An Introvert's Guide to Public Speaking

By Brittany Hawes on July 28, 2018

Hello and welcome to the Introvert’s Guide to Public Speaking! You’re probably reading this particular article because you signed up to take a public speaking course in the fall, or maybe you just want to improve your public speaking abilities. You don’t necessarily have to be an introvert to think that public speaking is a required form of torture. Even extroverts will tell you that getting in front of a crowd of people and giving a well-thought-out speech (sometimes without notes) can be very intimidating.

However, if you’re an introvert (someone who prefers to be alone for extended lengths of time and finds quiet time to be stimulating), public speaking can be especially tough. Being surrounded by a lot of people can be a feat for an introvert, but having a classroom (or auditorium) filled with people staring at you as you speak for nearly fifteen minutes straight … That might just make your heart start racing.

The good news is that public speaking is a skill. Therefore, it can be improved. Some people are born with that internal desire to be surrounded by others. Crowds don’t scare them; in fact, extroverts love being surrounded by other people. For extroverts, this means that public speaking might be a skill that’s easier to master. For introverts, this just means you’ll have to put in a little more work.

What things can an introvert do to improve their public speaking abilities and flourish at the front of the class? The Introvert’s Guide to Public Speaking will give you the starting points and simple exercises you need to conquer your fear of public speaking and ace any public speaking challenges you may face in the future! 

introvert guide to public speaking

via Pixabay.com

Tip #1: Practice in the Mirror!

Practice makes perfect, and this old saying holds true for public speaking. You may not have an audience, but practicing a speech in front of a mirror can help you get your facial expressions right, your posture firm and correct, and your delivery down pat. Go through your speech a few times in front of the mirror and take note of anything that you think you should change.

Another similar technique is to videotape yourself giving the speech. Recording yourself instead of practicing in front of the mirror may cut down on the number of times you interrupt yourself because of a critique or correction you want to make. With a recording, you can go all the way through your speech without stopping. While watching through your performance, you can jot down notes on things that you did like about the way you gave the speech and what you didn’t like about the speech. During the next recording, change your speech, body movements, facial expressions, and anything else accordingly. This may take a few times, but soon enough, you’ll see a definite improvement.

Tip #2: Practice with a Few Close Friends

Introverts often have a close-knit group of friends that they enjoy being around. Invite your closest, most honest friends over to your place and do the speech for them. Ask them to critique you. Ask them not to hold back and to really give you criticism that will help you create a better speech and help your public speaking persona overall. A good friend will want you to improve and will give you the feedback that you need in order for you to do so.

Make sure you write your friends’ comments down, so you can incorporate their ideas into your speech. Perform a few times for them and you’ll notice an improvement!

Tip #3: Talk, Talk, and Talk Some More

Introverts tend to have more fun doing something quiet and immersive rather than talking with other people. It can be easy to get in the habit of talking to those who are close to you, but shutting out the rest of the world. However, if you come out of your box a little and try talking to other people, you’ll find that your fear of public speaking may just shrink as well. This is because you’re allowing yourself to become more comfortable with the idea of talking with and to different faces.

In a public speaking course, you often are in a classroom where you don’t get to know every student. When it comes time to give your speech, it might feel like you’re giving a speech to a few strangers with glazed over looks in their eyes. However, if you take the time to practice talking with someone new every day, this situation won’t be as scary as it first seemed.

Tip #4: Tell Yourself That It’s Okay to be Nervous

Society has placed a stigma on introverts. For some reason, quiet people or people who like to stay out of the spotlight are pushed aside in favor of extroverts. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid or a little nervous about giving a speech in public. In fact, it’s natural to feel nervous about a new or uncomfortable situation, especially when you have an inert desire to stay out of the spotlight. Embrace that fear and challenge yourself to conquer it. You’ll feel amazing once you do!

Tip #5: Pretend You’re Famous and Rock the Stage

Everyone loves to listen to their favorite celebrity. Pretend you have the greatest message in the world (maybe you do!) and put your heart into your speech. Focus on giving a great performance and catering to your audience. Aim for laughs, aim for smiles, and remind yourself to have fun up there.

Always congratulate yourself for completing a public speech, no matter how poorly you think you may have done. As an introvert, you had the guts to get out there and do it! That’s a great feat! Thanks for reading my Introvert’s Guide to Public Speaking! Good luck!

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