Lecture Notes: How to Appear Confident as a Speaker

Introduction

• Speaker: Montana Von Fliss
• Main Theme: How to show up and look confident as a speaker.
• Analogy Used: Boat trip with a nervous versus confident captain to illustrate the impact of a speaker's presence.

Key Points on Appearing Confident

1. Turn up the Energy and Speak Up

   • Speaking up (not shouting) projects confidence.
   • Aim for a moderate energy level (5 on a scale of 1 to 10).
   • Nervous speaking is often too quiet and less engaging.

2. Pause Like a Boss

   • Nervous speakers tend to speak too quickly and use fillers ("like", "um").
   • Use strategic pauses for transitions and emphasis.

3. Adopt a Superhero Stance

   • Use body language to project confidence (even sitting down as a superhero would).
   • Maintain good posture, smile, and eye contact.
   • Stand as a superhero backstage to boost confidence.
   • Make the shape of a confident person to influence perception.

4. Practice with Purpose

   • Create a rehearsal schedule with specific goals.
   • Practice sections in different settings (e.g., shower, walking dog).
   • Use bullet points instead of verbatim scripts to avoid robotic delivery.
   • Perform practice as realistically as possible (standing, aloud, with slides).

5. Craft Your Silent Sentence

   • Consciously choose what you tell yourself internally.
   • Example: "I want to help my audience to the best of my ability."
   • This can override anxiety and align focus to a higher purpose.
   • Rehearse silent sentences along with spoken parts.

Conclusion

• Key Takeaway: Confidence can be projected through behavior, even if not felt internally.
• Final Thought: Practicing and applying these techniques may feel uncomfortable at first but offers safety and enjoyment for both speaker and audience.
• Encouragement: Aim to give your audience a feeling of safety and enjoyment, like a confident captain on a journey.