Tips for First-Time Public Speakers

Reading Time: 7 minutes

 

 

I recently read a post in a Slack workspace I’m in, asking for information and guidance for first-time speakers.  I’ve spoken at a range of events, from local meet ups and internal presentations to international conferences, and so I thought it might be helpful to share some of my tips and experiences.

 

 

Preparing Your Talk

 

Content

• Always refer back to your abstract and make sure you’re delivering on what’s advertised
  • If the talk really starts to go in another direction, which you think is better and want to run with, speak to the organisers about it
• Try to focus on one to three key takeaways – anything more may be too much for your audience to process
• People come for your content above all else, and want to hear your message; telling stories as opposed to reciting facts tends to be more engaging and works well
• Personal experiences and stories including failure are good for relating to your audience
• Write less content than you think you’ll need, then add to it as necessary – you’ll be surprised how long you can talk for!

 

Slidedeck

• Use whichever software you’re most comfortable with, unless the organisers have specific requirements, or you’ll have to run your presentation on a specific machine
• If you intend to share the slides later, think about:
  • What software your audience will have access to
  • Whether special / non-standard fonts are required for the content to display correctly
  • Providing a .pdf
• If your slides will be printed, think about:
  • Whether they will be printed in black and white, and what that means for colour contrast and accessibility
  • What colour background to use – printing ten plus pages of a coloured background isn’t the best
  • Creating a version of your slide deck with alternative colours, specifically for printing
• Some people hate seeing text on slides; others think there’s no point having them otherwise
  • Too much text can be distracting, as your audience tries to read it and listen to you at the same time
  • Some text can help your audience to follow along and process your spoken words, especially if your audience is international and you speak quickly / with a moderate to strong accent
  • Go with whatever option you prefer and think will help you deliver the best talk possible; the content of your talk is more important than your slides
• Keep accessibility in mind
  • Size of text, typeface, and colour contrast against backgrounds
  • .gifs can be fun, but they can also cause issues; if you really want to include them, don’t have them on loop
  • A stark white background can be straining on the eyes – consider a slightly yellow or off-white background
  • Very dark backgrounds aren’t necessarily better than very bright ones; try to find a good balance that works with your content and personality

 

Practice

• Try to prepare your talk in good time, so you can get feedback, made edits, and do rehearsals or presentations at smaller events beforehand
• I don’t write scripts for my talks; I usually just use the slides as bullet points and reminders of what comes next; this is a lot easier if you’re telling a story with a good flow
• Some people really like having a detailed script, and that’s fine too; just make sure you don’t end up just dryly reading your script in front of a room of people – practice adding life and excitement to your words
• When you rehearse your talk, stand up, use a separate screen for the audience view, and speak out loud – all of these things will affect the delivery and timing of your talk, so it’s best to practice with factors as close to the real situation as possible
• Be aware of your breathing, and speak a little more slowly vs quickly; this will help with breathing, nerves, pacing, and can help add emphasis to your words

 

 

Tech Set Up

 

• Make sure you know about the practical details ahead of time
  • What equipment will be provided (computers, cables, adapters, pointers, etc.) and what you can provide yourself (I prefer to use my own equipment most of the time, but it may not always be allowed, for safety and security reasons)
  • When you should arrive
  • Whether you can test the tech set up before your talk
  • Who will be speaking before / after you
  • Whether someone will introduce you
• Close all other applications on your machine, and mute your notifications / turn on do not disturb – this is for your own privacy and security, as everything will be projected to your audience
• Do not start an update on your machine right before your talk – they always take longer than they estimate, and could break something
• Ask about the type of microphone that will be provided
  • When using a hand-held, wired mic, be careful not to trip!  And, my God, please speak directly into the mic, and move it in sync as you turn your head; you need to hold it close to your mouth, not your chest
  • When using a mic with a battery pack / transmitter, try to wear something with a waist belt, belt, or pockets, which you can attach it to
  • If you have medium or long hair and need to use a headset-style mic, you may want to wear your hair up, as there will be wires that go over your ears and towards the base of your head, but not under your hairline, creating weird and uncomfortable bumps
  • When using a lavalier / clip-on mic, be conscious of your clothing and hair, so it doesn’t rub and rustle against the mic
  • If you have a choice of microphone, I would choose a lavalier / clip on – it keeps my hands free and doesn’t create any sensory discomfort
• Make sure you have an offline copy of your slides, and a way to get them on another machine, if needed
• If you plan on doing a live demo, have a recorded version of the demo too – the internet connection is rarely good enough to support what you want to demo without any issues

 

 

Giving Your Talk

 

• You will usually be provided with a drink; if you’re not sure, just ask or bring your own – I recommend something with a lid, to avoid accidental spills
  • If you get thirsty or need to take a pause, don’t be afraid to drink your drink!  It doesn’t take as long as it feels, and gives you a moment to think / recall / recenter
• I like to move around a bit when I’m on stage, but if this doesn’t feel natural to you, you don’t have to do it
  • If the slides are displayed particularly low, such that you may block them, it may be better to stand at the side or move more often, so the audience gets a chance to see them, no matter where they’re sitting
• If you don’t have a pointer / clicker to hold, I like to hold a pen; it gives my hands something to focus on, and makes my gestures and stance more natural, as I’m not thinking about what to do with my hands / arms
• Wear something you feel comfortable in, that’s appropriate for the context
  • If you’re worried you’ll get cold / warm, you can wear some kind of cardigan or zipper that won’t interfere with the mic set up
  • If you’re speaking at a corporate event, business attire may be expected; if it’s a technology conference, the dress-code may be more casual
  • You can look at pictures of past events to get an idea of the dress-code, and you can always ask the organisers to be sure
  • Try not to wear loud shoes or jewellery, especially if you plan on walking around
  • If you’re going to be sitting down for an interview / panel, ask about the seating situation to avoid showing the audience more than you want to; the same may apply if the stage is particularly high
• If you get nervous:
  • Take a breath
  • Drink something
  • Intentionally slow your speech
  • Own it – tell the audience, and find a way to laugh about it
  • Remember that the audience is on your side and wants you to do well
  • Think about having someone in the audience you can look to for reassurance
• Address the full audience
  • The best speakers have a connection with the audience
  • Try not to look too much at your slides or speaker notes
  • You don’t have to look individual people in the eye if this is difficult / uncomfortable – just glaze your eyes across their heads, and it will still look like you’re looking at individuals
  • Avoid using gendered terms like “guys”, and opt for more inclusive words, such as “folks” or “you all”
• Most public talks will have time for questions at the end
  • Clarify with the organisers how much time there will be for this, and whether someone will moderate
  • If you’re giving an unmoderated, internal talk online, for example, set the expectation by letting the audience know whether to save questions for the end, write them in the chat, or raise their hands as you go; I like to take a pause for questions after each “block”, or leave them until the end, depending on how much time I have
  • Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know,” or, “I’ll have to think about that” – the audience will know if you’re making stuff up!
  • If a question would take too long to answer, refer people to other resources, advertise an upcoming talk, or invite them to come and discuss it during the social time
  • Very rarely, someone will raise their hand to ask a question, but actually be quite disruptive / unhelpful; that is about them, not you, so try not to be too thrown by it.  If you want to end the thread tactfully, try phrases like, “that’s a really interesting comment / topic, but it’s a bit out of scope for this talk,” or, “I’m not sure we have time to get into that right now, [moderator name], what do you think?”
  • I joke that no questions is either very good or very bad; don’t look into it too much, and, as Alex Schladebeck shared with me, “if you’re going to believe in fiction, it might as well be something nice,” – i.e., there were no / lots of questions because you did such a great job with your talk and all their questions were answered / you sparked so many great ideas
• If you’re presenting online, it can feel quite different, and even odd, as you don’t get the same direct feedback from the audience; just remember that the audience are still eager to hear from you, and want you to do well

 

 

Bonus: How to Be a Supportive Audience Member

 

• Smile
  • It makes such a difference to see a warm, kind face
• Nod
  • It’s reassuring and shows attention
• Clap and cheer
• Preface your question with thanks, and by pointing out something which was particularly interesting / helpful which led to your question
  • This gives the speaker a moment to relax, and lends context to your question
• Post about the talk on social media
  • Especially if the speaker includes links to their socials in their slides
  • Not only does this let speakers know you appreciated their talk, it also promotes them within the community / industry
• Share any write-ups / recordings after the talk
  • This shows that you think the talk is worth sharing and recommending to other people, which is a big compliment

 

 

That’s all I have for now, though I may add more in future.  What other hints and tips do you have for first-time, or even experienced, speakers?  Share in the comments below.  And if you like, you can also check out my blog on Writing Abstracts: Non-Advice from a Speaker and Reviewer.