Using public speaking to put yourself and your park agency on the map
Remember in elementary school when you made your very first oral presentation in front of your entire 4th grade class? No matter how many years later, the vivid details come streaming back: the nervous knots in the pit of your stomach, the beads of sweat forming above your brow, along with that feeling of dread at the thought of the teacher calling your name and summoning you to the front of the classroom. Although you likely came out of that experience relatively unscathed, for many, that anxiety can follow them into adulthood.
According to the Chapman University Survey on American Fears, 25.3 percent of Americans fear public speaking more than heights, bugs and drowning. Put into more clinical terms, those who experience such trepidation suffer from glossophobia. However, for those in parks and recreation, interacting with community members and the public at large comes with the territory — no matter their level of experience. But, do park and rec professionals really need training in public speaking?
“I think it’s important because park and rec professionals serve the public,” says Debbie Trueblood, executive director at the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. “They need to be prepared to address audiences at public meetings, as well as at parent groups. And, executive-level staff [members] need to be able to present recommendations to their board and communities.”
An avid public speaker at industry events, Trueblood presented a session, called “Public Speaking Like a Pro,” during the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference this past September. She believes public speaking training should be offered to all park agency staff, not just those at the executive level. “I think the professionals in all types of positions within our professional community will become experts in their work, and they may choose to share that knowledge as content experts at conferences, in-house training and those kinds of things.”
Following are some best practices for public speaking that can help you build your confidence to effectively engage community members, successfully communicate your point of view and impart your industry expertise in a clear and concise manner.
Career Advancement
Did you know that public speaking anxiety can actually affect your earning potential? What’s more, fear of public speaking has a 10 percent impairment to salary and a 15 percent impairment to potential job promotions, according statistics featured in a Columbia University publication.
Trueblood believes many professionals in the park and rec field are so intimidated by the idea of public speaking that “they just absolutely don’t want to take on any kind of responsibility where this might be a part of it.” She views it as a self-inflicted limitation that holds people back in their careers. “There are a lot of opportunities and positions where [people] could be moving up in their career, if they’re willing to do some training to get comfortable in public speaking,” Trueblood says. “If they do, it might be the difference between a manager position and a director position.”
Connecting with the Community
Regardless of your level or position, a park and recreation team does interact with the public in some fashion. Thus, being able to present oneself in a professional and confident manner is paramount to delivering high-quality customer service to community members.
For senior-level staffers, who must gain community support for proposed programming, exuding confidence as well as competence is required for effective outreach. After all, if you make a presentation to “try to communicate a new plan to your community and you’re so nervous to be on stage, it won’t necessarily convince the public that you’re a content expert,” Trueblood asserts.
However, if you’re prepared, you have your research and statistics and you present that information in a confident way, “you’re going to be much more communicative to your community,” she continues, “and you’ll know that [the plan] you are presenting is a good one.”
A Better Communicator, A Better Manager
While public speaking enables park professionals to promote their agency’s service offerings more effectively, developing these skills also allows managers to communicate more productively with their staff. Trueblood says people with this type of training can become better managers, “because they have the skills to help them lead groups.”
She adds: “If you’re trained in public speaking, you will become more comfortable and more willing to volunteer to lead a team….” For executive-level professionals, the more you hone these skills, the better you’ll be at listening to your staff’s needs and making recommendations. In addition, you’ll have the skill set to succinctly convey your objectives and expectations to your team.
Breaking the Ice
As content experts, it’s advantageous for park and recreation professionals to share that knowledge with colleagues by speaking at conferences, seminars and other industry events. It not only creates networking opportunities, but it can also enhance the profile of you and your agency among peers. However, not knowing how to engage the audience from the get-go may be why some people shy away from making presentations or giving speeches. They avoid this type of social engagement for fear of rejection and harsh criticism.
So, how do you get the audience’s attention? “There’s really not one right or best way,” admits Trueblood. Some speakers prefer to open their presentation with a joke, while others choose to tell a story to break the ice. The key is authenticity.
“The first rule is do what feels comfortable to you,” Trueblood suggests. While telling a joke might not feel authentic, she says introducing herself and then telling a story within the first 5 minutes of her presentation feels more natural to her and helps to engage the audience. She adds that telling a story offers audience members a visual experience that brings people into a narrative.
Another option for breaking the ice is to open with a participation survey. “For example, you ask attendees, ‘How many of you have ever done public speaking before?’ And, they raise their hands or they don’t raise their hands,” Trueblood explains. Or, perhaps, you offer multiple options: (a) You’ve done public speaking a lot; (b) You’ve done some public speaking; or (c) You’ve never done public speaking. By creating that physical experience, where people are participating, you’re forming a bond between the speaker and the audience, according to Trueblood. Thus, the audience is committed to listening and providing feedback.
Preparing for Different Presentations
Those who do public speaking frequently know that preparation is critical. And, depending on the type of presentation, the preparation process will vary. For example, a formal speech will usually require the speaker to memorize the content. “There will also likely be less visual aids,” Trueblood notes. She also advises speakers to avoid rattling off too many statistics, as it won’t resonate with the audience. Instead, use imagery and storytelling to advance the listener’s knowledge.
In addition, a formal speech presentation requires more practice than a presentation for a typical education session. “You’ll need to rehearse your speech until it is almost or totally memorized,” says Trueblood. That way, you avoid reading the script, because “you never want to stand in front of an audience only to have them look at the top of your head while you are reading your notes,” she warns. “Also, because of that lack of visual aids, you likely will need to practice your presentation using much more of your voice, your body and your gestures to engage the audience — only because they have less to look at. Audience members are more likely to [mentally] check out if you’re not prepared to bring them along for the ride.”
If you’re delivering a traditional presentation for an education session at a conference, where you have a PowerPoint deck behind you, be sure to avoid just reading your slides. Instead, add your own narrative to the slides to get your points across to the audience. Prior to your scheduled session, make sure to practice thoroughly — rehearsing your presentation aloud while standing up. Also, use a timer.
“Practice your presentation many times over so that as you’re looking at those slides, you know the triggers to the information that is coming next,” she says. You should know where to access the stories and what slides you can go more quickly through.
Lastly, for a panel presentation where there are multiple speakers, make sure you all rehearse together to ensure a smooth, cohesive presentation. Otherwise, you run the risk of constantly speaking over each other or creating friction between speakers vying to become the main speaker.
Making an Impact
How do you ensure your presentation is making a big impact? “What you want to do is focus on good, meaty detailed information in your session, so that your attendees walk away with something new and important to them,” advises Trueblood.
It could be a topic that many different speakers could present on, such as customer service, strategic planning or budgeting. The objective is to present a new angle or perspective so that, hopefully, your attendees leave your session with unique and valuable takeaways that they can share with their own park agency.
What’s more, how do you make sure that you have the confidence to deliver this material that you’ve worked so hard to create? “The way that you gain that confidence is to practice,” says Trueblood. Also, keep in mind, the audience wants the information you have to share. You are the communication vehicle by which they receive it, but their focus is on the content.
Public speaking can open many doors for park and rec professionals who dare to take that leap. You just have to be willing to put in the hard work in order to reach the endgame. As far as Trueblood is concerned: “I want folks to feel so comfortable in public speaking that it allows them to advance in their careers, because that’s what I’m really passionate about.”
The Role of Technology
When it comes to technology, there are definite pros and cons. As Trueblood puts it: “While I think technology is a wonderful thing, much of the advice I give to people, as they plan and build their skills in public speaking, is about how to prepare for the likely possibility that technology will not go the way that you planned.” Here are some simple tips to keep in mind:
- Bring a flash drive. “When I’m public speaking, I have my PowerPoint slides usually on a flash drive,” Trueblood says. Some conference venues provide their own equipment, such as a laptop, for educational programming and request that speakers bring their presentations on a flash drive.
- Back up to the Cloud. Consider saving your PowerPoint file to the Cloud as a backup to your flash drive.
- Keep a printed hardcopy on hand. Trueblood says she always brings at least one hardcopy printout of her presentation or speech. That way, if the tech equipment — such as the laptop, projection screen or teleprompter — fails to work, simply break out the hardcopy and continue with your presentation.
- Have your laptop ready to go. Even though some conference hosts prefer that speakers use their laptop computer, it’s best to have your own laptop standing by in case something goes wrong with the A/V. In addition, be sure to bring your own power cords, adaptors, etc.
- Keep time with a portable clock. Although smartphones generally keep accurate time, constantly staring down at your mobile device might send the wrong message to the audience. Are you checking your text messages or Twitter feed while speaking? Instead, invest in a small clock to track your time and place it discreetly on the podium.
- Consider a remote device. “I bring my own clicker and an extra set of batteries,” notes Trueblood. She says this gives her the freedom to advance her slides remotely while moving about the room and engaging the audience, rather than being tethered to a laptop.
3 Quick Tips for Calming Your Nerves Before Public Speaking
Making a speech is not an easy endeavor, especially when the adrenaline is rushing through your body minutes before your presentation. Here are three valuable tips from Forbes.com contributor Nick Morgan that may help put your mind and body at ease.
- Focus on the ‘offstage beat.’ Before your presentation, take a few moments to get into an appropriate emotion. This is a method actors generally follow. Think to yourself, “I’ve just got a promotion, received a big grant — I’m having a great day!” The goal is to find an appropriate emotion that will enable you to face the audience with excitement. What’s more, it will help distract you and re-channel your adrenaline.
- Breathe deep ‘belly’ breaths. Take a deep breath of air in through your belly, expanding it as you take air in. Refrain from moving your shoulders upward the way most people do when they breathe, as it makes your lungs smaller. Instead, expand your belly and pull the air into your stomach.
- Take a walk or engage in moderate exercise. Schedule an hour or two prior to speaking. However, don’t overdo it. After all, you don’t want to wear yourself out before your speech.
Vitisia Paynich is a Southern California-based Freelance Writer for Parks & Recreation magazine.