Public speaking helps women entrepreneurs represent themselves at all levels. It is a prerequisite for business growth.
Glossophobia is an intense fear of public speaking that affects four in ten Americans. It may trigger uncomfortable feelings in people. As per the National Institute of Mental, Health people fear judgment and negative evaluation at the hands of the potential audience.
The career path holds some bumpy rides in store for those who choose to travel along with it. It gets especially difficult as you climb career ranks. Presentations in front of an audience, no matter what the size, talking to a potential client, or even making small conversations with people who have crossed that patch. All of these can result in a terrible state of speech, where you are unable to effectively deliver your ideas.
In academic and other professional arenas, women are underrepresented as speakers. A study carried out by PNAS suggests that men who chair committees in conferences are more likely to invite male speakers. While even one woman in the chairing committee can dramatically increase the chances of having more female speakers. Adding to these stats, if you fear public speaking, well, that wouldn't help global development in any sphere.
In entrepreneurship, one cannot escape public speaking. It is a prerequisite for networking, as well as personal and professional development. When speaking in front of an audience, it is natural to feel jittery and nervous. And to deal with shaky hands and a nervous voice on top of that makes things worse. But nobody (else) has to know that you are nervous.
"The worst thing you can do on stage is to think about yourself. What matters is the audience. So get out of your head and your inspirational insight will find a way into theirs".
Julie Rice, co-founder of Soul Cycle
Here are some tactics to excel at public speaking. Now you can rock that pitch and impress that crowd with your public speaking skills.
Remember That Perfection Is Just A Vague Perception, You Can Be So Much More
When women take up entrepreneurship ventures, they may experience a growing concern for perfection. The need to fix everything according to a certain perception and attaining the highest level of proficiency can lead to adverse results.
Making mistakes is OK, making mistakes is ‘human’. ‘To err is human’. Making mistakes does not mean you are not perfect, it means that you are learning. And learning from your mistakes while improving upon your growth is perfection in itself.
The fear of public speaking also includes thinking that your audience will notice every flaw. Instead, think this way; your audience applauds you for having the nerve to get up there in the first place. When you make perfection your ultimate goal, the only thing it does is add to your nervousness.
You can be so much more than a mere depiction of what is defined as perfection. It could even be that no one but you noticed that slight mistake, so try not to persevere in the error. Move forward and focus on engaging with your audience.
Here's a pro-tip: Do your best, instead of perfect.
Don’t Memorize. Practice Public Speaking!
Memorizing a speech, or any piece of presentation for that matter sends the brain false signals of security. You may find memorizing to be an effective tool, however, the only thing it does is freeze the reflexive parts of your brain if you so much as to forget one sentence. Thus, practice makes perfect. When you practice speaking in different situations, even standing in front of the mirror, you increase your chances of achieving greater results.
You can practice keeping small notes that help you keep track of where your speech or presentation is going. While practice helps with building your confidence about your skills, keeping notes helps keep it concise and worthy of listening.
With practice, you can express a two-word idea in two hours with an amazing and engaging vocabulary. It also helps improve your communication skills.
“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience”.
Alexander Gregg
Moreover, practicing also means remaining consistent in growth. It takes time to improve a skill, and public speaking not only involves skill but also includes overcoming fear and a lack of confidence. Thus, be patient while you build the skill that can take you a long way in your entrepreneurship ventures.
“Habit is a habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time".
Mark Twain
Practicing also includes visualizing your performance. In entrepreneurship, it is important that women entrepreneurs walk through the entire routine of the presentation or the pitch. It helps build confidence and convinces the brain that you have done it so many times before. Thus making it a tad more comfortable. Here are some tips to help visualize your performance beforehand;
- Know your audience: know who is going to be in your audience and how would you refer to them while your speak
- Know your venue: when you know your venue, it makes your movement across the stage easier and better calculated than haphazardly walking around
Physically Support The Effectiveness Of Your Message
We all know that body language can do wonders. Even the slightest of gestures, so much as touching your ear, can give away the way you feel about speaking. Whether it is the topic that irritates you, or that you are nervous, your body language reveals how you feel deep down.
Thus, make it a point to practice timely gestures. Support the effectiveness of the message that you wish to convey with relevant gestures.
Cover your stage. Make the provided space your safe space and move around to relax while speaking.
Here are some Dos and Don'ts of body language;
Do
- Keep a good posture
- Relax
- Stand straight with your shoulders back
- Face your audience and keep eye contact
Don’t
- Cross your arms
- Slouch
- Put hands in your pocket
- Face away from your audience
Body language helps you engage effectively with your audience and remain confident. Studies suggest that women use more facial expressions that go with the content in their rapport style of public speaking. Women also use more paralanguage, such as tone and pitch adjustment, in speech. So, take advantage of what you are inherently capable of doing and excel in public speaking.
Learn To Relax
When you feel anxious, remember to breathe. It is an essential technique that can take you through the worst of circumstances. Breathing with slow inhaling and slower exhaling can help lower stress and retain focus on the task at hand.
Moreover, practice slowing speech since anxious moments make you vulnerable to speed up your speech. Maintain deliberate eye contact with your audience while keeping a confident expression. Focus on your paralanguage skills; keep a relevant tone and pitch, and engage with your audience on a friendly level.
Another tactic to overcome the fear of public speaking and remain effective is to remember that 'your time on stage is limited by the time'. It will be over before you know it. So make the best out of the time that you have at hand. Carry on with confidence.
Public Speaking has become an important tool in the world of business. It decides a great deal whether you’d crack that deal or not. It is also an important indication of how well you convey the purpose of entrepreneurship to your target market, audience, and other stakeholders.
