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7 Public Speaking Tips From Simon Sinek


Anyone who has done research in Leadership over the last few years has come across Simon Sinek. Simon is a brilliant individual with insight into leadership, but he is also an amazing public speaker. During an interview, Simon identified seven secrets to his public speaking success that may help you.

1. Don’t talk right away
According to Mr. Sinek, immediately beginning a speech is a sign of nervousness. On the other hand, in spite of how awkward it feels, walking out on stage and wait a few seconds before speaking shows the audience you are confident.


2. Show up to give, not to take
Often speeches are used as a means to attempt to get something, think about a presidential speech or a business meeting. This is fine, but if you truly want to be effective, show up to give not to get. When the audience can tell that your message is a gift not a sales pitch, they will listen more intently.

3. Make eye contact with audience members one by one
Panning and scanning the audience actually leads to a sense of disconnection rather than making direct eye contact with several members of the audience.

4. Speak unusually slow
Nervousness causes our mouths to move almost uncontrollably. In order to ensure this doesn’t happen when giving a speech, focus on talking overly slow. Simon says, “They want you to succeed up there, but the more you rush, the more you turn them off. If you just go quiet for a moment and take a long, deep breath, they’ll wait for you. It’s kind of amazing.”

5. Ignore the naysayers
It’s easy to get stuck in the mud of doubt so when you are giving a speech avoid the mud pits that come from those with frowns or crossed arms and instead focus on your supporters.

6. Turn nervousness into excitement
It’s natural to be nervous, but luckily nervousness and excitement have all of the same symptoms. Simon Sinek noticed athletes associating these traits to excitement so he developed a technique where he would tell himself aloud, “I’m not nervous, I’m excited.” After a while, his brain began to believe it and he now looks forward to doing public speeches.

7. Say thank you when you are done
"They gave you their time, and they’re giving you their applause." Says Sinek. "That’s a gift, and you have to be grateful."

“When you [tell yourself you are excited, not nervous] it really has a miraculous impact in helping you change your attitude to what you’re about to do," Sinek says.
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