When I was 8 years old I gave my first speech to an audience of 300+ schoolmates.
It was terrifying, and I’m pretty sure I rushed my way through it to get it over with.
So in the decades since I’ve done all sorts of things to become more confident as a presenter.
- Asked friends and colleagues to watch me speak and give feedback
- Taken courses in presentation skills and pubic speaking
- Watched TED Talks and tried to adopt their techniques
Each of these has helped me build confidence and skill and cultivate my own style.
But if I had to begin again, this is the guidance I wish I’d had when learning to present ideas in a clear, connected and engaging way…