Stop Performing and Start Communicating.

All Speaking is Public Speaking. 

Most people can start or join a conversation without a second thought. They engage with ease. They may be witty, serious, telling a story, or sharing information. These everyday conversations rarely make people feeling anxious or nervous. Why? Because they don’t anticipate the other person will evaluate them or judge their conversational skills. They are simply expressing their thoughts. We call this communication.

However, when asked to engage in public speaking, these same people feel nervous and unsure of themselves. They have lost sight of the fact that they are still communicating, and instead, they focus on performing. They believe they need specific skills, and they think the audience/listeners are their judges waiting to evaluate them. The moment that they feel their presentation opens them to being critiqued, their anxiety soars.

To be an engaging public speaker, you need to turn off the Performance switch and turn on the Communication switch. Every time you give a presentation, focus on sharing your knowledge and presenting your ideas. Trust that your audience/listeners are eager to hear what you have to say. 

If you can speak authentically to one person, you can speak effectively to any number of listeners.

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