When preparing for an important speaking event, we often think we only need a few days or weeks to get ready. This is true when it comes to crafting the content of your speech. However, developing other key aspects—such as stagecraft, stage presence, vocal strength, and managing speech anxiety—requires much more time. These skills can't be mastered overnight or in just a few weeks; they take months of practice to truly hone.
You might be wondering, "Who has time for all that?" Well, in the next few sections, I'll explain why it's worth your time and how these skills not only lead to success in speaking but can also benefit your everyday life in the longterm. These core pillars are what transform an average speaker into a magnetic communicator.
When I started out as an actor, I had stage experience from my days as a ballerina and a natural ability to "bring it"—to exude confidence on stage, also known as stage presence. But that was all I had. I didn’t know how to use my voice effectively, articulate clearly, or overcome the anxiety of speaking in front of others (dancing was easier, since it didn’t require me to use my voice!).
You might be in a similar situation. Perhaps you can write a great speech, but struggle with a weak voice or battle with stage fright, which can seriously hinder your success. Whatever your challenge, it can be worked on. And the following are a must have for delivering an awesome speech or performance.
Developing Your Voice: The power of the spoken word
I didn’t realize how important my voice was until I decided to pursue acting. Even then, I didn’t fully understand how underdeveloped my voice was until I started voice training at drama school. As I began to unlock my voice and experience its true power and potential, I remember thinking,
“There are so many ways I can use my voice in different situations. This should have been taught in school—how to use your voice and communicate clearly.”
We use our voices every day, yet many people haven’t fully "found their voice," either metaphorically or literally. If you want to influence others, developing your voice is crucial. No microphone for that important presentation? At a noisy networking event? With a trained voice, you can learn how to project and be heard clearly.
Need to establish authority? Accessing your lower vocal range and speaking “on voice” (with a full, resonant tone rather than a breathy or weak sound) instantly projects authority. This is why we need to know how to manipulate this instrument of ours for the best possible outcome.
So, what can you do about it now? In preparation, try learning proper breathing techniques, taking singing lessons, joining a choir, practicing vocal warm-ups, or hiring a vocal coach with acting or singing experience to teach you (like me). There are also singing apps for beginners to help you get started.
The importance of Stage Craft
Stagecraft teaches you how to present yourself on any stage, regardless of its size or shape. I can't count how many speeches I've seen where the speaker is on a large stage but remains rooted to one spot, missing the opportunity to engage the entire audience by using the space effectively. How you fill a space and move within it is a crucial aspect of stagecraft, and it's essential for making a lasting impression. Great writing alone isn't enough to convey your message, your body needs to get involved.
Taking acting, improvisation or Public Speaking coaching lessons can help you develop these skills.
Fear of Public Speaking or establishing your authority
When it comes to public speaking anxiety this one needs to be tackled long term. There are tips and tricks for dealing with it on the spot when it hits, and you can read “From Panic to Poise: Managing Public Speaking or Communication Anxiety as It Happens” for the full breakdown. For now here are a few things you can work on daily, that will help prepare you in the long term:
Learn how to breathe properly. Learn diaphragmatic breathing. There is a reason why our back ribs go down so low, our lungs are huge. Take a moment to think about it, now observe yourself breathing for a minute. Do you breathe all the way down into the lower lobes? Likely not. Learning to do so can vastly improve your quality of life. Not only does diaphragmatic breathing help with anxiety, but when combined with breath support, it improves your ability to get through long sentences in one breath -- contributing to smoother speech flow.
Practice objectivity. How? By remembering the age old saying “it's not about you”. You can practice this in meetings, general conversations and during your presentations. Your audience has come to learn something and wants you to do well in conveying information to them. They don’t want to sit through your public speaking nerves. So remember to shine the spotlight on them by focusing on your key message – make sure they get what you have to say. When you do well, your audience benefits. They can focus on your content rather than feeling uneasy about your discomfort.
Learn to process emotional discomfort, like fear, by accepting its presence. Emotions can't all be sunshine and roses. Be okay with letting the uncomfortable ones sit. By accepting their presence, instead of being paralysed, you will be able to get on with the task at hand, despite your emotions. Trust me, it's much worse if you try to fight them off, they’ll only come back with a stronger and louder knock.
The Physical Aspects: How You Look and Move Matter
Now, let's look at the physical aspects of your speech. Did you know that the first judgment people make about you is based solely on how you look and move? For example, who would you find more engaging to watch: the nervous, fidgety speaker with a slumped posture, or the one with open body language and calm, controlled gestures?
There are many effective exercises you can use to develop a truly magnetic presence on stage—one that will make people form a positive impression of you before you've even spoken a word. A public speaking, acting, or movement coach can help you find your alignment and stillness on stage.
Tying It All Together: Mastering Your Presence
At the core of all great speakers is presence—It's the enthusiasm that you bring, combined with the a strong voice, stagecraft knowhow, physical presence, and confidence. These elements work together to create a speaker who commands attention, inspires trust, and leaves a lasting impact.
Without enthusiasm and energy you will not succeed in making a lasting impact - or any impact for that matter. And that's a sad thought, given how much time you have invested in your preparation.
Taking acting or improvisation classes can teach you how to bring forth your energy, as can analyzing what successful public speakers do to 'bring it'.
So, how can you make the most of your speech or presentation? By doing the work that should have been taught in school: developing your voice, movements, stagecraft, refining your delivery style, and addressing any limiting beliefs you might have, along with writing a killer speech. It might take a few months, but trust me, it will be well worth it when you have integrated all these skills to the point that you are ready to speak, impromptu, with lasting impact - and minimal preparation.
With love, Jovana
IG: jovanamcoach
About the author:
I have three decades of experience performing, communicating and entertaining live audiences. I've taken my skills as a public speaker and trained actress and applied it to helping business professionals, politicians, entertainers, and employees progress their public speaking and communication skills. For information on teaching packages or to contact me, click here.
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