When we run our public speaking courses, our clients often mention the fear they have of speaking in front of their colleagues or peers. For those entering the public speaking arena, this can be daunting – but it needn’t be! We sat down and asked some of the UK’s best improvisers; Katy Schutte, Nick Oram and Monica Gaga about the importance of audience engagement, body language, showing your human side and becoming friends with the audience.
What for you is the most important aspect of audience engagement?
Katy Schutte:
You can’t succeed if you don’t take risks. No creative endeavour can be achieved without vulnerability. If someone is too slick, we don’t trust them, if it’s too slick the audience will cotton on. People can sense insincerity. Public speaking can be a daunting environment – find your own joy in the thing you’re writing or presenting, how you personally attach yourself to that material is so important as the audience can tell if you don’t care.
Nick Oram:
It might sound quite simple but essentially; the more you show the audience the real you, the stronger the relationship you create with them, and the more likely it is that they’ll get onboard with what you’re saying. When it comes to public speaking, that is incredibly important.
Monica Gaga:
When I host something, I want the audience to feel like we could be friends. When I get off-stage, they could come up to me and chat. If they see you as a person, they will relate to you and be more agreeable to going on a journey with you. If you’re being robotic and just going through the motions, you clearly don’t care. If the audience can see this is just a job and there isn’t any passion behind your words, why should they care and why should they give you their time?
What difference can positive body language and eye contact make to an audience?
Katy Schutte:
Hugely important. In my solo shows, I like to hang out with the audience beforehand so being on stage is not the first time I am interacting with them. Eye contact with your audience, especially if the audience is smaller in number than anticipated can really rescue you. If you have a smaller audience, presenters can get embarrassed – don’t; make your public speaking feel the same whether you’re talking to five or fifty people.
Nick Oram:
I don’t think it can be understated how much positive body language and eye contact makes you feel more trusted to an audience. If done with enough effort and commitment, the audience knows they know that they’re in safe hands and will immediately be more receptive.
Monica Gaga:
If you feel awkward and uncomfortable, the audience will pick up on it. It is likely they will then feel the same as you – as we are quite empathic beings. They could be distracted by the story that your body is telling – because if the story your body is telling is a positive one, the audience will feel, ‘oh okay, I want to hear more’.
If you’re looking for more tips on positive body language, take a look at this article on how to have confidence in public speaking.
What is the benefit of letting the audience see your human side?
Katy Schutte:
You can’t succeed if you don’t take risks. No creative endeavour can be achieved without vulnerability. If someone is too slick, we don’t trust them, if it’s too slick the audience will cotton on. People can sense insincerity. Public speaking can be a daunting environment – find your own joy in the thing you’re writing or presenting, how you personally attach yourself to that material is so important as the audience can tell if you don’t care.
Nick Oram:
It might sound quite simple but essentially; the more you show the audience the real you, the stronger the relationship you create with them, and the more likely it is that they’ll get onboard with what you’re saying. When it comes to public speaking, that is incredibly important.
Monica Gaga:
When I host something, I want the audience to feel like we could be friends. When I get off-stage, they could come up to me and chat. If they see you as a person, they will relate to you and be more agreeable to going on a journey with you. If you’re being robotic and just going through the motions, you clearly don’t care. If the audience can see this is just a job and there isn’t any passion behind your words, why should they care and why should they give you their time?
Do you think the audience can feel when you’re nervous/unprepared/aren’t committed?
Katy Schutte:
Absolutely. It can be quite obvious when less experienced presenters are less comfortable with embracing silence. Those who are brand new to improv or being on stage in front of an audience tend to have problems talking far too much. Remember; no one else in the room gives as much of a shit about it as you do. Just take your time.
Nick Oram:
Commitment is absolutely key. It is human nature to feel nervous. You can feel nervous or underprepared without an audience realising as long as you show maximum commitment. This is as true in improv as it is in any other public speaking environment.
Monica Gaga:
Being committed is so important. I think it’s okay to feel nervous because that also shows the human side of you. If they can feel if you aren’t committed, they will start to think ‘what a botch job this is’. If your speech is lacking enthusiasm and you are showing that you don’t really want to be there, you are also disrespecting the other people involved in the event, be it the front of house, the DJ, the catering; you are basically disregarding all their hard work too.
If you find that nerves get the better of you, our article on how to banish your public speaking nerves will give you some practical tips to help.
You’ve heard it from some of the best in the business, now try this simple step: at your next presentation, take the time to welcome your colleagues into the room. Make eye contact and acknowledge them. You will be surprised how easily it will then be to look them in the eye during your presentation and speak to them, not at them. This in turn will make them feel valued and most importantly, engaged in your speech.