It’s no secret that the internet is bursting with all sorts of advice on public speaking, some of it backed by science (don’t forget to breathe), some of it poetic (“train the butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation and use them positively”), and some of it downright strange (see: “picture your audience in their underwear”).
However, questionable advice always thrives online due to the high demand for it. At the end of the day, public speaking is incredibly difficult and undeniably stressful, especially without practice. If you struggle with public speaking, we’d like to help.
Our founder and Chief Optimist, Simon Sinek, has studied the art of effective public speaking for nearly two decades and performed countless talks to audiences of all sizes. When asked to distill his most powerful tip for public speaking—the one that rises above all the rest—his answer is simple.
“I have one very important rule in public speaking, and that’s that you have to show up to give,” he says. “Very often, before I walk out on stage, I will say to myself out loud, ‘You’re here to give.'”
According to Simon, it’s important to step back and consider what you hope to achieve with your presentation. Take a moment to ask yourself: Why are you here? What valuable insights or discoveries do you have to share with others? Ultimately, what is the contribution you want to make to the audience?
“If you show up wanting nothing—no approval, no business—your audience will sense that,” he says. “As human animals, we are highly attuned to whether someone is acting selflessly or selfishly. When we can tell that someone is showing up for us, we feel grateful and are more willing to give them our attention and support.”
Curious to discover more secrets to delivering impactful presentations? Be sure to check out Simon’s advice for starting any presentation with confidence.
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