This article is written by Amran Jama, Law Clerk and Freedom of Information Coordinator, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario

It is no secret that effective communication is one of the top skills that employers look for in the hiring process.

But after you’ve gotten the job, it is also an excellent way of promoting yourself and interacting with people on a larger scale.

Even so, it is important to note that for most people speaking in public is no easy walk in the park. If this had been the case, I would be taking more walks in the park instead of writing about public speaking.

It’s been crucial to have an open and honest conversation with myself to identify and overcome my fear of speaking to a larger audience

As a public servant, interacting with various stakeholders, colleagues and clients through diverse mediums and platforms is a big part of my daily routine. However, despite the fact that I do it every day, I have encountered my fair share of challenges when it comes to conveying my thoughts in an effective, concise and coherent manner.

For me, it’s been crucial to have an open and honest conversation with myself to identify and overcome my fear of speaking to a larger audience. This conversation occurred one afternoon in front of a mirror, with me as the only present audience member, and I began to ask myself questions to understand where this feeling of discomfort came from. In essence, it boils down to one thing; the fear of failing to convey my message as confidently as it sounded in my own mind.

Once this was established, I then began to make a list of my learning habits as well as my strengths and weaknesses. As a visual learner, an effective way of conceptualizing my thoughts is to literally visualize them. This means the ideas and thoughts that have been ruminating in my mind need to be captured in some sort of visual medium. This can either be on a PowerPoint presentation, images, charts, cue-cards and so on. It is important to note, however, that when giving a speech too many images or words can be distracting so choosing the most impactful image or meaningful words that will capture your thoughts, as well as the attention of your audience, is crucial.

Time management and knowing what to say

Another area I’ve struggled with is time management. Although the time allotted for some presentations are longer than others, it is the shorter ones that pose a challenge for me. To tackle this problem, I’ve found it’s important to identify and focus on what the key areas of concern are in any given topic.

90% of all communication occurs through body language

Once you have identified the core issues, the next question is how to address them in an effective manner. One thing that works for me is to use statistics or data, relatable examples, and discussing common values or life scenarios will help you put things into perspective for your audience.

While doing so, it is necessary to pace yourself to avoid talking too fast, make eye contact, have proper posture and speak with confidence. In fact, 90% of all communication occurs through body language so it is necessary to ensure that what you say is exemplified in how you say it. For instance, we can all get nervous during a presentation, but if your nerves get the best of you it may show through in your mannerisms. Learning how to cope with nerves is a work in progress. Some useful tips that I have found to be helpful are doing tactical breathing exercises, making use of power poses, dressing for the part and practicing often either alone or with someone before your big day.

When your personality shines through, you leave a lasting impression

Don’t be afraid to be human

Lastly, know your audience. I was once approached by my supervisor in a previous job I had to train staff as new policy changes were happening within my Ministry. Prior to the meeting, I discussed with my colleagues what areas of training and development they’d like to see as the focus of the training. Once I collected enough information, I was able to determine what the expectations of my audience were going to be and thus proceeded to create a training based on the feedback I received. As such, researching in advance will assist you to connect with your audience and ultimately ensures that you achieve your desired response. Equally important is being able to understand that when you give a presentation your audience is…human.

People respond well to someone who is warm, relatable, passionate, witty and has an overall good sense of humour. I am encouraged to remind you that when your personality shines through you leave a lasting impression.

In short, public speaking doesn’t have to be the boogie man we believe it to be. It can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Being able to share your thoughts, expertise and life lessons with those who came to learn from you and to hear what you have to say is quite empowering. Remember that life is too short to live in fear, so don’t be afraid to overcome challenges and take risks. — Amran Jama

(Picture credit: Unsplash)