Becoming A Better Speaker With Science

Trying to make a change but finding it hard to get started? If you’re struggling to follow through on your big plans (like finally getting noticed by doing more presentations, speeches or videos), let’s take a trip back in time to high school physics class.

If an object is standing still, it takes an effort to get it moving. Once you do, it will keep moving on its own until something something stops it - whether that’s an object in its path, friction from the surface it’s on, air resistance or good old gravity.

I’m talking about inertia - the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion. Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object will remain at rest or move at a constant speed in a straight line unless it is acted on by an opposing force.

Your mind experiences its own kind of inertia, which shows up as habits and what we call the “comfort zone.” It takes some effort to start something new, but once you do, there’s a good chance you’ll doing it…unless something in your life or your brain gets in the way.

This means that, in order to succeed, you need to do two things:

1) Get things moving; and

2) Remove the friction that will slow you down or halt your progress.

Let’s look at how this works.

Get things moving

The biggest barrier to getting started is that the whole process seems overwhelming. If it were easy, you would have done it by now. So to start, take some small, simple steps to set yourself up for success. And do it now - the fact that you’re reading this post means you’re already moving towards your goal, so take advantage of it! If you stop now, inertia will set in again and it will be that much more difficult to regain the momentum you have in this moment.

First, announce your intentions. Log on social media or text a trusted friend right now and announce that starting right now, you are going to overcome your fear of public speaking or become a better speaker. Ask others to hold you accountable to this decision. Or, if you’re ready to take a step further commit to a speaking opportunity that you’d like to do. Tell the organizers that you’re going to do it, set a date, and put it in your calendar.  While you’re at it, why not join our Facebook group and gain access to a community of friendly folks who will cheer you on?

Next, ask for help. Whether it’s signing up for a class, joining a community group or booking a consultation with a coach, this small action is what actually sets things into motion. Someone who has been down this path before will help you break the process down into small, manageable pieces, create a system for success, and help you make swifter progress than you could on your own. 

Now, stop reading. Did you take the two steps I just described? If not, do it right now. I’m serious. Don’t say “I’ll do it later,” because if you let go of this momentum, there’s a good chance you’ll put it off or talk yourself out of it later. Do it now, then keep reading.

——

Did you do it? Great. No let’s start clearing the barriers that could slow down your momentum.

Remove the Friction

One of the biggest barriers I see in my clients is a combination of fear and self-consciousness. For simplicity’s sake, let’s just call this “nerves” - that weird, sweaty feeling you get when it’s almost your turn in the spotlight.

Sometimes it can help to talk through those feelings with somebody else and figure out where that fear is coming from. Once you understand where your nerves come from (and get somebody else’s perspective), it’s easier to separate your self from the feeling and move past it. It also helps to practice speaking in low-stakes environments, with people you trust, then work your way up to the big, juicy, scary speaking opportunities that seem out of reach right now.

Another big barrier is busy-ness. 

When it comes to speaking, there’s no substitute for preparation and practice - and that takes time, especially if you’re trying to figure it out all on your own. This is where your class, group or coach comes in. They can give you tips or formulas to streamline the preparation process, and instant feedback to help you improve. They also give you the motivation to show up and do the work. It’s a lot harder to bail when you know people are counting on you…or when you’ve invested money in the process. If you put off going to the gym but wouldn’t dream of missing your weekly soccer game, you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

The truth is, you probably do have time to improve your speaking skills - but you’re only going to make it a priority if you have the right kind of motivation, whether it’s social, financial, or just plain enjoyment of the activity.

Which brings us to the third big barrier: boredom.

The secret to consistent progress is to practice regularly - but if you’re going to succeed here, you need to be creative about it. In other words: practice by doing something that actually excites you.

Lots of people ask me whether they should enrol in Toastmasters, possibly the most well-known public speaking program out there. My answer is: it depends. Toastmasters, and other similar programs, are a great way to practice your skills if they suit your personality. Some people thrive in these programs, which tend to be highly structured and predictable. Others find that it’s not a good fit and that they’re not motivated to show up for meetings. It’s not that the fist group is built for public speaking and the second isn’t - it’s just that different people have different motivations and enjoy different environments. And, full disclosure: I’m in Group 2. Part of my mission with Stage Light Communications is to create public speaking programs for “the rest of us.”

No, there’s no One True Way to boost your confidence and improve your speaking skills. The only “right” way is the way that works for you.

So instead of “should”-ing all over yourself, choose something you’ll actually want to do. Anything that gets you in front of people and using your voice will make a huge difference in your presentation skills and confidence. This might mean taking a drama class or singing lessons, volunteering to lead your book club or starting a side gig as a fitness instructor. It might mean volunteering for an organization or cause, and speaking up at meetings. It might mean trying improv, so you can laugh your way through your nerves.

The only criteria is this: your passion for the activity needs to be stronger than your fear. That’s what will motivate you to find time in your schedule. It’s what will keep you coming back.

Making a change can be tough. Most people ditch their New Year’s resolutions less than two weeks into January. If you want to beat the odds, forget about “willpower.”  You just need to be strategic. Use science. Understand your own motivations, figure out how inertia plays into it, and set yourself up for success!

I designed the Fearless Public Speaking course to tackle the three pillars of nerves, busy-ness and boredom. Each 2-hour weekly session starts with laughter and delivers lots of hands-on practice and killer strategies that will accelerate your public speaking progress. Want to see the difference it can make in your life? Sign up now or ask about bringing it to your workplace!