Do you feel shaky when you start speaking and take too long to get into the groove? Here are three ways to start your speeches confidently and effectively.

In London's underground, there are warnings painted on the floor which say "Mind the gap." This refers to that risky moment when you have to step from the platform onto the floor of the train. There is, literally, a gap that you certainly don't want your foot to get caught in as the train starts to move again.

As in the illustration above, there's a figurative gap (not visible but real) between the moment you're about to begin speaking in a presentation, and the instant that you do. It might lead you to say the following prayer, which I'd guess is a popular one among speakers:

Let me get comfortable and in my groove right away. Get me past those opening jitters!

Well, congratulations! Your prayer has been answered, in the form of the three tips below.

Here's another great tip for your opening: Tip #16: "How to Grab Your Audience" in my book, How to Give a Speech. Click on that link or on the image below. Also on Amazon.

Tip #1: Make It About Them, Not You

The big concern giving you public speaking jitters is entirely understandable. But it's destructive just the same. It's your all-too-human response of wanting to do well.

Fair enough. But what makes you think this pitch, speech, or presentation is about you? It's called public speaking because it's about the audience's needs, not yours! (You'll find more of my "tough love" messages in Chapter 9, "Reducing Nervousness While You're Speaking" in my book Fearless Speaking. There are 50 techniques in the book to help you with stage fright.) 

Just how nervous about public speaking are you? Take the Free State Fright Quiz. Your score will tell you if your speech anxiety is minimal, significant, or high!

Changing your viewpoint from, "I want to do well," to "This is to benefit listeners," will help you focus on your audience from the very start. And guess what? — The more you zero in on serving the audience, the more you get into your groove. Think about that: if you're all about reaching listeners at the start of your speech, there's no bandwidth left to insert that question that's sure to knock you off track: "How'm I doing?"

Let's amp that up into a tough love message: you don't matter, the audience does. Result: you lift off successfully, with nothing between you and the business of serving listeners. 

This approach applies to virtual meetings, too—though your eye contact needs to change. Boost your online presence with my book, Speaking Virtually. Click below for more!

Tip #2: Ask Yourself: 'How Do I Earn Their Trust?'

Once your head (and heart) are in the right place, you can really start moving in that groove by earning some trust. I mean through performance—the part everyone can see and hear. "Earning trust" is pure emotion. It depends upon your connection with listeners, never on content alone.

Persuading and inspiring people always starts—and stays that way—through honesty and authenticity. If your audience senses that you're honest and concerned with their benefit not your own, they will trust you. Once that happens, the doors to influence open in their minds.

Learn more about getting on your audience's' wavelength. Download my Free Guide, 20 Ways to Connect with An Audience for Lasting Influence. Make it happen!

What's the mechanism at work here? If you're being honest about helping others rather than yourself, then you're showing that you're an authentic speaker, not a narcissistic one. Continually showing that your content is really about them is a sure path to effective speaking.

Tip #3: Invest Yourself In What You're Saying

To start out with unshakeable confidence, dedicate yourself—from the planning phrase through to delivery—to showing the audience that what you're saying is all about meeting their needs. That is when your speech begins to resonate with listeners.

Want more on being an effective presenter? Download my Free resource, "How to Be a Clear, Concise, and Compelling Speaker." Put clarity and conciseness on the menu!

You do this by investing yourself not just in the content, but in the shared moment of getting it across to people. Watch their reactions . . . and if it seems like they're not getting it, find another way to present it to them. In-the-moment focus and flexibility are two of the most powerful (and surprising) skills you can use with an audience. Investment and moment-by-moment responses like this lead to huge dividends!

In these three ways, you'll not only be minding the gap but obliterating it. And you're just the person who can do it. In fact, if you think about it, you'll realize you're the only one who can.

You should follow me on Twitter here.

Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching  and corporate group training worldwide. In 2022 for the ninth consecutive year, Gary has been ranked by Global Gurus as One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller How to Give a Speech. His second book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." His handbook for presenting in videoconferences, Speaking Virtually offers strategies and tools for developing virtual presence in online meetings. His latest book is Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. Contact Gary here. 

Main photo credit: flutie8211 on pixabay.