The above speech is widely regarded as the greatest piece of public speaking ever done. Earlier in my career, I used to believe this level of delivery and content was a gift. After speaking for over 5 years in front of thousands of people I have realised that this isn’t a trait we are born with rather a learned skill.

Bobby Kennedy's speech is widely regarded as the greatest piece of public speaking ever done. Earlier in my career, I used to believe this level of delivery and content was a gift. After speaking for over 5 years in front of thousands… Click To Tweet

I saw a thing, actually a study that said: speaking in front of a crowd is considered the number one fear of the average person. I found that amazing. Number two, was death. Death is number two? This means, to the average person, if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Jerry Seinfeld

In my experience, people generally hold irrational fears concerning public speaking; in a recent survey, I think some people feared death less than talking to their peers. As educators public speaking is part of our daily role, most teachers won’t bat an eyelid about speaking to a class of 30 or in a whole school assembly. It’s the same thing.

In my experience, people generally hold irrational fears concerning public speaking; in a recent survey, I think some people feared death less than talking to their peers. As educators public speaking is part of our daily role, most… Click To Tweet

But Pran the pupils aren’t judging you!

Err, I hate to tell you this but they are. The difference is through practice you’ve shielded yourself from their judgement.

All leadership involves interacting with followers when engaging people outward-facing leadership, that delivery and words are as crucial as the message and vision you are propagating. Remember, these followers are not part of your organisation, so, do not know your day to day, see who you are as a person or what you live and breath. 

All leadership involves interacting with followers when engaging people outward-facing leadership, that delivery and words are as crucial as the message and vision you are propagating. Remember, these followers are not part of your… Click To Tweet

I struggled with the concept of deliberately influencing, those of you who have shared my journey will know that my aim was never to climb the leadership ladder, my core purpose was solely around being the best classroom teacher I could be. As time goes on for a multitude of reasons things change.

Early, while in middle leadership, my line manager started by telling me that all leaders have to be Machiavellian, that I had to work on being manipulative, that you had to get people to do what you wanted by any means. I was repulsed to the core. I felt that my leadership would always be based around the propagation of my vision, being a person of integrity, being who I said I was and walking to the walk. It took time to realise that this ‘vision propagation’ and the nobility around integrity and authenticity were while fundamental parts of my character were also forms of manipulation. Even typing that now makes me shudder. The negative conations around those words still don’t sit right with me. Forgive me, I’m going to reframe the language; leadership is about charm. To charm followers, you have to become adept at influencing.

To charm followers, you have to become adept at influencing. A blog on the influence framework is here.

Delivery – Reducing Anxiety.

Get your content right; Live and believe what you say. If you value what you have to say, so will the audience. I rarely write a word for word script for a keynote, workshop or a lesson, mostly because I treat each session like a huge classroom, and I feel the room, let it be organic and let yourself be yourself.

Get your content right; Live and believe what you say. If you value what you have to say, so will the audience. I rarely write a word for word script for a keynote, workshop or a lesson, mostly because I treat each session like a huge… Click To Tweet

Try and rationalise your fears; Why are you scared? What in particular? Is it that your message isn’t good enough? Or your delivery won’t be good enough? It usually is the latter, and this is just another form of imposter syndrome. Please own your message and part of the delivery should come as a consequence or the imposter will own you.

Improving your Practice through Practise.

‘You’re a great speaker Pran’.

My response to this statement is always a short and curt ‘thank you’; I have spent hours practising. I’m not just saying that I mean thousands of hours. Like everything in this world, nothing of value comes easy, and everything can be learned. 

Record yourself and listen to the way the words sound and flow, decide what you want your style to be.

I need Powerpoint Slides and Notes

Going ‘naked’, no notes, no props, and no PowerPoint slides. 

Advantages to going ‘naked’ are that it is more human, it invites people in, it allows you to interact more naturally and adapt as a result of the audience. Some of you may be cringing reading this; speaking is difficult if you see these aids as crutches, are you using them to mark your timings or place holders? There is generally no need for any props of any kind. Before using props, including PowerPoint slides, ask yourself the acid test question: does it add to the experience of the audience? If your answer is no. Drop them.

Memorising two hours plus worth of material can be daunting. Various speakers use different techniques. Split your talk into sections and instead of using slides as place holders use associations,

Memorising two hours plus worth of material can be daunting. Various speakers use different techniques. Split your talk into sections and instead of using slides as place holders use associations, Click To Tweet

Saying to teachers’ we have work to do!’ (no matter how much energy I put into those words) – It’s like asking footballers to juggle as they run. We are flat out already. I get it. The BBC have literally interviewed me about the anxiety, sleeplessness and depression that seem to come with this amazing job. Like a whole range of anti-bonuses!

To memorises the above content from my TEDx talk, my brain goes through the following processes,

1. Teachers work hard, so lots of energy is needed.
2. Then I picture footballers juggling on BBC’s match of the day.
3. This takes me to my BBC appearance.
4. Finally, footballers get massive bonuses, and teachers get anti bonuses.

Do not ever use someone else’s material, apart from the plagiarism and moral inauthenticity, and your brain will fight those words.

Volume, Tone, and Silence 

In the main, talk like you are talking to a standard room, a class of pupils, if you have a microphone, especially if you have a beard, hold the microphone at 45 degrees and a couple of inches away from your mouth. Sometimes the raising of voice can mean that you are pouring more energy into those words; sometimes, the lowering of volume can also feel the same. You and only you are the judge and master of the way you choose to come across.

Silence is a seldom-used tool in public speaking. In everyday interactions, silence is typically illicit people to fill the uncomfortableness with words, the social constructs around public speaking mean that instead of words people ponder and ruminate. When you want people to think, pose a point or a question and stop and wait.

Silence is a seldom-used tool in public speaking. In everyday interactions, silence is typically illicit people to fill the uncomfortableness with words, the social constructs around public speaking mean that instead of words people… Click To Tweet

Final Checklist – Work Out…

1. What do you want to say?
2. How do you want to be perceived while you say it?
3. The words can be secondary to the delivery and vice versa. Listen to and be critical.
4. Enjoy it.