“I don’t like to speak in front of groups.”

How many people have said this to you? Perhaps you’ve muttered it yourself as you shuffled into a conference room. Apart from the rare breed of people who could happily lecture all day long – many of them, in fact, do become lecturers – most people actively hate public speaking.

The reality is, however, that we can’t always worm our way out of it. Many professions involve public speaking in some way or form. Even if you work a stereotypical office job you may one day be asked to give a presentation about the project you’re working on. What would you do? Fake a sudden illness? Abduction by aliens? Or would you stumble your way through your presentation and escape at the first available opportunity?

I understand, because once upon a time, I was one of those people. But as a research student, and later associate tutor, there was simply no way I could avoid it. From hosting seminar groups to presenting papers at conferences: public speaking was an integral part of my job role. Being forced to perform a task I hated, and thought I was no good at, actually helped me to get over my fear. Presenting became something I enjoyed and, dare I say it, turned out to be quite good at.

So what’s my secret? There is no secret. Just a few simple points anyone could take to heart, and I’m sharing them with you now.

Prepare. Hopefully I don’t need to tell you that it’s good to be prepared. How you prepare is equally important. Don’t be tempted to take all your research with you into the room. In your flustered state you won’t be able to find the exact bit you need to answer a difficult question. Writing out your whole talk can also send you into read aloud mode, making you sound boring and robotic. Better to prepare a set of index cards with key points you can use to jot your memory. This will help you to speak more naturally and adjust when things (inevitably) don’t go according to plan.

Practice formally. Consider joining your local Toastmasters chapter or debating club. You could even consider investing in some public speaking or networking training. Some local authorities offer this type of training at low cost for job seekers.

Practice informally. Chat with groups of friends about topics you feel passionate about. When I talk about cinema, for example, my natural inhibitions disappear because I’m enjoying myself so much I forget I’m supposed to be an introvert. And you never know where this might take you: I eventually got asked to introduce my favourite Stephen King film (Misery) as part of the local cinema’s Culture Shock season.

Final point: don’t expect to ever reach perfection. Perfection is, in fact, not necessary. People like to see that you’re human. Graciously dealing with mistakes is part of that. Regular practice will help you over time to become more confident. Stick with it and one day the presentation you used to dread may become one you actually look forward to.

Image my own @thecococatani