My only advice to people who are trying to get into public speaking: don’t have Vindaloo curry for lunch before getting up on stage. Worst talk I ever did.
I’m a shy introvert who against all the odds in the world became a public speaker. In Shy introvert’s (short) guide to speaking in conferences, I share my advice for fellow introverts how to make the best out of speaking in conferences.
I saw an “unpopular opinion” tweet recently about speaking at conferences being a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. Here’s why it’s incredibly valuable and why you should consider it, too…
- Speaking is hard work. But, it’s the kind of hard work that is good. It requires you to dive deeper into the topic and to think more deeply about it. Along the way, you will likely learn new things and discover new insights.
- You make connections with people (if you choose). Awesome people. People who care about the same subject as you. People who are influencers and connected to other awesome people. You never know what amazing things await on the other side of a new acquaintance/friendship.
- You build a “brand” for yourself. You may start to be recognized as a leader in your community and on the topic(s) you speak about. People will reach out to you when they need help, to interview you on a podcast, or speak privately to their organization. So many opportunities!
- Being the catalyst for someone to try the things you’re talking about, to encourage the joy of learning and exploration, to hear how someone took your ideas and did something amazing… this is one of the most precious rewards I have ever experienced!
- Speaking at a conference can be so much more than a one-time event! You can leverage as much as you choose. Write a blog post on the topic. Publish a video. Ask people to follow you on social media or sign up for a newsletter. You can get a lot of mileage out of one talk!
- To quote Dr. Suess, “Oh, the places you’ll go!” Speaking at a conference can be the opportunity of a lifetime to visit a new place. Stay an extra day (or longer). Bring your family or a friend. Try new foods, visit a park, learn history, shop, go to live entertainment… walk!
Neal has also written about it in his blog: Please, Give Public Speaking a Try – ReverentGeek
If you’re planning to do (or being forced to do) a talk, Marc Thiele has collected a very good collection of tips for you. The articles linked in it cover everything from writing proposals to crafting your talk to the actual talk itself.
Once you get hooked on the conference circle, make sure you make the most of the events by being active in the hallway track.