For starters
If you google tips for public performance, you will get as many results as there are humans on this planet. Since each of us is unique, there really is only one solid piece advice that can apply to all of us, and the only one we’ll dispense:
Speak what you believe in and express yourself.
If you need slides, use slides, if you think your persona will best shine through a speech, write a great speech, and if a simple graph most concisely sums up your story then draw a killer excel graph. The truth is, it’s not about the most perfect public performance any more, it’s about an honest exchange of ideas and experiences. And remember, everyone has a story to tell. Find your story, talk about it with your audience, and show them who you really are and what you do at Atlantic. You can check here how that’s done :)
Handy advice
Having said the above, we would still like to point out that public performance isn’t exactly a karaoke night with your buddies, so make sure to:
- Prepare yourself: no great performance has ever been made spontaneously. Not even by Beyoncé. Not even if you are Steve Jobs. Actually, especially not if you are Steve Jobs.
- Don’t read to your audience: they’ve learnt to do that themselves in the first grade and they are here for grown-up professional development.
- Proof read your texts: it’s one thing to be relaxed about your public performance, but it’s an entirely different thing to give the public proof that a spellcheck is an exotic function in your word processor that you still haven’t discovered.
- Never-ever provide false information: your mama taught you this when you were a kid. Respect your mama.
- Make sure you’ve double-checked that everything works properly before stepping onto the stage. Nothing quite undermines the cool impression like technical hiccups. In case it does happen however, don’t forget to…
- Breathe: Inhale. Exhale. And again. You’ve done tougher things than this, you’ll be just fine. Smile, take a sip of Cedevita, and continue.
- Good to know: Stage fright, or jitters as some popularly refer to it, is the most common social fear and unless you perform regularly, being in the spotlight is very challenging. If you expect to face these challenges — prepare yourself using these tips. And to make sure you’ve got everything covered, check these ten pieces of advice as well.
