I love introverts. I'm an extrovert but many of my clients and my favorite people are introverts. Introverts are awesome! They are also getting a lot of press. NPR recently featured a story about introverts and leadership that is well worth a read.
Psychology Today has an article that gives10 Public Speaking Tips for Introverts. There are some good tips here (telling stories, practice, relax afterward, etc.), but there are several tips that can cause introverts to develop bad public speaking habits that can hurt their relationship with the audience.
Bad Tip #1: Identify Your Public Speaking Role Model and Emulate Them
Having a public speaking role model is a great idea but imitating them is a bad one. This is also contradictory to Psychology Today's excellent tip of being authentic. As my friend and fellow presentation coach, Emma Sutton of Light the Spark, mentioned to me an audience can spot a fake a mile off and that being yourself will be far more engaging than copying someone else.
One of my favorite speakers is Craig Valentine. I love watching him speak. If I tried to emulate his style, I would look ridiculous. I am a different kind of speaker than Craig. I can't pull off what he does, but I can learn from him and adapt his techniques to my own speaking style. The lesson is to be authentic to yourself and develop your own speak personality.
Bad Tip #2: Talk to the Friendly Faces
I'm actively working with a client who has this problem. He is your classic introvert and seeks out the smiling faces in the audience. He speaks to a lot of tough crowds and those smiling faces are few and far between. It is important to make a connection to all of those in your audience. If you are a beginning public speaker who is getting over the anxiety of speaking, then seeking out the friendly faces is a great coping technique. Those who are working on promoting a book, selling a product or speaking professionally, this tip can destroy your relationship with the audience.
Bad Tip #3: Use as many notes as you need
There is a large gap between the number of notes you think you need and the number of notes you actually need vary. For speakers who are nervous having notes can become a crutch. Speakers end up reading their notes like a script or if they loose their place its throws them off for the entire speech. Use notes but use them sparingly. Don't read a script as it will prevent a connection with the audience.
So my introverted friends, what are your speaking tips? Do you agree with the tips from Psychology Today? What works for you? Leave your thoughts below! And watch one of my favorite speakers, Craig Valentine.
I instruct classes and like to start out with a story about me that relates to the topic. This helps make a connection with the audience, lets them know I have some experience but above all, it reminds ME that I have experience & knowledge worth imparting.
That is an excellent tip! It's engaging for your audience, boosts your credibility and helps boost your confidence when you are in front of the room. Storytelling is such a wonderful tool in speaking. Glad you are using it!
I’m a strong introvert myself, and have found that a lot of speakers are. I tell classes that 1) “introvert” isn’t the same as shy. It just means you get your energy from getting off by yourself, and that you like to form your thoughts before you say them (unlike extroverts who form their thoughts by saying them). 2) This can really give you an advantage, since as a speaker you get to think about what you’re going to say before you say it! Introverts can be much more comfortable on stage (and in relative control) than at an unscripted event like a party. Might as well take advantage of the ability to be good at preparing! That reframing alone often makes a difference.
I agree Donn! People use shyness and introversion interchangeably and they are not the same thing at all. I also think extraverts (myself included) are more likely to subscribe to the “I can wing it” excuse. Whereas introverts have the advantage of careful thought and preparation. Did you see Susan Cain’s TED talk on the power of introverts? It is well worth a watch!
http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html