“Am I standing right? Do people like me? Am I going too fast?” There are endless thoughts and questions that create a mental juggle for presenters when delivering a presentation on the podium.
The same is the case with the audience; they are caught up in their own set of distractions. “The ambiance of the place doesn’t match the theme of the topic. The presenter seems too nervous. The topic seems boring.” And the list goes on.
It is the natural tendency of our mind to wander. Most of us are used to living partially in the moment, distracted and lost in our thoughts. This tendency is acceptable in everyday chores, but as a presenter, you wouldn’t want to seem distant and lost to the audience.
This article sheds light on the role of mindfulness in creating a powerful speech and delivering it attentively. So, let’s explore!
What is Mindfulness?
It is being active and mindful of the present moment. Mindfulness is the state where you are able to observe your thoughts, opinions, and feelings without judging them or getting caught up in them.
It is the state where you just are – learning from the surroundings with open awareness, without any distractions from the outside world. You draw your conscious attention to the present, on purpose, being aware of the moment without being attached.
How Mindfulness is Connected to Speeches?
Presentations and speeches are stressful events, requiring a lot of preparation. Your task is to educate, inform, and persuade people toward a common goal. For that, you need to be adept at handling different challenges, overcoming interruptions, and tackling stress.
Mindfulness will help you in the following ways-
- Being mindful will help you take active notice of new things.
- It trains your brain to be more active, flexible, and present, thereby helping you develop the necessary qualities for acing your speech.
- It will help you tackle anxiety, calm your nerves, and avoid distractions without being overwhelmed. Acknowledging these fears and feelings helps let go of their grip on you.
- Mindfulness will help you enhance your creativity and memory, the traits required for an impactful speech.
- You will have a clear mind like still water, which will help you align your intentions with the speech (rather than focusing on what might go wrong or how people are taking you). The heightened focus will make you look more confident, engaging, and authentic.
- Mindfulness will help you eliminate the negative thought patterns that taint public speaking, like imagining worst-case scenarios and low self-esteem. The detachment will help you see those thoughts for what they are – thoughts, not realities.
Practicing Mindfulness Before Your Speech
You can practice mindfulness before going on the stage in the following ways. Look for a quiet and comfortable place, and focus on your thoughts and emotions without engaging in them.
1. Breathing Exercises
Before you step on the stage, find a quiet corner and concentrate on your breath. Feel the air as it enters and leaves your nostrils and the rise and fall of your abdomen.
The simple exercise will center your mind and calm your nerves. You can also do rhythmic breathing, following the cycle of inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding your breath.
2. Meditation
Close your eyes and try meditating for a few moments. You can focus on a particular chant, your body, or breathing as it suits you. It will help you tune the external factors out, aligning and focusing your energies.
3. Body Scan
Sit or stand in a comfortable posture. Mentally scan your body from head to toe. Notice areas of discomfort and stress. And as and when you become aware of them, consciously release the tension from those areas.
4. Affirmations and Visualizations
Go for powerful affirmations like – you are strong, you can do it, you have got this. You can also close your eyes and mentally picture yourself delivering a successful speech, confident and impactful.
5. Gratitude Practice
You can follow this exercise pre and post your speech. Be grateful for the opportunity you have been given and to everyone who helped make your event a success, including the audience.
It will help you align your emotions in the right way and connect more with everyone around you.
Practicing Mindfulness During the Speech
Mindfulness will require you to be fully engaged with all aspects of your speech, i.e., people, presentation, and delivery.
a). Mindful Listening
Train your mind to be fully present in the moment, listening to your own voice and to people’s reactions. It will enable you to pay attention to verbal and nonverbal cues of people, letting you modify the tone, volume, content, pace, etc., accordingly.
You will also be more aware of your body, gestures, facial expressions, etc., using them to convey confidence and build a rapport with people. Reading the energy of the room in real-time will help you immensely in course correction of your delivery at the right time, saving you from errors.
b). Mindful Pauses
Intentional pauses have many benefits. It will give you time to collect your thoughts, put emphasis on a certain thing, and allow time for your audience to absorb and reflect on your words.
Take the help of these reflective pauses to take a deep breath and be present in the moment.
Mindfulness in Your Speech Content and Structure
You can make your content more relevant and intriguing by incorporating mindfulness in the following ways.
- Include anecdotes and metaphors in your content to illustrate important points. You can use that to connect to people’s emotions and values.
- Use polls and questions to invite participation. People can get the space to reflect and share their thoughts.
- Incorporate summaries, transitions, etc., for emphasis. It will help you create a mental roadmap for everyone to follow and recall the information.
Practicing Mindfulness After the Speech
This is how you can use mindfulness after your speech to evaluate and improve your performance.
- Write in a journal – your achievements, mistakes, and learnings. It will help you be aware of everything objectively (in real-time).
- Record feedback for later review and reference.
- Take the time to assess your strengths and weaknesses and show appreciation for yourself and the audience. Post-speech reflection will help you grow as a speaker and person.
- You can count on relaxing, recharging yourself, and planning new goals.
Tips to Infuse Your Communication With Mindfulness
The thought of standing in front of a crowd and sharing ideas can trigger restlessness. Mindfulness helps you navigate that challenge with grace and ease. Let’s figure out how you can achieve mindfulness.
- The 1st step is to include it in your daily routine. Try meditating for 5 to 10 minutes first thing in the morning. With time, you will be able to separate your physical senses from emotional responses and see your nerves as a physiological response to the stress of speaking in public.
Sufficient practice will make it easy for you to reorient your attention just the way you do in your meditation.
- Try to be kind to yourself. The speech you deliver will not define you as a presenter or person. Your self-worth shouldn’t hinge on the success of one speech.
Contemplating the dynamics like this will help you develop a sense of detachment in a positive way, which will help you cultivate mindfulness. And mindfulness, in turn, will teach you to be more kind to yourself, creating a positive cycle.
Few Signs That You Are Not a Mindful Communicator
- If you are lost in your own world while talking to someone and not really paying attention, for instance, wondering about your problems while listening to others.
- You talk mindlessly. Stress can induce situations where you start babbling or talking just for the sake of it, which can reduce the quality of communication.
- You butt in before letting the other person finish or are always thinking ahead during the conversation. It leads to mindless communication where no party understands each other.
Final Words
If you want to turn your speech into a truly engaging experience, mindfulness is the tool for you.
It will help you stay composed and focused and read people simultaneously. But like any skill, mindful communication requires practice.
Incorporate the valuable techniques mentioned above in your speaking engagements to harness their power and become an effective public speaker. Consistent practice will help you disentangle yourself from the crippling fears and thoughts regarding public speaking and realize your potential.
