Elevating Your Public Speaking Skill

Laurie Schloff

Many people are terrified about public speaking. It’s a common fear.

Several factors contribute to this state of emotion.

“Lack of skills and training,” is one reason, says Laurie Schloff, an executive communication coach. “We aren’t born to speak to groups.”

It just isn’t instinctual.

“Thinking that speaking to a group should be natural,” Schloff says of the false assumption, “when in fact (the reality is) the best speakers practice their tails off. You just can’t tell.”

What is instinctual is “Fear of being noticed in a crowd, an animal behavior,” Schloff points out, adding that, “Elephants are anxious when separated from the herd.”

Then there is how our bodies have long been wired.

“Physiological response to new stimulation or strangers which dates back to toddler days,” is an additional reason that anxiety or terror can overtake us when it comes to public speaking, Schloff says.

The approach she recommends and leads is one that focuses on the tactical and behavioral.

“There are two parts to most presentation confidence and competence-building skills,” Schloff says. “Learn best practices in presentations, including messaging and organization, oral image and non-verbal delivery skills and apply those skills to upcoming meetings, events and presentations.”

She provides an example to illustrate.

“I recently coached a doctor who entered the business world and had to present to the C-suite, a VP of technology who needed to upgrade her interviewing skills for a new position — she got it — and a young woman who worked on her meeting facilitation toolkit for managing a rowdy bunch of executives.”

Working on and through what she has mentioned, and refining it to add more, what she calls “pop,” can help people and organizations win more business.

“There are two dimensions to career success,” Schloff says, “competence in your field and effectiveness in communication. The higher up you want to go, the more that effective presenting matters.”

“Why?” she rhetorically asks?  “It’s assumed that you are good in your profession as a doctor, architect or IT expert. To excel as a leader, you’ll need an outstanding leadership communication toolkit.”

The evidence and proof is available to back her claim, she says.

“Research consistently shows that communicating ideas clearly, presenting well and building positive team relationships are core leadership skills,” Schloff says. “Yet most professional graduate programs do not include focus on these skills. That’s why my team of communication coaches provides customized value that professionals can’t get elsewhere.”

A helpful exercise we can all choose, she suggests, is inquiring of ourselves what we really want to become as communicators.

“Each of us can ask the question,” Schloff says: “How would I like to come across? “ The answer she says, should be a result of coming up with the two words, which she calls, “style words.”

Schloff provides an example.

“My style words as a coach are ‘expert’ and ‘approachable,’” she says. “What are yours?”

The objective is help her clients “make their presentation pop.” Schloff then points out two ways that can be accomplished.

“One, use vocal variety:  One word in each phrase should pop out through increase in volume and pitch. It’s the opposite of being boring.

“Two, use examples and stories:  Share your main point and then add a 30-second example or story. For instance:

“Main point:  I love seeing my clients achieve great results in a short time.

“Story: I just heard from Jana, who became VP of a tech firm and was terrified of speaking to groups.  She worked her tail off in coaching sessions to overcome her fears.

“At a company dinner last week, the CEO said that (Jana’s) talk was the best he’d heard in the history of the company.”

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