froze. And that knocked my confidence for a few years. But I knew I couldn’t avoid it forever. I knew I needed to get back on stage. So I pushed myself back and in doing so, mastered it again. And now, it’s something I enjoy again. I feel at home when I stand in front of a group of people and give it my all, getting them engaged and fired up.
So, what are my tips to make sure your talk not only hits the spot but also gives you the confidence to succeed? Here are my five essential elements:
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. The last thing you want to do is think about what to say as you walk on stage. Prep thoroughly. Rehearse it several times. I know it can feel tedious going over the same material, but once you know it back to front it gives you confidence. Just remember, there are no shortcuts when it comes to rehearsing: if your talk is 60 minutes long, then the only way to properly rehearse is to do the whole 60 minutes.
Improvise. While preparation is key, so is being in tune with your audience. Chances are you haven’t met your audience before, so try and chat to a couple of people before you get started. That way you’ll have some references you can pepper throughout the talk, such as “I know that our friend at the front has a long commute to work” or “I’m sure our friend in the red would agree with me on this…” and so on. Getting to know a couple of the attendees will also serve to warm you up and make the room less anonymous, so you’re not launching in cold.
Tell stories. If you want to keep everyone engaged, telling relevant stories is essential. Humans have been sharing stories for thousands of years - for a reason. They stick in the mind; the emotional hook of a story is a powerful way to draw people in; they create visually vivid pictures that people can identify with; they make your case in a concrete way.
Slides are for images. I thought everyone already knew this, but I still attend the occasional presentations where many of the slides are a long list of bullets. Ditch as many of the words as possible, and use your slides for strong images. People are more likely to listen to you, and for the material to sink in, if they don’t also have to read at the same time.
Make ‘em laugh. My grandparent’s wedding anniversary was the first time I remember the room being alive with laughter. There is a visceral change in the atmosphere when everyone laughs. People’s posture relaxes; they look at each other and share a smile. The energy shifts. It’s a great feeling. So - where the subject matter allows - include some anecdotes that prompt laughter.
