Embracing Introversion as a Superpower
As an introvert, I used to think my disdain for excessive socializing was a weakness. But boy, was I wrong. I soon realized that my introversion was actually a superpower, especially when it came to developing captivating stage presence.
When I first discovered I was an introvert, I made a conscious choice to see it as a strength rather than a limitation. While some may believe that being an introvert puts you at a disadvantage for public speaking, I couldn’t disagree more. In fact, I started getting serious about improving my public speaking skills at the age of 21, a time when I was unapologetically introverted.
I had lunch by myself almost every day, and I made a conscious effort to avoid small talk unless absolutely necessary. At work, I was known to frequently disappear to my private retreats, where I could just read, uninterrupted. So, while others may have seen me as anti-social, I chose to view myself as selectively-social. I had to be, as I wanted to focus on achieving my goals.
It was during this time that I first dabbled in Toastmasters, learning how to speak confidently and being surrounded by other great speakers. And that’s when I discovered something truly fascinating: the majority of great speakers were strong introverts themselves.
Harnessing the Introvert’s Advantage
These introverted speakers didn’t speak much at the Toastmasters meetings, but when they took to the stage, they were vivacious virtuosos, exuding charisma and captivating audiences with their stage presence. Seeing them perform gave me an incredible boost of confidence. These people were like me – socially-selective – but they killed it every time they spoke. And just as quickly as they had taken the stage, they would disappear, in true introverted fashion.
As a coach, I get a lot of introverts asking me for secret tips to be great at public speaking. While I’m not sure if they’re “secret,” I certainly have three strategies in mind that I’ve personally used and found to be extremely helpful.
Strategy 1: Focus on Perfecting Your Technique
There are many ways to build confidence in public speaking, such as habituation – a form of exposure training where you keep putting yourself out there, again and again, until you get used to it. This is a great approach for extroverts, but if you’re an introvert, you might find it extremely draining.
The thing about introverts is that we tend to spend more time in our inner world than the outer world. We’re much more prone to thinking and planning than actually speaking – it’s how our brains are wired. In 2012, Professor Randy Buckner of Harvard University conducted brain scans of introverts and extroverts, and he found that introverts tend to have a larger portion of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex – the region of the brain associated with abstract thought, planning, and decision-making.
So, if you want to get good at public speaking, you should be ruthlessly capitalizing on this natural advantage. A more energy-efficient way to build confidence as an introvert is to focus on perfecting your speaking technique. Hone your ability to out-plan, out-prepare, and out-perform your competition.
This means investing time to write and craft great speeches, designing amazing slides, getting your voice or gestures on point, or using rhetorical devices to increase the impact of your message. Be deliberate in improving every aspect of your speech – the message, the structure, the delivery, and the language. When you get up on stage to speak, your confidence comes from thorough preparation. This can be a satisfyingly reliable source of confidence for you to tap into.
Strategy 2: Obsessively Study and Mimic Great Speakers
One of the best things I used to do early on as a newbie public speaker was to watch videos of great speakers and play pretend. I remember telling one of my friends that I was “studying tape,” which was what professional boxers did when they prepare for fights.
Professional fighters would watch videos of their opponents’ matches to study their habits in the ring, so that when they faced them, they would be able to anticipate their movements and come up with a sound game plan to defeat them. I found that studying tape for public speaking was really useful as an introvert.
Observing my favorite TED speakers, I’d copy their movements, their voice, and sometimes even shamelessly use their quotes in my own speeches. Then I’d pretend I was giving speeches to a massive audience, imagining myself delivering masterful, inspirational monologues that get the crowd moving.
As I saw improvements in my performance, I discovered that it’s really effective to adopt a playful attitude when improving a skill and not take yourself too seriously. This make-believe strategy worked wonders for me. Of course, once you get better at public speaking, you’ll develop your own authentic style and no longer need to copy your heroes.
Strategy 3: Develop a Long-Term Relationship with an Experienced Mentor
Here’s the first and most humiliating public speaking mistake I made as an introvert: I rehearsed on my own. I was 15, and it seemed like a great idea at the time. I memorized my script, practiced a gajillion times, and gave the worst speech of my entire life. It was my first biggest lesson for public speaking: to give a great speech, you need to practice with feedback.
This feedback should come from a trusted, experienced source – someone who can give both positive encouragement and constructive criticism, not from your well-meaning friends or family, unless they’re experts. Having a presentation skills coach or mentor can invaluably accelerate your progress in public speaking.
You test your speech and adorably embarrass yourself in front of them, so that you don’t potentially humiliate yourself in front of your audience. If you’re giving an important pitch to stakeholders or investors, this could make a million-dollar difference.
Your mentor may not have to be a public speaking expert, but they need to have a decent amount of successful presentations under their belt to give you effective feedback. It’s ironic that I’m saying this, but even reading articles titled “An Introvert’s Guide to Mastering Public Speaking” is nowhere near as effective as getting an actual coach or mentor to give you the kind of personalized strategies you need.
Sure, as a public speaking coach myself, I’m definitely biased. But that’s only because I’ve experienced firsthand the profound effect having a mentor or coach had on my progress as a speaker. And I’m confident that the same can be true for you, too, if you’re willing to invest in a long-term relationship with an experienced guide.
So, there you have it – three powerful strategies that can help you, as an introvert, unleash your inner performer and develop a captivating stage presence. Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation at the Musical Theater Center or just looking to improve your public speaking skills, these techniques can make all the difference.
Remember, your introversion is not a weakness – it’s a superpower. Embrace it, harness it, and let it propel you to new heights of stage presence and performance excellence. The stage is waiting for you, my fellow introverted performer. It’s time to shine.
