Many people get nervous when they are asked to speak in public or be interviewed by journalists but although it can be difficult, preparation is key.

You need to consider many things: Who is your audience? How can you best engage with them? Do you have an anecdote or a key fact to share? And what is the goal of this talk or interview? You must have a goal; if not why should we listen or care?

One may be poised or smart or shy… but regardless, one still needs to prepare when speaking in front of an audience.

Often speakers speak too long and lose their audience or they want to impart too much information so think of the purpose of your speech and who the audience is. A scientific panel will respond very differently to you vs a group of teenagers wanting to attend a concert.

Prepare three to five key points you want to make and adapt your speech accordingly. Each person has their own style. Find a way to draw people in (a hook) so they pay attention right away and if the crowd is glued to their phones, try engaging with them by asking a question or taking a poll. And don’t underestimate being authentic!

Establish your goal and then find key points that you wish to convey. Not 20 points… three to five only. Think and speak visually so that you connect with your audience. An effective speaker is one that you remember. (Example: “I moved to Paris from New York city.” Opt for: “I left the skyscrapers behind for the city of lights.”)

A good way to practice and test your speech, once you have established your three key points and hook, is to film yourself with a phone and play it back to yourself. Not only will you rehearse what you are saying, you will likely gain in fluidity and get rid of the words you stumbled upon. This will also allow you to avoid tics if you have any, like using too many ‘umms’ or shifting in your chair. Over to you… the mic is yours.

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