How can you project and speak with confidence to large audiences?

Confidence is uncomfortable situations often comes from an ability to connect with your audience. Read the room, ease into the conversation, make the information your own and keep the facts as relevant as your interpretation of said fact. Lastly, be yourself! Every audience appreciates authenticity!

An important tool in your speakers toolbox is empathy. Not only is it a sound practice to research who you will be speaking with, but to also learn about and be sensitive to what they hold as concerns. Starting from a place of respect and holding a genuine desire build understanding lays the foundation for a positive experience for all.

I would actually argue that this is secondary. "Know what you are talking about" is primary. Ironically, you are more credible when you differentiate between data that is verifiable, and opinions that you hold. Let the audience know the path from data to your position, while acknowledging that it is still an opinion and you come across as more believable. Many of us hide behind the "i know the truth" idea, when the "I have a process you can try" idea is much more convincing.

Be: well prepared specific & be your self Be: well prepared specific & be your self Be: well prepared specific & be your self Be: well prepared specific & be your self

Prepare well. Find out before what the organisers are hoping the audience will gain from your speech, ask questions, pitch it perfectly and allow for flexibility if the audiences expectations are different.

Speech Structure is EVERYTHING. While a quick Google search will bring up a basic structure, keep these in mind for large audiences: 1. Start with a bang. On a large stage you need to double down, not just on the charisma and presence but also on the strength of the content. Start with an anecdote or a statement that most people will have a reaction to. 2. Use a lot of meaningful linkers and transitions as you plan your content, since that will really help all members of a large audience know which part of the speech you are in. 3. To make the speech more impactful, I often add in a small activity, (something that involves everyone). For my most recent Tedx, I asked audience members to shout out simple answers. This engages big groups.

Plan the structure of your speech well and learn it. Share the structure with the audience at the start so they know what to expect. Keep to the structure but allow for flexibility if something changes.

When a singer sings they use the different ranges of their voice to convey the song, so to when I speak I use my voice to emphasise different parts of my speech, points I wish to make, when I wish to make a call to action or use the vulnerability of my voice to convey an important message. No one, absolutely no one will thank you for using a monotone voice. Your audience wish to be engaged and they need to hear your voice convey your speech with passion and emotion.

My years of public speaking have only taught me that speaking to large audiences is a art that can be perfected by taking a shot at it repeatedly overtime. More often than not, it is natural for speakers to be overwhelmed by the large crowd, but the one thing that has helped me is to think the crowd as a decoy - something that is artificial and does not exist. Tricking your mind into believing so relaxes it completely to focus on the topic and the delivery.

Drawing from extensive experience in Toastmasters and as a keynote speaker in several events, confidence on stage is rooted in thorough preparation. Once you keep on practicing, you will eventually find ways to engage with the audience, master body language and play with vocal variety. Furthermore, you learn to control your pace (I cannot emphasize enough on correct usage of pauses) and adapt to audience requirements if you have good command on your content through practice.

Mastering vocal techniques for projecting your voice to a large audience is pivotal in the realm of public speaking. Begin by focusing on breath control; deep, diaphragmatic breathing provides the necessary support for sustained and powerful projection. Next, enunciate clearly and articulate each word to ensure comprehension reaches every corner of the venue. Utilize variations in pitch, tone, and pacing to maintain audience engagement and emphasize key points. Embody confidence by standing tall, allowing for better airflow and projection. Finally, practice vocal warm-ups and exercises to strengthen and expand vocal range, ensuring a commanding and resonant delivery that effortlessly reaches every listener in a large audience.

I still get butterflies. To get those butterflies flying in formation, I must hear my voice via a recording or in the room before showtime. Once I do that small task, it takes the edge off when I get on stage. It's that feeling of "I have done this before and in this room."

Remember that no matter how big the audience is, you are talking to one person at a time. They just happen to be in the same room. Really, when you think about it, there is no such thing as a "massive audience" - it's just a construct. Even a 20,000-person audience is composed of individuals who individually filter and perceive the content you share with them. In other words, if you can speak clearly and confidently to one person, you can do the same with any audience size. Remember that your hardwired fear is just an illusion, and it's up to you to change your perception.

La mejor manera de conducir una presentación que tiene impacto en grandes o pequeñas audiencias es tomando consciencia de que la procesión va por dentro. Una de las primeras "cosas" que las personas que participan en los entrenamientos para speakers que conduzco es que lo que "sentían y creían estar proyectando" no es lo que la audiencia ve. Si lo pudiéramos poner en un número este sería: Yo siento que estoy proyectando 1000 pero las personas captan 10. Siempre sugiero a speakers que tengan en mente ese hecho: "La procesión va por dentro"

I think a lot of people are nervous because they feel like they are being judged - or will be judged. This isn’t a comfortable feeling. Some tips I use: First, reassure yourself you know what you are talking about. You were invited there for a reason. Second, recognize that you will never be able to please everyone. The fear of “someone” not liking your presentation, or challenging you during Q&A, etc. can be challenging. Be okay with the fact that you don’t have to please everyone. Third, adopt a stage personality or persona. I used to do theater and while I was horribly shy, being on stage was comfortable because it wasn’t me- it was my character. I’ve adopted that to a degree when I speak.

Confidence comes with it and that gets developed with time and practicing honesty and truthfulness. The more you are prepared by meeting new people, learning from behaviours and of course the traditional course of learning can never go out of fashion. Confidence is another name of Trust.

Totally agree with the other perspectives shared here. There are some of us that regardless of focus, visioning, discipline and commitment still face the “fight or flight” instinct in front of large crowds. For me it didn’t start to occur till I was well into my thirties. So I spoke with my doctor who prescribed a medication to help control the effects of the fight or flight instinct. Again not option one but a very helpful tool we worth considering depending on your specific situation. Feel free to ping me if you have questions.

En cada taller o asesoría que hago surge el tema de los nervios ¿cómo controlarlos? Creo que la respuesta es multidimensional, algunas de mis recomendaciones son. Primero: si no crees ni confías en lo que vas a decir, dificilmente proyectarás seguridad y ni te sentirás cómodo. Segundo: Si preparaste tu mensaje pero no cómo lo vas a decir, el momento de la presentación generará mucha incertidumbre y ansiedad porque ni tu mente ni tu cuerpo estarán familiarizados con el flujo de tu presentación. Tercero: Conocete a ti mismo. Reconoce cómo te calmas y cómo te energizas... reconoce qué te sirve hacer previo a una situación de estrés para ayudarte a predisponer tu mente y cuerpo de la mejor manera posible y disponible a lo que viene.

I’m a staunch supporter of leveraging stories to illustrate points. Sometimes I’ll share a story early on, and then later refer back to it when making a point. Humor will also always win. You will be more memorable if you can take a dry or serious topic and inject some levity into it. I also will use the audience at times in my speeches. I may refer to someone and use them or their name during an example, or other topics. It makes them feel more a part of the presentation. Though I’m careful who in choose or how I bring them in. I never want anyone to feel uncomfortable!

Engage the audience through relatable stories, help them get to know you. Create a rapport. Involve them. Acknowledge and appreciate their responses and views.

In my role as a toastmaster, I've found that making speeches or presentations interactive with personal stories is crucial. Initiating your speech with a personal touch instantly captivates the audience and establishes a connection. Additionally, selecting a topic aligned with the audience's interests encourages spontaneous responses. So before going as a speaker, study the age groups and their interests. Also include latest examples and trends to make your speech more interesting and engaging.

Relevance matters. A canned keynote is the worst. @SHAWNEE Delaney recently spoke to our group. As singers might say, she was pitch-perfect because she invested time in developing a cohesive storyline and delivery that made sense to our audience.

I always try to have questions for the audience ready in the back of my head. Polling, engaging, interacting with the audience and making them a part of the presentation is a great way to maintain their attention. Additionally, along with some default questions, I have been known to throw out random non-planned questions when I either need a moment to think, or see the room start to disengage.

Be yourself! Speak to engage people in finding their own answers. They will be more committed to their own ideas than yours. People relate to human beings more than they relate to “speakers”.

Recuerda que, quien le da vida a la presentación; quien muestra lo valiosa que es y quien le da la importancia que tiene es, literalmente, quien da la presentación.