Public Speaking Strategies for Introverts - a podcast by Matthew Pollard, Introvert, Author, Entrepreneur, Sales and Marketing Strategist

We’ve all heard about the New York Times best selling book The One Thing. With this book, co-authors Jay Papasan and Gary Keller achieved something very few authors ever do, though most dream of it: they had penned a phenomenon.

Speaking requests came in from across the globe.Jay thought he had it made; he was the introverted writer, and Gary was the brand, the one who’d be doing all the public speaking.

Then all of a sudden, late afternoon, he gets the call: Gary has decided he wants Jay to come on stage too – the very next morning.And this was no normal stage; Jay’s first time speaking in public would be in front of thousands of excited attendees.

Ask any introvert how he or she feels about getting up to speak in front of that many people, and you’ll likely see a grimace of horror.In this episode, you’ll discover the secret to how Jay overcame his fears.

“You need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.” - @JayPapasanClick To TweetIt’s no surprise that introverts aren’t huge fans of public speaking. But if you’re a business owner, you know that there’s plenty you have to do in your day-to-day that you don’t necessarily like, but that is crucial to the success of your business. Yes, public speaking is one of those things, and yes, you can learn to do it well.
Want to Build Your Small Business? You Have to Learn How to PresentAs an introverted writer, Jay was surprised to learn that his skill set needed to include competent public speaking; it makes all the difference between being an author and being a bestselling author. The same is true for your business. Delivering a pitch to a group of investors, attending a networking event, or discussing your product onstage at a conference or trade show, public speaking is a required part of growing your business.
Why Introverts Make the Best Public SpeakersOf course, it seems counterintuitive – how can introverts, who dislike the spotlight and generally hate public speaking, be the best presenters? It comes down to harnessing your inherent strengths, including careful planning and preparation, understanding your audience, focusing on the needs of the listener, and pushing past your discomfort. As Jay points out, “You can do what you practice.”

“Introversion isn’t a barrier to achievement; it just means you have to succeed in a different way.” - @JayPapasanClick To TweetSome Questions I Ask:

How did your introversion play a role in your success story? (2:15)What are your preparation strategies for delivering a presentation? (10:08)
Now that you’ve spoken in front of tens of thousands, do you still get nervous? (11:35)Is there a particular format you follow when writing and delivering a speech? (13:50)
What did and didn’t work for you as you learned how to become an effective speaker? (15:20)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The horrible surprise that helped Jay become an excellent public speaker (3:35)The preparation and psychological strategies Jay uses for every presentation (7:08)
Why Jay doesn’t rehearse for any presentation – and what he does instead (10:12)The goal Jay focuses on when giving a speech (11:58)
Using the “rule of threes” in public speaking (14:05)Why you can’t and shouldn’t try to act like an extrovert when speaking (17:00)
Jay’s biggest speaking fear (18:10)Resources Mentioned in the Show:

The One ThingPart two of this episode

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