Eric Karofsky

Speaking in public is exhilarating. It’s a time to demonstrate expertise. It’s a time to entertain. It’s a time to lead. It’s a time to interact with the audience. Most of all, it’s a time to have fun.

The problem is that most people are terrified about speaking in public. There is no shortage of anecdotes, lessons, and groups to help people address their fears. I remember Marcia Brady’s instructions to Jan about imagining the audience in their underwear. Doing a quick search you can find plenty of tactics such as:

• Know your audience
• Before the speech practice, practice, practice
• Video yourself or tape record yourself [Eric: NO! don’t do this – see the last comment below)
• Use visually interesting slides
• Don’t use small type

I’ve been fortunate to have had plenty of varied experience speaking in public – and yes, experience is probably the most beneficial ingredient to success.

Experience and the common tactics above are great, however I’ve developed additional ones that I constantly think about before and during the presentation.

1. Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them.
   • This could be added to the top list as it’s a clichéd tactic, but it is absolutely critical. Many people don’t listen – more importantly everyone absorbs information differently (see the next strategy).
2. Create the presentation yourself
   • I find it difficult to deliver someone else’s presentation. By creating the presentation myself, I am forcing myself to think about each slide and what I am trying to accomplish.
3. Believe the information
   • The greater you believe in the content, the greater you will engage your users.
4. Just keep going
   • If you make a mistake, chances are people won’t notice. If you stop and then stumble you are calling attention to the mistake. Just keep on going.
5. Clear the slide
   • When you have a busy slide, or one with graphs, explain the slide first before imparting the wisdom. e.g. “the x-axis shows time increasing, and the blue dots indicate…”
6. Involve the audience
   • Simply by inviting them into the conversation changes the tone and wakes people up.
7. Start out with a quick joke / anecdote, or something random
   • Getting a quick laugh often relaxes me, and connects me to the audience. Sometimes I’ll rave about the Boston sports teams knowing that I’ll get a reaction.
8. Graphics, text and speech should all illustrate the same issue
   • Some people are visual learners, some auditory, and some need to read. Make sure your message is understood by diverse learners.
9. Have a printout and a backup on a thumb-drive
   • Sometimes technology fails. Having a printout allows you to still deliver your presentation. Similarly having a backup file that is easily transportable allows flexibility so others can see it on their computer.
10. Don’t memorize
    • Memorizing creates a boring presentation, and doesn’t allow you to deviate from the script which is often necessary. Presentations should be engaging.

Nothing, however trumps experience. It will allow you to develop your own style one that will allow you to shine and demonstrate your smarts.

A last comment: Don’t record yourself! This will help a few people, but for most just makes them feel awkward and insecure. The point it to be comfortable.