By Matt Taylor
You may have heard the saying that people fear public speaking more than death – death. I can’t say who first made this statement or provide any statistics to support it, but it’s safe to say that a fear of public speaking is normal. Even pros get nervous. In “The Everything Public Speaking Book,” Scott S. Smith writes, “Only about 20% of people rarely get nervous when they give a speech, and even professional speakers can get butterflies before a major presentation.”
While public speaking is nerve-wracking for most people, it is essential to conquer this fear because, as a firefighter or a fire officer, you will be required to speak in front of people – and that frequency will likely increase throughout your career. The good news is that there are ways to overcome your fear, even use your nervousness to your advantage, so you can become an even more effective officer.
Physiological response
Firefighters must speak in front of people right from the start, beginning with the application process – a situation already ripe for nervousness. But what is driving this nervousness?
The human body’s response to public speaking is a mild version of the fight-or-flight response, which produces a surge of adrenaline. Physical changes include increased heart rate, shaking hands and sweaty palms.
It may be beneficial to accept that nervousness will happen when standing in front of a group to speak. With this acceptance, there is no surprise at the body’s response. Fortunately, there are strategies that can be utilized to better harness these physical challenges.
Practice makes perfect
The keys to a successful speech are preparation and practice. You are already familiar with methodical fireground training, and the same rigor must be applied to any prepared speech you make. With this in mind, follow this advice to prepare and practice for the big day.
- Timing: Based on the date of your speech, work backward to determine how many days you’ll need to practice.
- Organization: When writing the speech, make sure the content is organized appropriately and is long enough to cover your allotted speaking time. If you are preparing for an interview or oral exam, find out what content you will be asked to speak about and study it appropriately.
- Schedule: Once the speech is written, it is time to practice. The saying “practice makes perfect” is true. For example, to train for a marathon, you must run regularly and consistently add distance to your runs. Take a similar approach to practicing your speech. Your practice schedule will depend on the length of your speech, but you should allocate a minimum of three days to rehearse if the speech is at least five minutes long. Aim to practice your speech multiple times a day during that time. To prepare for an oral exam, practice delivering responses to the questions you think the board will ask.
- Movement: Treat each practice session as if it’s the real thing, including standing up, moving around and using hand gestures. Pick points you feel passionate about and emphasize those points with the help of hand gestures.
- Seated: If you will sit for your speech, practice sitting up straight.
- Eye contact: Whether you stand or sit, practice making eye contact.
- Notes: It is beneficial to use notes while rehearsing, but try not to rely on them. When speaking to an audience, the less you use notes, the more freedom you will have to engage with the crowd.
- Volume: Speak at the same volume you plan to use when you actually deliver the speech.
- Breathing: Make sure to incorporate appropriate breathing in your rehearsals. You should breathe from the diaphragm and not the chest. Correct breathing will help reduce nervousness, and appropriate breathing during practice will help you do the same when delivering your speech.
- Feedback: During your practice period, consider doing a trial run in front of a family member or colleague. Any feedback they give you will help make your speech better.
- Break: Once you rehearse your speech to a point where you feel ready, take a break. If you practice a speech too much, it will start to feel mechanical, and you may lose the passion and emotion you need when you deliver it. It is vital to take a break when you feel ready to deliver your speech because you need to let your mind and body rest before the performance. This break can include anything that takes your mind off the speech. For example, if the verbal portion of your promotional exam is tomorrow afternoon, consider getting up a little early for a final run-through of likely scenarios, then call it a wrap. Enjoy your breakfast while reading something you enjoy, but no more preparation. When it is time for your appointment, you will be rested and ready.
Deliver your speech
Now it’s showtime, so enjoy the ride! You prepared your speech, practiced your speech, and took a break, and now you’re ready to deliver your speech. Regardless of the length of time you are allotted, make it count. Dress professionally, and arrive early for your engagement to perform any necessary sound checks. You will probably be nervous, but keep in mind that this nervousness can be utilized as extra energy so be ready to use it. Some tips to remember:
- Begin your speech by greeting the audience in a warm and genuine fashion.
- Try to speak slowly, as we tend to speak faster when nervous.
- Make eye contact with your audience to establish a connection. Make eye contact with individuals, but keep your eyes moving so you don’t end up looking at the same person the whole time. In “Speak Without Fear,” Ivy Naistadt writes, “If you focus on making a connection with one person at a time throughout your speech or presentation, you will become less daunted at the prospect of having to speak to a large group and less inclined to feel overwhelmed by numbers.”
- Harness the extra energy that often comes with nerves. As referenced in practice guidance, use hand gestures for points that you choose to emphasize. You have practiced this emphasis so now use this extra energy when stressing these points that you are passionate about and want the audience to remember. This energy, which was once a liability, is now an asset that can help you connect with the audience.
- When you conclude your speech, make sure to ask the audience if they have any questions, time permitting, then thank them for their time and attention.
Use it or lose it
Enjoy the successful speech you delivered, but please remember it is not over. I have been an active Toastmaster for more than 10 years. When I began my journey in Toastmasters, Janice Wesley, the club president at the time, used to say, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Those words have stuck with me. It is essential to continue speaking in public – if you stop, you may get rusty and have to overcome your fear of public speaking all over again. So, if you have an opportunity to speak in front of people, do it. Each opportunity will make you a better speaker. Make a habit of raising your hand if a volunteer is asked to speak. And always ask for feedback on how you did. People may be able to point out things you didn’t notice because you were busy speaking.
Invest the time
Remember, the fear of public speaking is normal. For example, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known as a charismatic speaker, but he did not start out that way. An article in Carmine Gallo’s “Talk Like Ted” titled “Steve Jobs and the 10,000 Hour Rule” states, “In his early presentations, including the 1984 launch of Macintosh, Jobs was pretty stiff, holding on to the lectern and reading from prepared notes.” Jobs had to invest much time in practicing each presentation he delivered. It took him a long time to become an accomplished public speaker, but he got there. Jobs overcame the fear of public speaking, and so can you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Taylor works for the State of Georgia in the Department of Administrative Services – State Purchasing Division. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force, which is where he first developed his interest in public speaking. Taylor later joined Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person, and has been an active member for 14 years.