Speaking in public: prepare the content to steady the delivery
Stage fright does not disappear on command. But a well-prepared talk leaves less room for worry. A four-step method.
A board meeting, a client presentation, a few words at an event. For many leaders, speaking in public remains a dreaded moment. Damp hands, a tightening voice, the fear of going blank.
Stage fright is a normal reaction. It does not disappear on command. But it often feeds on uncertainty: the fear of not knowing what to say, or in what order. That is where preparation helps.
Four steps help prepare the content.
A one-sentence message. Before any slide, write what your audience should remember if they keep only one thing. If that sentence does not exist yet, the talk is not ready.
Three ideas to support it. Not ten. Three ideas, each illustrated by a concrete example, are enough to convince and are easy to remember, for you and for the audience.
A written opening and close. The first two and last two sentences deserve to be written word for word. The opening reassures; the close gives direction.
A rehearsal out loud. Rereading in your head is not enough. Saying the text once or twice, standing up, with a timer, reveals what gets stuck.
On the day itself, a few simple habits help: arrive early, get to know the room, breathe slowly before starting, look for one or two friendly faces in the audience.
If the apprehension is so strong that you avoid certain situations, it may help to talk to a health professional. Coaching is not therapy.
Public speaking is one of the themes worked on in CONTRESENS Leadership and in team workshops: preparing your message, structuring a talk, practising in a supportive and confidential setting.