Research shows only 10% of people love public speaking. I was not one of these people when I launched SMG Business Services, but I made it a personal and professional goal to overcome this challenge. Every small business owner needs to; the benefits are too good to pass up. I now present often, and my business and I reap the rewards. Here’s how you can, too…
Be yourself. Don’t worry so much about your quirks or ism’s. They make you you, and that’s who people are coming to see. Own what makes you unique.
It’s not so much what you say but how you say it. Studies suggest that effective presentations are 38% tone of voice, 55% non-verbal communication, and only 7% content. In other words, an effective presentation is mostly about how you present yourself versus the subject matter. Do your best to act with confidence, even if you don’t feel it.
Public speaking is a muscle. The more you flex it, the stronger it will get. If you stop, you’ll get weaker. This is one of the first things I learned after joining my local Rancho Cucamonga Toastmasters club.
Create a base presentation and fine tune for different audiences. What area of expertise do you want to be known for most? Create a base presentation on this topic and then fine tune details based on who you’re presenting to.
If you fail, no big deal! The Earth will keep spinning and the sun will rise again tomorrow. After all, this is how we learn.
If you need a support group, join your local Toastmasters club. If you’ll be attending RESACON 2022, I hope to see you at my upcoming presentation! Thanks for reading!
