You Are Public Speaking Gold. Yes, It's You.
Recently, while working with several women in a public speaking bootcamp, the subject of authenticity came up, as it frequently does when talking about fear, anxiety and Imposter Syndrome. While it may seem oxymoronic, authenticity and a deep understanding of what you bring to the table, is an antidote to these self-limiting ideas and behaviors.
Let me caveat that statement by saying I am not a doctor. Nor am I a psychiatrist or psychologist. What I am is an avid listener and a life-long studier of human interaction. I listen, I watch, I practice, I teach and I learn.
Frequently in public speaking workshops, people ask what gesture should they make or what movement looks “good.” The answer, sorry to tell you, is not a quick or easy one. The answer lives in the moment. “Putting on” a gesture because you saw someone else do it or adopting a posture that has no root in your “you-ness” is a sure way to let the audience know that you’re faking it. It undermines their confidence in you and ultimately erodes your message.
We have to figure out who you are on stage. Or in the board room. Or at the podium, or wherever you’re communicating to two or more people (which, by the way, is our definition of public speaking). We have to uncover your presentation persona.
Your presentation persona is not a costume or an alter-ego. It is you. It is the part of you that gets on stage, that communicates with heart and passion, that owns the space and delivers the message. It is you. It is a you that is or has cultivated a particular set of skills and has trained to do the thing. Public speaking is not for the feint of heart. It’s audacious. It requires bravery and an imperative. It takes courage to use your voice, regardless of how many people are listening…or aren’t.
You didn’t come into the world, walking and talking and full of knowledge. It was a process. As is developing the range of skills needed to become a really good public speaker. Why would you think that you could just copy someone else’s idea of what a “public speaker” looks like and it’ll fly?
In the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege to see both Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face, speak at large events. It would not be possible for these women to have more different presentation personas. Elizabeth essentially stood in one spot and told us stories. It was intimate and personal and profoundly lovely. Rachel was loud and energetic and stalked the stage, and we ate it up. Both women connected with their audience. Both understood to whom they were speaking, and both were absolutely brilliant, because they were themselves.
So don’t ask me about where you should put your hands, and let’s stop talking about where you should look at any given moment. Instead, let’s work on why you want to stand up. Let’s figure out your message, your imperative and your brand. Let’s give your audience, regardless of how many, the best presentation that you can offer, in all of your glorious you-ness. Because no one else can.
LB Adams is the Founder of Practical Dramatics, headquartered in Charleston, SC. Her company is responsible for providing stellar training events that utilize theatre strategies to help humans grow more profitable conversations with other humans, To find out more about public speaking & presentation training, please reach out to us at 843-771-0753