Individuals with introverted personalities often have problems with public speaking. An introverted personality is one that tends towards quieter introspection, rather than making loud speeches. An introvert, while still knowing their subject inside and out, might also speak softly, not make eye contact, and have difficulties going off a script. Introverts’ tendency towards not wanting to make themselves the centre of attention may also mean that they don’t want to have to face up to a large crowd of people. Doing so can be stressful, and can mean that they build up repeated nerves about public speaking. However, there are some ways in which an introvert can develop some more effective presentation skills:
1 – Think Through a Fear of Speaking
When you think about public speaking, what is the main thing that you’re scared about? Is it the attention on you, or is the fear of making a mistake? A good way of looking at this problem is to think about how you as an audience respond to other speakers. Are you scrutinising their every word, and do you notice if they make a mistake? A speaker tends to be hyper alert to their problems, and may not actually realise that the audience won’t notice small mistakes.
2 – Rehearse
A simple technique, but one that means you will deliver an actual presentation having gone over it many times before. The important thing to remember is not to get a word perfect version of a presentation, but rather to understand how the delivery should roughly flow. Read out the speech to a friend or a small audience, and look for ways to simplify and make points in a more concise way.
3 – Eye Contact
Making eye contact can be particularly difficult for an introvert. However, directing a presentation at your feet is only going to make it more difficult to get a point across. One approach is to focus on just one person for a few seconds at a time, and keep on looking around a room.
4 – Relax Before a Presentation
Give yourself time to relax before a presentation, even if you are feeling nervous. Don’t rush to get to the presentation, and try to drink water and eat something, even if you feel too ill to do so. The worst part of a presentation is often the minutes just before it starts, with the actual presentation flying by.
5 – Think About Who Inspires You
It’s worth watching some videos of other presenters that you feel inspire you before your own speech. Look for what their strengths are, and how they structure their talks, and think about how you might incorporate these skills into your own presentation.
6 – Give Yourself Time to Check Out the Room You’re Speaking In
Tech problems can break your concentration, and cause you to lose confidence. Always check the room before you speak, and make sure that any PowerPoint slides or video clips run properly. Rushing to get everything set up while an audience waits is going to make them lose concentration.
7 – Don’t Try to Work To an Exact Word Count
Trying to make your presentation as concise as possible on the page doesn’t always mean that it will translate the same way when spoken. Reading it out lots of times will mean that you will get a general sense of the structure. Moreover, keeping things a little bit shorter than you think is appropriate for the running time means that you can get through your points without having to rush.
8 – Remember Strengths
Introverted presenters are typically the ones that have spent the most time preparing and checking their work. An audience will respond to that, and will appreciate the effort. In this way, the pleasure of having given a good presentation can help outweigh any previous nerves.
Christina Appleworth is an intern for Speak First. Inspire confidence and create impact via our presentation skills training courses available throughout the UK.
Very nice tips indeed. Sometimes we forget the simple things. 🙂
Whenever my daughter is preparing for a presentation or speech, we tell her to practice in front of the mirror.That really worked for her. Another tip, I heard is to move your eyes to the back corners of the auditorium, just over the head of people. I am not sure of that one. Think, it will make the audience feel like the speaker is looking every one of them.
Thanks for the nice article.
Really good suggestions!
Am extrovert and am used to giving presentat ions. But if you are extrovert or introvert makes no difference if there is a difficult person in the audience that wants to prove himself at your expense. Have found that the easiest way is to say that other members of the audience have to have their say as well and suggest that the difficult person and you will talk afterwords.
Geek Girl, you are so right: as with most things in life it’s usually the simple things that make the difference.
Bindhurani, as a paid speaking professional, the mirror practice is so helpful in the beginning. I think moving your eyes to the back corners works if you are on a stage or platform. But, when you are in a smaller group or just standing level with the audience, the eye contact that works the best, that I still use, is related to 80/20 rule. Going clockwise around the audience (and it doesn’t matter where you start) look at small group of people as you speak a phrase or idea, then move your eyes clockwise to the next small group with the next phrase or idea. It both makes the audience feel important and the speaker confident.
Thank you for your added tips!
Oh Catarina you’ve hit on the bain of anyone who speaks in public! And there are so many variations of – the difficult person aren’t there?
I usually leave it to the audience pressure, and as you suggest speak one to one afterwards if a chance; that works most of the time.
What a great post. I can so relate to this. As a former introverted executive, I found myself making presentations quite often. I can honestly say I used every one of the things you spoke about. I found #7 very helpful because I could really visualize how I could see the audience and my speaking to them. :), Susan
Susan I always from that no matter how short I made it, I usually say more! Even AS an introvert.
Hi Patricia
Some great tips here. Its surprising how many people try and learn their presentation word for word and the struggle when they make a mistake. Its much easier to work from bullet points and speak freely which then appears more natural.
Thanks
Nat