7 Powerful Public Speaking Tips From One of the Most-Watched TED Talks Speakers

1. Don’t talk right away.
Sinek says you should never talk as you walk out on
stage. “A lot of people start talking right away, and it’s
out of nerves,” Sinek says. “That communicates a little
bit of insecurity and fear.”
Instead, quietly walk out on stage. Then take a deep
breath, find your place, wait a few seconds and begin. “I
know it sounds long and tedious and it feels
excruciatingly awkward when you do it,” Sinek says, “but
it shows the audience you’re totally confident and in
charge of the situation.”
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2. Show up to give, not to take.
Often people give presentations to sell products or ideas,
to get people to follow them on social media, buy their
books or even just to like them. Sinek calls these kinds
of speakers “takers,” and he says audiences can see
through these people right away. And, when they do,
they disengage.
“We are highly social animals," says Sinek. "Even at a
distance on stage, we can tell if you’re a giver or a taker,
and people are more likely to trust a giver -- a speaker
that gives them value, that teaches them something new,
that inspires them -- than a taker.”
3. Make eye contact with audience
members one by one.
Scanning and panning is your worst enemy, says Sinek.
“While it looks like you’re looking at everyone, it actually
disconnects you from your audience.”
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Life
It’s much easier and effective, he says, if you directly
look at specific audience members throughout your
speech. If you can, give each person that you intently
look at an entire sentence or thought, without breaking
your gaze. When you finish a sentence, move on to
another person and keep connecting with individual
people until you’re done speaking.
“It’s like you’re having a conversation with your
audience," says Sinek. "You’re not speaking at them,
you’re speaking with them."
This tactic not only creates a deeper connection with
individuals but the entire audience can feel it.
4. Speak unusually slowly.
When you get nervous, it’s not just your heart beat that
quickens. Your words also tend to speed up. Luckily
Sinek says audiences are more patient and forgiving
than we know.
“They want you to succeed up there, but the more you
rush, the more you turn them off," he says. "If you just
go quiet for a moment and take a long, deep breath,
they’ll wait for you. It’s kind of amazing.”
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Sinek believes it’s impossible to speak too slowly on
stage. “It’s incredible that you can stand on stage and
speak so slowly that there are several seconds between
each of your words and people… will… hang… on… your…
every… word. It really works.”
5. Ignore the naysayers.
Dismiss the people furrowing their brows, crossing their
arms or shaking their heads “no.” Instead, focus only on
your supporters -- the people who are visibly engaged,
enjoying your presentation and nodding “yes.” If you find
the audience members who are positively interacting
with you, you’ll be much more confident and relaxed
than if you try to convince the naysayers.
6. Turn nervousness into excitement.
Sinek learned this trick from watching the Olympics. A
few years ago he noticed that reporters interviewing
Olympic athletes before and after competing were all
asking the same question. "Were you nervous?” And all
of the athletes gave the same answer: "No, I was
excited." These competitors were taking the body’s signs
of nervousness -- clammy hands, pounding heart and
tense nerves -- and reinterpreting them as side effects of
excitement and exhilaration.
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Back From Failure
When you’re up on stage you will likely go through the
same thing. That’s when Sinek says you should say to
yourself out loud, “I’m not nervous, I’m excited!”
“When you do, it really has a miraculous impact in
helping you change your attitude to what you’re about to
do," Sinek says.
7. Say thank you when you’re done.
Applause is a gift, and when you receive a gift, it’s only
right to express how grateful you are for it. This is why
Sinek always closes out his presentations with these
two simple yet powerful words: thank you.
"They gave you their time, and they’re giving you their
applause." Says Sinek. "That’s a gift, and you have to be
grateful."