If you want to become a more impactful speaker, it helps to be clear about what you want to achieve. When I had a fear of public speaking, I thought that if I just kept practising, I would eventually improve. And practice is certainly a big part of the process, but it’s also important to understand what you are working towards.
I often work with women who want to become ‘better at speaking in meetings’ or ‘more confident’, but without a clear goal, it can be difficult to know where to start. Once you understand what you want to improve, you can focus your efforts on the skills and situations that will make the biggest difference.
What Do You Want to Achieve?
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already been working on your public speaking, it’s helpful to take some time to think about what you actually want to improve.
The area you want to improve will depend on your own situation. Start by thinking about the situations where you most want to feel more confident. This could be:
- Feeling more confident sharing your ideas in meetings.
- Delivering presentations with greater clarity and impact.
- Structuring your presentations more effectively.
- Reducing filler words and speak more clearly.
- Improving your pace, tone and delivery.
- Feeling more comfortable answering questions.
- Managing the physical signs of nerves, such as a shaky voice or racing heart.
- Speaking with more authority and avoiding undermining your own ideas.
There is no right or wrong goal. Public speaking confidence looks different for everyone, so the important thing is understanding what you want to work towards.
Moving Beyond “I Want to Be More Confident”
One of the most common goals I hear is “I want to be more confident.” And I think that’s an understandable place to start. But the issue is that confidence can mean different things to different people. For one person, confidence might mean speaking up in a meeting without second-guessing themselves. For someone else, it might mean delivering a presentation without their nerves taking over.
The challenge with confidence is that it can feel difficult to measure because it’s not something you can simply tick off a list and in my experience how confident you feel can change on a day to day basis! So instead of only focusing only on becoming “more confident”, try to think about what confidence would allow you to do.
If you want to explore confidence more then watch this short video where Mel Robbins explains why we should redefine confidence.
How to create a clearer goal
Ask yourself:
- What would I be able to do if I felt more confident?
- What situation do I want to feel more confident in?
- What would progress look like?
- What is one step beyond my comfort zone?
Your goal should help you grow, but it should also feel achievable.
Here are some examples of goals you might set:
Speaking up in meetings
“Over the next month, I will contribute an idea or ask a question in at least one meeting each week.”
Presenting with more confidence
“Over the next three months, I will deliver a 10-minute presentation to my team using a clear structure and practising beforehand.”
Managing nerves
“Over the next six weeks, I will practise techniques to manage my nerves before presentations so I feel calmer and more in control.”
Improving delivery
“Over the next month, I will record myself speaking once a week and practise slowing my pace and reducing filler words.”
Thinking on your feet
“Over the next six weeks, I will practise answering unexpected questions so I feel more prepared during presentations.”
Your Goal Is Your Starting Point
Setting a goal gives you direction. It helps you move from simply wanting to become a better speaker to understanding what you need to practise and where to focus your energy. Confidence is not something you suddenly gain overnight. It is built through action, experience and learning to trust yourself.
Once you know what you want to achieve, the next step is deciding what actions will help you get there. In next week’s blog, we’ll look at how to turn your goal into practical steps and build confidence through consistent action.
Further Support With Public Speaking
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