Three Misconceptions About Public Speaking

When asked about their strengths, most people would not list speaking in front of an audience as one of them. Yet, almost everyone who interacts with people in some way will have an opportunity to speak in front of a group, whether in a business, religious, social, or political setting. Based on years of observation, here are the three biggest misconceptions about speaking and how to overcome them to become an even better speaker.

Misconception #1: Effective speakers are just born that way.

Sure, you were born with particular abilities, talents, and innate qualities that allow you to do things more easily than others. However, the best athletes were not born knowing how to play that sport; they learned how to play it. For example, great basketball players have athletic skill, speed, strength, and hand-eye coordination, but the actual game is something they learned when they were young and have spent thousands of hours mastering. The same is true of speaking effectively. You can learn to be an even more effective speaker.

I am a prime example of this! When people look at me now, as a Hall of Fame professional speaker, with over 3,000 paid speaking engagements, they think, Oh my gosh, he must have been valedictorian of his high school class and captain of the debate team. Not true. I was so shy in high school that I could not even lead my Sunday school class in silent prayer. Speaking was the least likely thing I would ever end up doing. As a matter of fact, I was so afraid to speak in front of others that I never gave a formal presentation until I was 28 years old. After that presentation, I was told by an audience member that I was the worst speaker they had ever heard in their whole life. So how is it possible that I was in the Speaker's Hall of Fame just eight years later as one of the top speakers in America? I realized that speaking is a learned skill. If you accept this, you’ll move forward even more rapidly in your own speaking.

Additionally, you must practice. By investing the time, effort, and energy to become even better, your speaking ability will accelerate even faster. So if you want to speak more effectively, go out and speak.

Misconception #2: People in your audience care about you and your life.

Of course, your family, friends, and people you work with care about you. You are surrounded by people who care about you, but that does not extend to an audience listening to you speak. The only thing they care about is if you can provide them with information that can help them meet their needs, overcome their fears, or be even more successful at what they do. Your audience wants to know what’s in it for them.

If you’re talking about yourself, make sure there’s a benefit to your audience in what you’re saying. For example, earlier, I told you about my personal speaking experience, but not to brag about myself. Instead, I did it to demonstrate an example that if somebody as inept as I was could become a Hall of Fame Speaker and have a 45+ year career, imagine what you could do!

Misconception #3: You need to be dynamic to be an effective speaker.

Oh, what a myth this is. So often, people encourage a shy and introverted speaker to act more enthusiastic, show more energy, or be more dynamic. A dynamic speaker is easy to listen to, but that doesn’t mean what they say has any value for you. If you’re looking for entertainment, that is one thing. But the delivery is almost irrelevant if you’re looking for a message that will meet your needs, help you overcome your fears, or reinforce your victories and successes and make you even more successful. Sure, it helps if a speaker has those qualities that we call dynamic, but they can still be highly effective even if they do not. Over the years, having seen thousands of speakers on stage, some of the most effective and memorable were low-energy introverts who said something so profound that it was never forgotten. 

Effective speaking is not a performance. An actor can convince you they’re somebody they’re not, but in the real world, that’s called being a phony, and audiences can spot a phony quickly. Your goal is to be congruent. Your objective should be to BE YOU.

One way to let the audience know they’re not in for a dynamic, high-energy, Tony Robbins-type presentation is to help your audience anticipate it right from the beginning. For example, explain during your introduction that you’re an introvert and that speaking in front of a group is way out of your comfort zone. However, you agreed to do this presentation because these ideas will be valuable to your audience. Next, explain that you’re not dynamic and make fun of it by using self-deprecating humor about how boring or low-key you are. For example, one speaker used this, "When I went on the first date with my wife, she slapped me. Not because she thought I was fresh; she thought I was dead! I know I do not have a lot of energy, but I have a lot of internal excitement for what you’re about to hear, so let's focus on these ideas and not my energy level." 

Another way to achieve this is to tell your audience that although the speaker looks tired, even bored, that is not the case. Inside, he is so excited, but it just doesn’t show on the outside. Of course, we all know people like that, so tell the audience to focus on the ideas, not the delivery.

Erase these three myths from your thinking, and you will accept that effective speaking is a learned skill, that people care about what’s in it for them and not about you, and, most importantly, be yourself.

Now go out and MAKE it a great day.