Don’t Just “Picture Everybody Naked” the Next Time You Appear in Public

Posted on March 9, 2017 by resourcefulman

We are all afraid to speak in front of people . Some of us are simply better at dealing with these anxieties — probably without following far-fetched advice like, “Imagine everyone in the room is naked.” Instead, they prepare carefully and thoughtfully and find out what piques people’s interest. Here’s how you can do it too.

Saul Orwell, co-founder of the independent nutrition and supplement research site Examine.com , goes into great detail about how he prepared for 26 different performances in 2016 and greatly improved his public speaking skills. One important tip: instead of using the cliché “pretend to be naked,” he agreed that he was not just “to impress his peers.” He was there to share knowledge.

It’s true: when you speak, your audience doesn’t necessarily know as much as you do. In relation to the audience, you are an expert. In addition, Orwell breaks down his understanding into five key components of public speaking:

Content: Start with the following statement: “Through my presentation, you will understand _____” (fill in the field). This will set the stage for your presentation and help you build strong arguments around it when planning it.
Slides: Slides should only complement what you are saying, not focus. For tempo, try to stick to no more than a dozen words per slide, and each visual will appear one at a time. “If you spend more than 60 seconds on a slide, you slow everyone down,” he says. And don’t forget to include the original photographer and source.
Before the performance : It is not enough to prepare for the performance . Get ready to deliver it. This means you can use your own laptop, clicker and presentation files on a flash drive or in the cloud. Plus, knowing the venue, microphone settings, stage size, and other small details will make your presentation smoother. Take a picture if you need to, because … why not.
During a talk : The first few minutes of your talk are usually the most violent, so Orwell recommends learning the first five lines so you can get on a comfortable rut. And while you’re on stage, look for someone who really loves what you have to say. Anytime you feel like you’re losing audience, come back to that person to collect your thoughts.
After the conversation: Make it easy for people to contact you or get in touch with you. If you have the opportunity, take this chance to answer questions, solidify your experience, and connect with people.