Here are 7 tips to become good at public speaking as an introvert

A Quick Guide

Introverts can excel at public speaking by staying true to themselves and embracing their unique qualities. They should focus on the audience, choose comfortable attire, and practice extensively to feel prepared and confident. Speaking slowly, smiling, and taking care of their well-being are also important strategies for successful public speaking as an introvert. So many good public speakers and leaders are actually introverts. Here you will learn the art of mastering public speaking by using your qualities of being an introvert. 

Why public speaking may be difficult for introverts?

You are standing on a stage. The harsh lights above you reflect from your face. You have a mic in your hands. There are hundreds of people sitting in the rows in front of you. You stand there taking quick breaths and feel your legs trembling. And you suddenly remember that you are supposed to be communicating some information. You had a purpose for being up on this stage. And yet you have completely forgotten what you had wanted to say. If you feel that you can relate to this scenario. Let me tell you, you are not alone. It can be really hard to embrace public speaking when you are an introvert. In fact, for some people, it can be an utter nightmare. It’s not like you don’t know anything or that you lack communication skills. Why, then, do introverts find public speaking to be so challenging?

The fact of the matter is that this anxiety is primarily the result of the common misconception that introverted people are inherently bad public speakers. It’s a role that should be left to self-assured, extroverted, charismatic people who already are naturally skilled at idle chit-chat and can effortlessly deliver a great anecdote.

But the truth is that everybody has the capacity to be a successful public speaker, regardless of their natural extroversion or introversion. In actuality, when something involves speaking before an audience, reserved, introverted people possess skills that outspoken, self-assured people do not, and when these skills are recognized, they may develop into incredibly great speakers.

Tips for good public speaking as an introvert

The secret to giving a compelling speech in front of an audience is to simply experience the fear and carry on regardless, which is far easier said than done for most introverted people. There are various strategies that introverts can use before taking the stage, even if it seems like an inconceivable task.

Being yourself

To get things rolling, let’s begin with the most common cliche. Be genuine when preparing to speak in front of an audience for the first time. Refrain from giving in to pressure to sound like many other speakers you’ve seen on TV or even in TED Talks you’ve viewed online.

Never attempt to mimic or assume the persona of a speaker whose delivery you admire or whose tone you aspire to. One reason is that if you make an attempt to pretend to be someone you’re not, you’ll end up juggling too many tasks, which will reduce the efficiency of your speech. Additionally, it’s apparent to the audience when a person is acting, which will be confusing and remembered for all of the opposite reasons. Instead, consider what you can bring to the table as a speaker. Don’t try to be a comic on stage if you are not inherently clever or hilarious. Maybe you’re more of a storyteller. Assess your strengths, then concentrate just on utilizing them.

Consider it a performance

Although it can appear contrary to the previous idea, it is entirely possible to perform while remaining true to who you are. Extroverts typically seem to flourish on external “noise” and attention, but introverts are likely to be more overstimulated by it. This is a major distinction between extroverts and introverts.

Simply consider a situation in which you feel your finest and most confident. Perhaps you organize dinner parties at your home or collaborate with coworkers on a work-related project. On stage, channel that version of yourself that reflects a time when you were confident and strong. Consider your speeches as performances with a beginning and an end to help structure them. You can train yourself to give everything you’ve got for that brief period of time.

It’s crucial to provide your body clues for when to turn “on” and “off.”

You may go to the location of your speech just several days earlier, practice your speech, and ensure that you receive a good night’s rest. You can consider the “performance” to be ended once you exit the conference room or lecture hall. Try to take a 30 to 40 minute walk to unwind in order to tell your body and mind that it is time to unwind.

Ensure your own well-being

Someone who is extroverted derives their energy from social circumstances. A person who is introverted, on the other hand, loses energy in social settings.

Therefore, you must take care of yourself and make sure that you feel well and recharged before you step up on stage when you are an introverted person who speaks in front of an audience. Prior to and after your speech, allow yourself some alone time that will help you remain composed and unfazed.

It Isn’t Just About You

Forgetting about yourself and concentrating on the audience is one approach to getting over any fear you may have about public speaking. The greatest speeches are those that provide the audience with everything they want, whether that be reinforcing a previously held opinion or fixing a problem. You’ll be much less worried about your own issues if you focus just on becoming able to achieve this.

Put on a Great Outfit

It’s crucial to feel as physically at ease as possible when doing something that causes you anxiety because this helps to calm you down. Choose a comfy attire for your public speech; anything that really keeps you cool and hides any sweat spots caused by nerves; and nothing too flashy that will draw attention from the audience. Most importantly, make sure it’s clothing that you feel comfortable wearing. Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident, and reflect on occasions in your life when you felt fantastic about yourself and how you looked.

Smiling and speaking slowly

The pace at which someone speaks can be used as a reliable indicator of their level of anxiety. People that are anxious tend to speak quickly, which might be unpleasant for the audience. As soon as you are on stage, speak as softly as you can. This not only lowers your pulse rate and eases anxiousness, but it also allows the audience a chance to concentrate on you and your speech, which will make it more impactful.

Don’t forget to smile as well. Always keep a huge smile, unless you’re discussing a serious subject or in a setting where it wouldn’t be suitable. It’s the most effective technique to leave a positive impression and win over your audience. Additionally, smiling has a “fake it till you make it” kind of relaxing effect. Your thoughts will reflect your positive body language.

Try to be as prepared as you can

Contrary to many extroverts who believe they can always just wing it when they step onto the stage, introverts frequently practice a lot when it involves public speaking, which is one of their advantages. It helps to be ready if you’re not a natural talker or excellent at traditional small talk. The concern of forgetting their train of thought in the middle of a speech and being unable to recover it is a common one among introverts. Prepare as you have never prepared before to prevent this. Like a student learning a poem by memory, memorize and practice each and every syllable of your speech. 

A fantastic approach to achieve this is to record your speech on your phone and then take a long walk while listening to it over and over again until you have it ingrained in your memory so thoroughly that it flows naturally. The speech should then be repeated aloud while you go about your daily activities. As you prepare meals or do the dishes, repeat the mantra to yourself in your brain. The timing of your speech might be better assessed by practicing in this manner.

We hope you found this article useful in learning more about how you can learn to be good at public speaking as an introvert.