1/ Lots of people asking me lately about how I public speak to large groups so frequently despite having struggled with anxiety. Here's some advice.
2/ First, I will say as someone who had GAD, panic disorder and OCD: not all anxiety is what it looks like on TV. I did not struggle with hand-washing or organizing with my OCD. I did not have problems with social situations despite GAD.
3/ We have so much work to do with #mentalhealth in the media to change the misunderstanding and stereotypes.
4/ But now back to speaking: I remember preparing for my very first lecture. I was a high school student and getting ready to speak at an annual mental health conference for families and professionals in the field, where I'd share my anxiety story & how I started @AnxietyInTeens.
5/ I decided to search the @NSAspeaker website and found the most famous-looking person I could find on that website, @HarryBeckwith. I learned that he also lived in Minneapolis, so I cold emailed him and he agreed to have coffee with me.
6/ I thought he would be giving me tactics on how what routine I should do right before the speech or technical advice on speech delivery. Instead, what he told me still resonates with me today: when telling your personal story, YOU are the expert.
7/ You are the one in the arena, with the courage to tell a very important story that no one else knows better than you. The crowd will be rooting you on, not looking for where they can criticize you. This empowered me so much.
8/ Next, the most important thing to do is come prepared. Nothing can take the place of doing the work, writing out your speech, and practicing it. You're a professional, and it is critical to put in the effort and remember the opportunity you've been given to make a big impact.
9/ Finally, I like to go see the space in advance to get a sense of what the room is like, where people will be, etc. If you don’t have access to the room or you’ll be traveling far and can’t see it in person, go search Google Images the venue and you may be able to find the room
10/ If that is not available to you either, at the very least, be very close to the stage or already standing next to your announcer while they share your intro. This will allow your adrenaline to pulse, but w/ a few moments to collect yourself and notice the PEOPLE in the crowd.
11/ This will allow you to engage with the various individuals and you’ll realize that you’re just having a 1-1 conversation with many people at one time. Make eye contact with them and “listen” to them as much as they’ll be listening to you. Share who you are, connect & have fun
