Confidence in Public Speaking

Craig JacksonProfessor of Workplace Psychology

Birmingham City University

Start Strong – Stand up Comedy – best 3 gags

People like to hear what they want to hear

Careful opening

Sense the atmosphere

Tell them what they want . . .

. . . Then get your message in after

Confidence as a Commodity

Should be used more

CVs

UK very poor at this

Charisma and Charismatics Google it!

Confidence isn’t everything

Substance is key

But . . .

Substance lost if communication weak

Confident people ≠ Confident speaking

What are they all lacking?

Confident Vocabulary

• Mastery of language • Word-power• Thinking on your feet• Use new words• Make your own words• Simple words for simple people• Words are a tool of the trade• “Cluedo-Crime-Reporting”• “Cocaine – Amphetamine – Ketamine”

You can change

Skill NOT Talent

Can be learned and perfected

Unconfident now ≠ Unconfident in future

Evolves

Poise

Feng Shui your talk

Awareness of environment Awareness of people Awareness of setting and context

Making an ENTRANCE

Less is more

Minimalism

Minimalism of style: wordsmovementhands

Positivity

Lighting up a room

People are pre-disposed towards it

“Mirth-sponges”“Time-thieves”

People will seek you out for good things

Aesthetics

Ugly bias

Can be problem in shallow-age

Challenge to be overcome

More emphasis needed on message and style

“It’s all an Act, dear”

Can turn on and offControl it

Use it when needed

Being different “yous” is fine - Image-management

Break the 4th wall – post-modernise the talk

Don’t try to overly-please the crowd

You can’t win over everyone

Someone will always find you objectionableDon’t be swayed

Humour can work . . . but it can fail badly

Swearing rarely works - reduces professionalism

Humility (some)

Please and thank-yous

Deference when needed

Although you can be a diva too!

Don’t compare yourself to Others

Pointless

Do your own thing well

We’re all struggling / anxious / worried / confused

Final Tips

Use any stress you’re feeling to motivate you

They invited YOU to speak for a reason

The power is not with the audience but you

You control the environment of the venue