The Trap of "Ready"
I have some potentially upsetting news to share…
If you want to become a better public speaker, at some point, yes—you’re going to have to speak in public.
I know, I know. It’s tempting to wait until you feel ready before stepping onto a stage, announcing a webinar, or submitting that TEDx application.
And to an extent, I support this! If you have a debilitating fear of public speaking, I wouldn’t recommend applying for a TED Talk today. Getting some foundational techniques under your belt first is a great idea.
However...
More often than not, I see people hiding behind “Not Ready.”
They’ll endlessly put off scheduling their webinar or turn down the opportunity to speak on a panel—not because they lack skills, but because they don’t have experience yet.
And here’s the tricky part…
Skills can be developed in private—experience can only be gained by doing the dang thing.
So how do we solve this conundrum? How do we get from not ready to ready without throwing ourselves into the deep end unprepared?
I’m a big believer in scaffolding the level of difficulty.
Your first speaking opportunity shouldn’t be a TED Talk.
Your first time speaking on camera shouldn’t be after investing $10,000 in a film crew to shoot your “Meet the Founder” video.
If you know you ultimately want to deliver a keynote or host a webinar, how can you test your skills in a low-pressure environment first?
And this isn’t just advice for beginners—I take my own advice!
This month, I’m leading a corporate workshop where I plan to break out some exercises I’ve never tried in this context before.
At first, I saw two options:
- Stick to the content I’ve taught a million times and feel completely confident in.
- Take a risk and lead untested exercises for the first time in front of a paying client.
I didn’t love either option.
So I created a third: I scheduled a test workshop with five trusted clients and colleagues. Now, I’ll get to try out these new exercises before the high-pressure situation, so I can walk into my corporate workshop with confidence.
There’s a delicate balance here. It’s not a good idea to throw yourself into the deep end before you’ve had a swimming lesson—but you’re never going to learn how to swim unless you get in the water.
So, here’s my challenge for you…
How can you get in front of lower-stakes rooms now, so that when your big opportunity comes, you’re thoroughly undaunted?
Because remember, you don’t need to get ready if you stay ready.
Sara Glancy is an NYC-based actor and public speaking coach and the founder of Speak Masterfully, a service that helps professionals take the stage with less fear and more fun!
Want to nail your next presentation?!
Apply this basic outline to any speaking engagement to feel twice as prepared in half the time!
