9 Years of Coaching, 4 Public Speaking Lessons

This past Friday, June 6th, was a very special day.

It was my business’s 9th anniversary. Woo hoooooo!!

It truly has been a joy watching clients blossom into the speakers they always wanted to be. It took breaking through some mindset obstacles, willingness to try new things to improve, and having grace for themselves through the process. Improving at public speaking is NOT an overnight process. It takes patience, dedication, and going through the uncomfortable motions.

As you can imagine after 9 years, I have many lessons, observations, and nuggets of wisdom that I’ve accumulated. Here are four of the biggest ones I want to impart to you:

1. What would I have changed about my public speaking journey? I would have started MUCH sooner with getting the help I knew I needed. From my observation, many people don’t reach out for coaching until they have something they CAN’T get out of and have to speak (ex: a presentation at work). Your anxiety is at an all-time high by that point. It’s better to stay ready than to get ready.
2. The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia. In my experience of working with clients, it’s not so much the speaking itself that makes people fearful. There are often underlying reasons that haven’t been addressed. It could be forgetting a line in the school Christmas play as a child, being put on the spot in a work meeting and feeling tongue-tied, or getting negative feedback on a past presentation. When people learn the real reason for their fear and take steps to work through it, speaking is not looked at as an insurmountable enemy. They can start to see the real possibility of becoming a confident speaker. It’s not an overnight process, but identifying the cause helps tremendously with a plan of action.
3. When practicing your speech, make it a point to also practice in low-pressure situations: as you’re driving to the grocery store, exercising on the treadmill, working in your garden, or walking the dog. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by how well you do when you’re not practicing “under fire” (ex. rehearsing while driving TO your speaking engagement!). Yes, those formal practice sessions are necessary too. But they’re not the only way to recall your material. This strategy was shared with me by my friend and fellow speaker coach Roger Caesar, DTM and I love it! Highly recommend it.
4. If you want to be good at public speaking, start by speaking on something you’re knowledgeable about or have a passion for. The experience will feel less daunting, as you’re starting from a place of familiarity and interest. Our body language will also naturally reflect how we feel about the topic, often through how our voice sounds. We speak with excitement or conviction when we really care about our topic. The audience can see and feel that when you speak. You may not be confident in the beginning when you’re just starting out, but caring about what you’re communicating affects us positively in ways we don’t realize in the moment.

It has truly been a joy working with so many amazing clients, including my recent client Shakia who had the opportunity to interview actor and director Larenz Tate at an event in April. So proud of her!!

If you’re a professional, entrepreneur, leader, or someone who’s ready to rise to the occasion when you have to speak, I have my Speaker Summer School classes starting soon on June 28th. There are three classes that will be hosted online through August, and when spots are filled – that’s it! Most classes are just one hour, and packed with valuable content you can act on immediately.

>>Register for classes here<<

I look forward to working with you in a class or one-on-one coaching!

To your speaking success!

Roquita