The thought of speaking in front of a large audience can be stressful. The good news is that you can overcome this fear by working on your confidence and presentation skills. Many women I work with wonder how to deliver their message powerfully and authentically without losing their natural vulnerability. How do you combine structure and clarity with the courage to share your unique vision? And how do you ensure that you make a real connection with your audience so that your story is not only heard, but felt? In this blog, I share my top three tips for standing on a stage with more relaxation.
Three tips for speaking from relaxation and confidence: Clarity, Courage, and Connection
When speaking effectively in front of an audience there are three important Cs to keep in mind: Clarity, Courage, and Connection.
- Clarity is all about clarity and structure. It is essential to structure your presentation well and communicate your story clearly. By preparing and practicing your speech well, you can stand before your audience with confidence. A clear structure ensures that your message is understandable and memorable, making it easier for your audience to follow and remember your ideas.
- Courage is about the courage to lead and to name an uncomfortable truth. It takes courage to share a different view, a unique angle, or a new perspective. It is precisely this courage that makes your story inspiring and worth listening to. By daring to deviate from the beaten path and speak your own truth, you can challenge your audience and make them think.
- Connection is about connecting from the heart and being truly present. Speaking from an authentic place means not trying to convince your audience, but rather sharing a gift. You are the gift; you don’t come to get anything, but rather bring something valuable. It’s all about sharing your message and creating a shared experience. Your presence and sincere intention make the audience feel seen and heard, creating a deeper connection.
These three tips – Clarity, Courage, and Connection – will help you speak with impact and get your message across in a powerful and authentic way.
The stage is right for purpose-driven leaders
I usually work with women who want to use their leadership on issues close to their hearts. Especially for purpose-driven leaders, daring to take the stage is important. That’s why in this blog I want to go a little deeper into each aspect. This will help you understand how to integrate the elements – Clarity, Courage and Connection – into your own leadership.
1. Clarity: structure and preparation
Clarity begins with a well-structured speech. Start by preparing an outline of the main points you want to discuss. Make sure you keep a logical order that helps your audience follow your thoughts. Ask yourself the following questions: What is the key message you want to convey? What steps do you want to take to get there? Practice your presentation out loud several times to become familiar with the content and to perfect your timing and tone. By conveying your message in a clear and structured way, you increase the likelihood that your audience will remember and connect with your ideas.
2. Courage: courage to show leadership
Courage is about daring to speak your truth, even if that means naming an uncomfortable truth or taking an unconventional stance. Sharing a unique vision or a different perspective can be scary, but it is often what really makes your story worthwhile. Audiences appreciate speakers who are authentic and honest, daring to challenge what is taken for granted. This courage can set you apart as a leader and as a speaker, and ensures that your message has a lasting impact.
3. Connection: connecting from the heart
The most powerful speakers are those who can connect with their audience on a deep and personal level. This goes beyond just words; it’s about the energy and intention you bring to the stage. When you speak from the heart and are genuinely present, you not only feel more at ease, but your audience becomes truly engaged. Remember, you are not on stage to get something, but to share something. This shift in mindset may just give you the space to be allowed to be vulnerable on stage, to keep your heart open to anyone listening to you and leave a lasting impression.
Common obstacles
Many people who speak in front of an audience run into similar obstacles. Here are some of the most common challenges and how to overcome them:
- Nervousness: It is normal to be nervous before a presentation. The tension you feel is about the attention being focused on you. You are in the spotlight, all eyes on you. Of course you are nervous. It would be weird if you weren’t. Nerves help you get all your senses on edge and live a peak performance. What is nice is if you can get your breathing under control so that you exude calm and confidence as a speaker. Deep abdominal breathing (inhaling deeply through your nose, exhaling slowly and long through your mouth) calms your nervous system. Start with this prior to the presentation, and if you can, even during your presentation, so that you remain grounded.
- Forgetting your text: Everyone sometimes makes a mistake, stumbles over words or forgets what they wanted to say. We’re just people. It’s not a bad thing; in fact, it makes you more human and easier to connect with. You don’t have to apologize for it. Just say “let’s see where I left off,” you take the break to look at your speaker notes, or take a sip of water and focus further on the core of your message. Such a small pause can even be nice for the audience to also take a moment to process all that you have said, also take a breath, and refocus on the rest of your story.
- Fear of not being good enough: Many people are afraid of being judged. But that’s not what your story is about. You have come to give something, such as to share a different perspective on things. When you speak with the intention to share something of your love, wisdom and knowledge, and not to extract something, it gives space to be yourself.
Result: standing confidently on stage
The result of working on your presentation skills goes beyond just giving a good speech. By investing in your preparation, showing courage, and creating a genuine connection with your audience, you can make a lasting impact as a leader. This is not just about speaking without tension, but about daring to share a personal vision that truly resonates with your audience. Whether you are addressing a large conference or leading a team meeting, the transformation you go through will allow you to speak with confidence and authenticity.
This is exactly what Monique Hoppen, Manager at UWV, experienced while participating in an internal leadership conference. Her dedication and the intensive coaching ensured that she touched her audience on a deep level and showed courageous leadership – an experience that not only made her more confident, but also let her vulnerability shine as strength.
Discover the power of authentic leadership on stage
As a leader, you have a unique voice and vision that deserves to be heard. When you stand before an audience with confidence and the courage to be vulnerable, you make an unforgettable impression. Want to learn how to write a good story, speak from the heart and make a lasting impact on your audience? Then let’s get started together! Schedule an introductory meeting with me so I can help you get on stage with confidence.
Approach: I have designed a special coaching program especially for purpose-driven leaders, women who dedicate their leadership to issues close to their hearts. Through an online and an in-person coaching session and four interim reflection assignments, you will learn to write an inspiring speech with a clear structure. Discover how to apply storytelling effectively and I coach you to find the courage to be vulnerable on stage and to communicate authentically from your heart. We work on your self-confidence on stage, dealing with tension and recovering forgotten text, without you learning ‘tricks’. Pure, real, from your heart sharing a great story. That is what you work on with me.
