Mastering Public Speaking: Innovative Techniques for Confident Communication

Public speaking is a critical skill that can dramatically accelerate your professional growth, yet many people find it intimidating. In this article, we'll explore innovative techniques to help you become a more confident and effective public speaker, drawing insights from Tristan de Montebello, co-creator of Ultra Speaking and finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking.

The Transformative Power of Public Speaking

Many people underestimate just how transformative improving your public speaking skills can be. Public speaking is not just a specialized skill - it's a meta-skill that can enhance multiple areas of your life:

• It boosts your confidence in professional settings
• It improves how you communicate with friends and family
• It helps you articulate your ideas more clearly
• It makes you more persuasive and influential

Just as improving your physical fitness has ripple effects throughout your life, enhancing your speaking abilities can uplift many aspects of your personal and professional world.

Reframing Your Approach to Public Speaking

One of the core insights shared by Tristan is that if you don't enjoy speaking, you're likely doing it wrong. Speaking is something humans are naturally evolved to do - it should feel rewarding and connecting, not anxiety-inducing.

When you're speaking with close friends or family, communication flows naturally and feels enjoyable. The goal is to access that same comfortable, authentic state even in more formal speaking situations.

If speaking feels unpleasant, it's a sign that you may be overthinking or trying too hard to control every word. The key is to relax into a more natural, conversational flow.

Speaking as a Subconscious, Flow-Oriented Process

A fundamental shift in approach is to view speaking as a subconscious, flow-oriented process rather than a conscious, controlled one. When you speak at your best, you're not actively thinking about the mechanics of speaking - you're fully present and focused on conveying your message.

Rather than trying to consciously control every word, the goal is to get into a flow state and maintain it throughout your talk. This mindset shift changes how you practice and prepare.

Instead of focusing on surface-level symptoms like filler words, it's more effective to address the root causes. For example, excessive filler words often stem from discomfort with slowing down or pausing. By getting comfortable with moments of silence, the filler words tend to naturally decrease.

Practical Techniques to Improve Your Public Speaking

Let's explore some specific tactics you can implement to enhance your speaking skills:

1. Think Up, Not Down

When gathering your thoughts, resist the urge to look down. Looking down, especially on video calls, can make you appear uncertain or distracted. Instead, train yourself to look up and to the side when thinking. This makes you appear thoughtful and confident, even in moments of pause.

2. End Strong

Many speakers start strong but trail off at the end, undermining the impact of their message. Make a conscious effort to maintain energy and conviction all the way through your conclusion. Use summary prompts like "So to wrap up..." or "The key takeaway is..." to cue your brain to deliver a strong ending.

3. Stay in Character

Avoid breaking character by sharing your insecurities or doubts. Even if you feel uncertain internally, maintain a confident exterior. Resist the urge to apologize or point out your own mistakes. By staying in character, you reinforce your credibility and keep your audience focused on your message.

Innovative Games to Practice Public Speaking

One of the most unique aspects of Ultra Speaking's approach is the use of speaking games to build specific skills. These games create "turbulence" that highlights areas for improvement while making practice fun and engaging. Let's explore a few of these games:

Conductor

In this game, you speak on a random topic while adjusting your energy level based on numbers that appear on screen. This trains you to modulate your intensity and tap into different emotional states while speaking.

How it works:

• You're given a random speech topic
• Numbers from 1-10 appear on screen
• You must instantly shift your energy to match the number
• A "breathe" prompt indicates you should pause silently

This game helps you access different emotional states and energy levels while speaking, making your delivery more dynamic and engaging.

Triple Step

This game builds resilience and improves your ability to stay on track when faced with distractions.

How it works:

• You're given a random speech topic
• As you speak, random words appear on screen
• You must seamlessly incorporate each word into your speech

Triple Step trains you to maintain your train of thought and adapt quickly when unexpected elements are introduced - a valuable skill for handling interruptions or unexpected questions.

Conviction Prompts

This exercise helps you tap into a more authoritative, executive presence by using prompts that increase conviction in your delivery.

How it works:

• You're given a random speech topic
• As you speak, sentence starters appear that you must complete
• The prompts are designed to increase conviction (e.g. "I genuinely believe...", "This matters a ton because...")

By practicing with these prompts, you train yourself to speak with more authority and impact.

The Accordion Method: A Revolutionary Approach to Speech Preparation

The Accordion Method is a powerful technique for preparing speeches that helps you internalize your content rather than simply memorizing it. Here's how it works:

1. Start with a 3-minute version of your talk
2. Compress it down to 2 minutes, then 1 minute, then 30 seconds
3. As you compress, you're forced to identify the core essence of your message
4. Then expand back out to 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes
5. As you expand, you intentionally add back in only the most impactful elements

This process helps you:

• Gain clarity on your core message
• Internalize your content rather than memorizing it
• Create a talk that's flexible in length
• Eliminate unnecessary fluff

The Accordion Method is a game-changer for speech preparation, allowing you to craft a more impactful and memorable talk.

The Bow and Arrow Technique: Focusing on Audience Takeaways

The Bow and Arrow technique shifts your focus from what you want to say to what you want your audience to remember. Here's how it works:

1. Identify your "arrow" - the one key takeaway you want your audience to remember
2. Craft your "bow" - the supporting elements that give weight to your main point

By focusing on a single, clear takeaway, you increase the likelihood that your message will stick with your audience long after your talk ends.

Embracing the Journey of Improving Your Public Speaking

Improving your public speaking skills is a journey, but it's one that can be incredibly rewarding. By reframing your approach, practicing with innovative techniques, and focusing on what truly matters, you can transform your relationship with public speaking.

Remember:

• Speaking is a natural human ability - you have more innate talent than you realize
• Focus on getting into a flow state rather than controlling every word
• Use games and exercises to make practice fun and target specific skills
• Prepare talks using methods like the Accordion Method to internalize your content
• Focus on what you want your audience to remember, not just what you want to say

By embracing these principles and consistently practicing, you can become a more confident, impactful speaker - opening up new opportunities in your personal and professional life. So take that first step, start practicing, and discover the transformative power of becoming a skilled communicator.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQM3Yq93nVc