Post-Pandemic Professionals: How to Rebuild Your Public Speaking Confidence

Be honest: How are your public speaking skills post-pandemic? I know, I know; the pandemic was four years ago. But we still see effects of it in our lives today from masks still being worn daily to wearing gloves to hand sanitizer everywhere you turn (I personally LOVE this one). But what about other ways that have affected the population, like increased anxiety with public speaking?

Perusing online forums and polling my Instagram audience has shown me that a number of corporate professionals are dealing with the anxiety of delivering in-person presentations, now that they’re back in the office. I’m talking about people who had no problems addressing an audience before the world shut down in 2020, but now…live presenting feels like a foreign, nerve wracking experience.

If this is you, know that you’re not alone.

Here are my 8 recommendations for increasing your in-person speaking confidence again:

1. Don’t beat up on yourself. Acknowledge that you haven’t spoken in person in a long time, and it’s natural that that would have affected you. Remind yourself that public speaking is a skill that requires regular practice. Just as muscles weaken when they aren’t used, your in-person public speaking “muscle” might feel out of shape after a long break. Start by being compassionate with yourself. It’s helpful to make a list of your past in-person speaking experiences where you performed successfully. It’s a good reminder that you have the ability to present in front of a physical audience, and that it is possible again. This will help you shift from self-criticism to self-encouragement.

2. If you feel comfortable and have a good relationship with your boss (or Human Resources), let them know you’re struggling. Don’t suffer in silence. They can suggest resources you may have not considered, and may come up with a game plan for you to become comfortable again. They may decide to have a public speaking training workshop for all staff, help you with joining an organization like Toastmasters or working with a public speaking coach, or maybe your manager will incorporate activities like icebreakers at the beginning of weekly team meetings. Icebreakers will help you get used to speaking to real, live people again in a fun way.

Don’t forget that some companies have budgets set aside for professional development. This was something I used to ask my director about when I worked in the financial industry, and I made sure to take advantage! The most successful companies are invested in their staff’s success.

3. Embrace the nerves instead of resisting and ignoring them. The famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung said: “What you resist, persists.” It always seems so much easier to avoid what is uncomfortable, but that doesn’t work in the long run. And that includes the uncomfortable truth that you ARE indeed nervous about addressing an in-person audience, and that is OK and normal.

Nerves are a sign that you care about the outcome of your presentation. Instead of seeing nervousness as a weakness, reframe it as energy that can be leveraged for your benefit. I like to think of it as helping me to keep my edge instead of being “on the edge.” I remind my clients that nervousness and excitement are really the same sensation in the body.

It’s also worth identifying specific triggers for your nerves: Is it the size of the audience, the topic, or the stakes? Once you know the source, you can address it more effectively.

4. Gradually and consistently expose yourself to speaking situations by starting with smaller speaking opportunities. Give prepared remarks in meetings on specific agenda items (if an agenda was sent ahead of time that you had time to review), introduce yourself to a new colleague, or provide the opening quote or thought that sets the tone for the team meeting. These are low-stakes situations that help to desensitize your fears and build confidence over time. The idea is to progress to bigger or more involved speaking opportunities. For example, the next step for you could be partnering with a coworker on a company presentation that you deliver together. Then you’ll give a short presentation by yourself, and then a longer one. Again, I advise working with your manager or a public speaking coach to create a plan.

5. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!! I know you’ve heard this a hundred times, so I’ll say it for the 101st. This advice is always given because it is a MUST when increasing your speaking confidence, and is the most tried-and-true way to get better at anything you want to master. How you practice is important though. Here are four recommendations for making the most of your practice sessions:

• Practice in the work space where you’ll be speaking, or a similar place. It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the venue as it helps reduce uncertainty; you’ll know how seats are arranged, where you’ll need to stand, discover any issues etc.
• Treat practice as if it were the real thing. Too many people, in my opinion, “glaze” over practice and do it half-heartedly which is a setup for failure if you’re already anxious about speaking. Stand up, project your voice, and rehearse with any visual aids or technology you’ll be using during your presentation. Have a contingency plan in place for what you’ll do if something doesn’t go to plan.
• Practice with a trusted coworker who can give solid feedback. It’ll be even more beneficial for you if you ask them to look out for specific issues: your eye contact, body gestures and posture, and crutch words like “uh” and “you know.” You don’t want to have someone observing you who has little to no public speaking experience who will just say “it was good.” You want to know what you did well, and opportunities for improvement.
• Always record yourself during practice sessions and actually REVIEW the footage to see how you performed (I get that it can feel weird watching yourself, but do it anyway lol). Seeing is believing.

6. Learn about your audience for the work presentation. One reason for public speaking anxiety is wondering about the audience perception of you, the speaker. Will they see you as prepared? Will your points be relevant for them? Will your message resonate with them? Doing audience research helps you tailor your message,  anticipate any questions or concerns, and engage them. Understanding their priorities and challenges allows you to connect with them on a deeper level. Ask yourself questions like: What is most important for you to communicate to them? What are their biggest struggles right now? What do you have in common with them?

The last question is especially helpful for creating an engaging speech opening. Starting with an experience or goal you both share helps build connection. If you can make them laugh, even better. Humor breaks down defenses.

The more you know about your audience, the more confident you’ll feel crafting your presentation.

7. Get to the meeting early and mingle with audience members. I recommend doing this even if you do know your audience members. Small talk before the meeting helps ease nerves, establish rapport, and you can gauge the mood of the room. I also like chatting with them because I might pick up a valuable nugget (example: what they’re most looking forward to learning from me) or learn something interesting about them that I can use during my presentation.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say you were chatting with James, who works in accounting, before your presentation. James tells you that he recently adopted a dog from a local shelter. He talks about how the dog, Max, took some time to adjust to his new home, but with patience and care, Max is now comfortable and thriving.

During your presentation, while discussing the importance of adaptability and patience when dealing with change, you add:

“I was talking with James earlier, and he mentioned he recently adopted a dog from a shelter. He shared how his dog, Max, took a little while to adjust to his new environment, but with some patience, Max has settled in and is doing great. It reminded me of how we, too, need time and patience when adapting to changes at work. Just like Max, we might feel a bit out of place at first, but with persistence and support, we can thrive in new situations.”

James has now been made a star! Or at least that’s how he’ll feel with the shout out. It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling for him to be acknowledged like this during your speech. And don’t be surprised when you see smiles on your other coworkers’ faces as well. You’ve got their attention.

Speaking with your participants early on will make you feel like you’re having a conversation rather than a formal presentation.

8. Socialize outside of work. Many business/corporate professionals were working from home for at least a year when the pandemic happened. Even though you and your co-workers may have been well acquainted before the pandemic, it may just be worth it to get to know each other as people again now that you’re back in the office. Rebuilding social bonds with coworkers can significantly reduce speaking anxiety. When you know the people you’re speaking to, you’re less likely to view them as judgmental strangers and more as supportive colleagues.

Casual social interactions foster much-needed camaraderie amongst a team. Look into organizing informal gatherings like lunch outings (I miss this from my corporate days!) or even quick coffee breaks. I remember working at one company where collaborative walks were popular at one point. You and a coworker would go on a walk together outside near the company (this wasn’t a formal program; co-workers chose who to walk with). I think the company was trying to support and encourage a healthy lifestyle, but it was also really nice because you and a coworker got to know each other better with casual conversation over the course of 15 – 20 minutes.

These 8 strategies will help you get back in the saddle for your next in-person work presentation. Be gentle with yourself and surround yourself with support. It’s not unusual to feel thrown off when we haven’t done something in a long time, and it’s possible to get acclimated again with intentional steps. Onward and upward!

If you’re tired of struggling with your public speaking skills and need a customized plan to be the confident, clear, engaging speaker you’ve always wanted to be – it may be time to get a coach. Hop on a call with Roquita to explore which options are best for you. Schedule your complimentary discovery call here.