Practical Tips for Introverted Speakers
If you’re an introvert, your desire to prepare for everything is your superpower
Introverts tend to think before they speak, listen more than they talk, and prepare instead of “winging it.” You can leverage these introvert personality traits to become a better public speaker.
I recently traveled to Detroit to give a keynote speech. I wanted to memorize all of it, or most of it, beforehand. My introvert tendency to prepare for everything really served me well! I know from experience that there is simply no limit to how much you can rehearse. You need to make the words of the speech a part of you.
Everyone has their own memorization method. I like writing out key points on numbered index cards. Something about seeing the words in my own hand helps. I also make recordings of myself and listen back to see how I’m doing with the memorization process.
You can practice in front of a mirror if that suits you. If you make a recording of yourself giving the talk, listen while on a walk or while driving. It can be a little strange at first to hear your own words as you’re walking around the neighborhood, but it makes you hear them anew and helps ground them in your memory.
Discover deeper stories
Any public talk that you give will benefit greatly from storytelling, whether you fold in a short personal story, include a mention of a social movement or community your listeners value, or use the story structure techniques that I teach in my Storyline Sessions masterclasses. As an introvert, you know that you like to reflect on events, people, and ideas.
You can turn that tendency toward reflection into a story generator. When crafting a talk, preparing a panel discussion, or getting ready for a meeting at work, take a moment to reflect on the outcome you want to see. You can seek out a quiet corner to do this, close your eyes, record your thoughts on your phone or get out a journal and write what comes to mind. Pre-visualization is powerful.
Stay connected to your theme and purpose
In my Storyline Sessions masterclasses, we do an exercise that I call a “theme detector.” I ask everyone to think of an important person in their life. If you were doing this exercise now, you’d be thinking of a person you knew in your childhood or someone you met last week. The timeframe doesn’t matter—you just want to recall a person who was part of an important moment for you because they threw you a challenge, helped you get better at something, or encouraged you.
If that moment stuck with you, whether it’s from years ago or last week, it means that it expresses a connection to your purpose and meaning. We call that your WHY. Your WHY that expresses the motivations behind everything you do and care about.
When you give a talk, ask yourself WHY you want to give it, and see if that WHY connects with the deep themes that have driven you for most of your life. It’s foundational work, and may seem hard, but it’s the work you need to do if you want to give a memorable talk or presentation.
Practical tips
Here are a few practical tips to help you, as an introvert, become better at public speaking.
Prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Did I mention that you can prepare? As an introvert, you like to be ready for everything and anything. Leverage that tendency to go over your talk, anticipate questions you might receive in the Q&A, and rehearse. Before you give a keynote or other presentation, practice presenting it to at least one person. There’s great value in having a fellow human hear your words and react to them. Also, don’t read the script to yourself in a mutter. Speak it aloud, as you would actually deliver it, as many times as you need to. This also grounds your words in your mind and body.
Arrive early. Giving a talk in a new space? Show up early, stand at the podium if you can, and get a sense of the space. I tried this recently, and it significantly reduced my speaking anxiety, because I knew what to expect. I was a little more comfortable in the space even before I started to speak.
Schedule recovery time. Speaking may energize you or drain you. After a big event, allow yourself a few quiet days to recover. Take the time you need.
Leverage your introvert strengths. You are a good listener, so listen to your audience. Your Q&A section will benefit. You like to reflect, so think deeply before you give your talk. Be yourself! You don’t have to feel like a “performer” or use energy to speak that you don’t have. Keep it real. Show up as the person you are that day.
Curious to know more about your strengths as an introvert speaker? I wrote a self-assessment for introverts.
As an introvert, online presentation is your friend
Online platforms offer new opportunities for introverted speakers to get their message out. For example, instead of a presentation, you might try making videos with your phone. This allows for multiple takes in a controlled environment. With good copywriting and effective images, your website can deliver your message for you. Use social media at a pace that works for you as you establish your presence. You don’t have to post every day. Do what works for you.
Your introverted advantage
Sometimes it seems that we live in an extrovert’s world. But, as an introvert, you can stand out by listening to your audience and being responsive to their needs, and thinking before you speak to deliver more thoughtful content and richer ideas. The world needs to hear from you!
This is the second article in a series about public speaking for introverts. Check out the first one here. Curious about how being an introvert can make you better at public speaking? Try my self-assessment for introverts.
Ready to do more with your innate talents?
Introversion isn’t something to overcome—it’s a strategic advantage to leverage. The most memorable speakers are authentic and thoughtful. If you want to do more with public speaking, consider the self-assessment that I wrote, especially for introverts. It’s short and easy to do, and it will help reveal how your natural strengths as an introvert will work for you in public speaking. At the end, you’ll get an opportunity for a free consultation with me.