Public Speaking is a Learned Skill

This guest blog post was written by Lyndsey Padget.

In the fall of 2011, my boss asked me to give a presentation to my entire department. The company was trying to do a better job of knowledge sharing, and – much like Liam Neeson – I had a very particular set of skills. This made my “bus factor” quite high, and they knew it was a liability. I needed to share what I knew, but as an introverted software engineer, the last thing I wanted to do was get up and talk in front of a room full of people.

I expected some butterflies on the big day, but I think I underestimated how terrified I would actually be. This fear manifested itself not only in my stomach, but in my outward appearance as well. My voice shook as I talked, I sweat profusely, and my neck broke out in hives. Not only did I feel like I was going to throw up, I looked like I was going to throw up.

No bueno.

Many people get nervous at the idea of speaking in front of strangers, and I am certainly no exception. That said, I find that I am actually more nervous speaking in front of my colleagues! These are people who I will see every day, and, let’s be honest, I care about what they think. Moreover, when we speak to a group, there is something in it for us. Meaning, there is an outcome we’re trying to achieve. We know that our performance impacts how we are perceived, and that perception holds some power over us.

On the other hand, a stage, a microphone, and an audience is a form of power in and of itself. The whole arrangement is a trade-off of power and vulnerability. I find this intriguing, and even a little thrilling. In my case, this one speech push me out of my comfort zone and into the world of public speaking. I began speaking at technology conferences all over the country and eventually internationally. Public speaking has challenged me to refine how I communicate with others. In exchange for the hours of work and hard-learned lessons, I’ve travelled to amazing places and met brilliant, funny, interesting people.

This level of improvement does not happen overnight, nor does it come without effort. But if I can do it, I assure you that anyone can. This Thursday at Bridge Space, I’m giving a talk called “How to Give a Speech Without Barfing.” It’s filled with tips and tricks I’ve learned in my own public speaking journey, many of which are so subtle that they’re rarely mentioned in books and articles. We’ll cover everything about a speech from idea inception to pitch and delivery to audience follow-up.

This is not a “teaser” talk intended to get you to sign up for a paid course. I genuinely enjoy sharing what I’ve learned, and I want others to experience their own version of public speaking success. Whether your goal is to pitch your business to investors, position yourself as an educator, or earn the respect of your colleagues at work, “How to Give a Speech Without Barfing” will help you build and deliver a talk with more confidence.

No barf bag required.

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