What do you do if your mentee struggles with public speaking delivery?

If one of my mentees is facing challenges with their public speaking delivery, my first instinct would be to approach the situation with empathy and care. I believe in delving into their past experiences to uncover any deep-rooted fears that may be hindering their progress. Drawing from my own journey, I aim to inspire them by sharing personal anecdotes, reassuring them that fear, though daunting, is not insurmountable. Like a shattered piece that can be meticulously repaired, fear can be overcome and even transformed into strength. Equipping them with the right skill set is essential while recommending the importance of finding a supportive environment, to practice e.g. Toastmasters, with confidence & at their own pace is vitally important

Assure them that we all started somewhere and to trust in the process. Remind them of the power of humor: both as a tool for public speaking, and as a self-soothing tool to help to shake off the nerves. Most importantly, have fun with it! If you're having a good time, the audience will too.

Based on my mentoring experience, it’s essential to first assess the mentee’ strengths and weaknesses. As a professional keynote speaker, everyone has a unique style. Are they great at storytelling? Do they have a strong stage presence? Once you’ve pinpointed their strengths, focus on developing those areas. Encourage them to build upon their strengths to create engaging, memorable presentations.

Practice practice practice! I will listen to and critique their presentation. If they are nervous then work on one segment and tape it so the mentee can watch it and see it’s better than they perceive. I’ll never forget my first practice speech on the debate team at U of D High School. I cried (and I’m not a crier) in frustration and quit the next day. Coach persuaded me to try for two weeks. Something clicked at the first tournament and I eventually became a national champion. I tell that story so young people learn it’s not where you start it’s where you end up.

Help them understand their strengths and weaknesses. There are various tools to use. Ask them to describe themselves using single word adjectives. Use the strengths to build their confidence. Identify barriers/ weaknesses and rephrase/ reframe. Then start by identifying opportunities for them to practice.

Once you identify their strengths, you find a basis to build up from. Public speaking is something that can be done by all. Finding the strengths of my mentee will enable me know how to go about working his/her way through public speaking

And then find opportunity to practice! There is no substitute. You can speak in front of friends or family. Ask for feedback. Record yourself speaking. Listen and repeat. It takes practice.

My advice to my mentee is they must build confidence, the best way to build confidence is to know the material, the more knowledgeable you are of the topic, the more confident you become. People connect with stories so tell the audience about a story related to your topic. To exhume confidence, you must make eye contact with the audience. I found with making eye contact I can find that person who smiles at me, which gives me a boost of confidence. Regarding body language use hand gestures, but they need to make sense. Please don’t pace the floor, it drives me crazy. I would recommend anyone looking to improve their speaking is to start small or join an organization such as Toastmasters, or an association supporting your industry.

I’ll enlighten the mentee. First with my own inspiring story of how I was in a similar situation and then I’d talk about how I overcame it. Then I’ll help my mentee to identify his/her weaknesses, and strengths, alongside how to prepare for speeches because the most valuable strategy is PREPARATION.

Public speaking is not a cup of tea for everyone. Remember that! That doesn't mean that you cannot be master at it. It's not even the practice that would make you a good public speaker. It takes a huge confidence, boldness to speak out about things which you have in your mind. Usually people think about people judging them. One thing to Keep in mind : If I asked you about the last person you saw while walking you won't even remember his face. People do not have time to judge each other now. So speak whatever you want to speak even though if it makes sense or not.

I like to take a struggling speaker out of their comfort zone with improv tricks. One of my favorites, & one I used a number of times when I worked for Disney, is "Instant Expert." When training the Test Track merchandise crew for instance, we'd get people up on stage and introduce them as an expert. The trick was that they had to speak & then answer questions about a subject they couldn't possibly know anything about: "Road Kill Fine Dining", "Edible Hubcaps", "A Car made Our of Beer Cans," "Pink Painted Roads", etc. Once they finished, I'd make the point. "If you can present about that, you can talk about something you actually know." Also used this at Lowes Foods, Hamilton Health Care, & several other orgs to help non-speakers speak.

What I think about this is first of all assess your mentee's verbal capabilities, thinking capacity, strength and weaknesses. Then take your mentee into confidence and provide him/her with a comfortable environment so that it makes it easier for him/her to express himself/herself in front of you. After you get involved with his/her verbal characteristics, provide them with constructive feedback where they can work hard and improvise themselves.Ask them to practice and be prepare beforehand for next day's presentations.Tell them that there's only one mantra for success - work hard, do practice, self belief and you are all set to go👍

1. Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 2. Focus on one thing at a time: If they talk too fast, work on slowing down with pauses and breathing. 3. Practice eye contact: Look at different parts of the audience or the camera. 4. Replace filler words: Use silence or transitions instead of "um" or "like". 5. Track progress: Celebrate improvements and keep them motivated!

As a keynote speaker, I’ve found that helping mentees establish achievable objectives helps build their confidence and skills. Let’s start by collaborating with your mentee to set specific goals, such as delivering a successful presentation, engaging their audience, or effectively using visual aids. Ensure the goals are realistic, considering their current level of experience and progress. Don’t forget to celebrate their progress and accomplishments along the way, no matter how small.

I was so scared to speak in public or do presentations. I'd be so anxious that people would realize I was actually not confident. With the help of my school, Palm University college, I am now a better public speaker. My academic advisors and lecturers taught me the rubrics of public speaking, gave me numerous presention assignments along side helping me explore my strengths and work on my weaknesses. Now, I do not struggle with presentations anymore. I've become confident and I'm always prepared for my presentations and speaking publicly.

Allow them to choose a topic that they are passionate about. For example, maybe a hobby. They can do things the old-fashioned way like write out what they would talk about that hobby on index cards – yes they still make them! 😊. Index cards and writing things down in one’s own words are still very effective! Dedicate either an entire session or if your meetings are one hour, dedicate the first 20 to 30 minutes with them reading their speech, then giving them feedback. Eventually allow them to read the speech with only occasional looks. Practice makes progress! 😊

Mentees means they have already been downloaded with the public speaking coaching. So in this scenario,I would love to understand their strength and weakness with respect to the type of format they chose for public speaking speech. Further I will invite them to do a one to one to identify the clear gaps. 1. Assess their readiness. 2. Check their preparation and hold on subject 3. Remove any unnecessary chaos and phobia if any they are feeling. 4. Finding about the content and it's research to understand their hold on the topic. 5. Ways to create audience engagement in their speech.

Once I've identified his/her strength, we'll set SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound goals will help mentee to consciously build public speaking.

Setting specific and realistic goals with a mentee struggling with public speaking involves breaking down the larger skill into manageable parts. For instance, focus on improving specific aspects such as vocal projection, body language, or organizing content. Ensure goals are measurable, like delivering a speech without freezing up or making consistent eye contact with the audience. Tailor goals to the mentee's current level and gradually increase difficulty as they progress.

I've found that some speakers use filler words because they are uncomfortable with silence. There is nothing wrong with pausing for a second to segway into your next thought. One second to a speaker may seem like three minutes! Get comfortable pausing and you will find that your words will flow more easily.

When your mentee struggles with public speaking delivery, there are several strategies you can use to help them improve. Here's a plan of action you can follow: • First, try to pinpoint exactly what aspects of public speaking they find challenging • Many issues with public speaking stem from a lack of confidence. • Encourage frequent practice in a safe environment. • Focus on Breathing and Relaxation Techniques • Work with your mentee on maintaining good posture, making appropriate gestures, and establishing eye contact with the audience. • Help them craft compelling opening and closing statements. • Remind them, becoming a skilled public speaker takes time and persistence.

When we identify these areas we establish goals that are, in line with the academic and career aspirations of the mentee. These goals are crafted to be realistic and measurable creating a roadmap for growth and advancement. For example if a mentee finds it challenging to maintain eye contact during presentations a goal could involve increasing the length of eye contact over practice sessions. To assist in reaching these objectives, mentees should have access to an array of resources and samples. This includes selected reading materials, videos featuring public speakers, and workshops that delve into various aspects of public speaking.

The best way to help someone overcome fear of public speaking is by ensuring that they feel safe. As a leader, it is your job to let them know that it’s okay to fail and make mistakes. And no matter what you say to motivate them they will be looking at how you react when you make a mistake. Hence, creating a positive example of accepting mistakes and learning from them will help them overcome many inherent fears.

I ask them to talk about their interest and how did they get to know about that. The moment you ask a person questions related to their interest & liking, they feel that they are valued and are important which encourages them to speak. Also the other ting which i do is plkay their favourite game and let them lead it as if you dont know how to do it.

Sometimes, you may need to buy him/her public speaking books, audio clips, video clips, etc. These will help to build public speaking.

I encourage anyone with fears of speaking in public to find and connect with groups that provide a safe and structured environment to learn and practice. Toastmasters is where I got my start in college (though I already had experience being on a stage) TM clubs are a very nurturing environment for people who struggle to get past the nerves.

I think it's important to speak with them to assess what kind of support they to need to feel more equipped. There are a range of short courses that are free access and can help with tips and skills around public speaking. There are a range of mindfulness related resources that are also available that can help overcome fear if that is the challenge being faced by the mentee.

As a start, get them to emulate an individual. It could be a TED talk speaker, business mentor or even yourself. Provide a mental image on who they can be.

Love the people you are speaking to, and see how their eyes changes as your messages go by. You will be amazed how little recognition people need in order to excel.

De acuerdo al contacto con grupos y distintas edades, en mi experiencia RESPIRA, cualquier tensión que va al cuerpo tiene vía de escape. Se respira despacio sin prisa, claro donde está y las ideas fluyen y me calmo. Otra opción es en la mano derecha o izquierda, ten un objeto pequeño, se aprieta con fuerza y se suelta, ya no hay tensión, el cuerpo se relaja y la voz sale con fuerza. Ahora estamos listos para el escenario

When mentoring someone struggling with public speaking delivery, creating opportunities for practice and feedback is crucial. When appropriate, organize mock presentations or workshops where mentees can practice their delivery, and provide feedback on their performance. Encourage them to record their presentations, analyze their performance, and identify areas for improvement. That is how perfect our art.

The best way to do something well is to start bad. Give them opportunities to practice in real situations. If you know the situation is not very serious or the crowd is not big, have your mentee do it.

My mentees practice public speaking regularly in Toastmasters where they are encouraged an supported by many members. After presenting a speech the members write notes of support with feedback. One person presents an evaluation of their speech and opportunities for improvement. This requires active listening but is well worth it. I provide regular feedback and guidance to my 3 mentees. This takes time but I am paying it forward to develop more confident speakers. 👍

Always make sure that the least available chance to have public speaking sessions, let mentees try. Bring them to the forefront.

Allow them to practice, either to an audience or yourself, or on their own with a video camera. Be mindful when pointing out issues that you are trying to help this person, not derail their self confidence. Here is an example: instead of saying “ you used the word like 57 times”, say something along the lines of “I noticed that when you pause, you always use a filler word; let’s see how we can improve that”. Help them as they speak. Try to have them take a breath when they pause instead of relying on a filler word such as like or uh. Silence is a good thing; it gives them time to gather their thoughts, take a breath, or get a sip of water, and it allows the audience to take in what was said.

The more opportunities to practice the skill and receive feedback and incorporate useful strategies, the higher the probability of improvement in speaking abilities.

Give them opportunities in small settings where they may be more comfortable and gradual increase the settings. Provide feedback and encouragement.

Hoy es un tiempo de mucha creatividad, con instrumentos tecnológicos y ustedes lo tienen. Grabamos la voz, tal cual y la escuchamos, si la escuchamos, ahí me doy cuenta como estoy. Cuando ya pueda sentirme mejor pido que me escuchen, ahí sabre que más mejorar. Tengo dos oídos y dos ojos, ahora grabo mi actuación, la retroalimentación, es directa y sabre como estaré en el escenario. Mi imagen y la voz que tengo son vitales, cuando hablamos en público. Gracias.

Gain speaking mileage. Encourage your mentee to constantly practice at work or outside of work. Get your mentee to volunteer in non profit organizations and charity work. Practice makes permanent.

Fear and nervousness can hold people back from delivering their best performances. Encourage your mentee to practice in front of a small audience, such as friends or family. Gradually increase the audience size to help them build confidence. Deep breathing, visualization, or physical exercise are also helpful techniques. I can add that it’s normal to feel nervous and that everybody can overcome fears with practice and preparation.

People who come to me for public speaking advice say fear is what holds them back for effective delivery. And my response to them is this... Who is the most important person in the room -- the person in the audience or is it you? BIG DIFFERENCE. Once you stop thinking about yourself, and realize that your message is important for others to hear, your jitters will subside, and your expertise and willingness to share with others will take over.

I have found that most public speaking fear is rooted in "messing up," which usually means forgetting what they had to say or being asked a question they don't know how to answer. The quick answer to both is to make sure you are prepared, but the other tip I give is that only you know what you were planning to say, so if you don't say it exactly as you prepared it, you're the only one who will know.

If you are nervous to speak, I invite you to focus less on how the audience might judge you (a common worry for public speakers) and instead focus on how your content will impact the audience positively. How could what you speak about change their lives for the better? Focusing on this will have you feeling excited, inspired and ready to speak!

I find it useful to practice well before going in front of a large audience. Like everything else, public speaking needs preparation and multiple iterations. Over time, one gains confidence and is able to deliver without the jitters.

Conscious breathing is a very powerful tool against fear. Artists, dancers and athletes use rectangular breathing (2-4-2-4) before coming on stage or at race start or dragon breathing. A simple way to calm your nerves is by exhaling abdominally for longer than you breath in. Repeat. it triggers the parasympathic system (rest). On the other hand if you need to get fired up, inhale long and breath out in a quick and powerful exhale, like a boxer on a ring.

Discuss the challenges with mentee. Always make sure when public speaking opportunities come up I pit in mentee. It's only by perfect and continuous practice that makes perfect over time

I have a conversation with my mentee to understand the 'why' of their fears & nerves & ask them why a number of times (maybe 5 or more)..to identify the 'core' reason. Then I create a plan to manage their fears & nerves. As a child, I had a speech impediment (stuttering). I had 6 years speech therapy in grade school. Due to this, I was very shy! Years later, my job required that I present, in - person, to 800 doctors and their staff. My fear was multifaceted: not getting the words out, forgetting what I was going to say, & fear of being in front of people speaking! My mentors guided me to practice and provided great affirmations - I would do 'great'. I did deliver the presentation, with nervousness, and then delivered it again!

One thing I have found helpful in my public speaking experience is to prepare well . It is popularly said that prayerful preparation prevents poor performance. I help my mentees face their fears by giving them the needed training and encouragement to ace their speaking engagements. I also provide encouraging feedback that helps boost their esteem while providing them with needed tools and training to close the identified gaps .

This should actually be #1, not #5, as this is the single most common challenge that anyone that struggles with public speaking deals with. It's important for them to understand that their feelings are valid. Then, it's practice. Practice that speech or presentation in front of someone. Give constructive feedback. During the practice sessions and prior to the public speaking event, have them try a breathing strategy, such as the 4-7-8 technique, or a mindfulness exercise. Upon beginning the event, have them pick a focal point. It can be a person in the audience that helps them feel comfortable. Once they relax, they can then engage the rest of the audience. It's important to advise them that they will get better the more they do it.

Give them a poem to memorise and then perform in as dramatic a manner as possible. Sometimes it's about unlocking the voice and lowering the stakes. This is not just about fun. It is about giving them a chance to take up space with their body and their voice. Perform the poem with them - alternate stanzas. This is not the final stage. This is the first stage. They cannot even craft an audience-centric speech if they can't visualise themselves delivering it. The least inspiring speakers are the ones who take themselves too seriously. Starting with a poem (or even song lyrics in spoken form) is a great way to release us from perfectionism-paralysis, and makes possible the emergence of a public persona.

I can bet on this “if it’s not fun, you won’t learn it fast” 🚀 Which is why I include so much fun games and content in my coaching. 🚀 Also group challenges boost collaboration and ease the anxiety of performing alone

When a public speaker is nervous or hindered in some way, you can use improv techniques to shake that roadblock loose. Another technique is to choose one portion of the presentation that is most ’stale' and deliver it in different ways - over exaggerated, drama-queen, professor, gangster, etc.. Let loose and have fun! Then go back to delivering it professionally in the manner it was intended. This can re-set a baseline that is difficult to get to with other methods.

Curiosity is the key! Be curiuos about what you are going to experience! Be curious about how you are going to feel. Be curious about how you are going to perform. Be curious about what you are going to learn. Be curious about how you are going to grow! State of curiosity removes fear and anxiety. There is more excitement hence more fun in doing scary things!

Some individuals possess innate charisma on stage, effortlessly captivating their audience. For others, it's an exercise in storytelling. Fun and engaging. I recommend reflecting on moments where you shared personal anecdotes with friends, discussed social events with colleagues, or guided tourists around your city's highlights. Even the most intricate topics can be presented as engaging narratives. Remember, people are eager to hear your story. Just convey it with the same authenticity and enthusiasm you would in those everyday conversations. And remember, there is no perfect story; it's all about connecting with your audience.

Public speaking can be so fun, but you have to be extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter. That is what will propel one’s confidence.

Reframing is essential in my workshops. I want clients to feel differently about speaking, so getting them to do fun improvisations, adopting different personas, getting them to loosen up when on the stage allows the to be, feel and act differently. I also get then speaking about topics they are passionate about so that they can focus more on getting the message across than on themselves.

Pido que escojas un relato, personaje, discurso o anécdota, escribe de acuerdo al gusto personal y si hay personajes, se suma alguién de la familia, labores o amistades. Se graba una representación de lo escrito, desde mi experiencia personal y grupal, fue una de las más grandes satisfacciones, observar en los diferentes grupos como se interpretaba a los personajes. Todas y todos disfrutaban, nadie se estresa por la grabación, las voces eran claras, el cuerpo se movía sin tensión y en mis talleres, terminaba así una jornada de aprendizaje mutua, si todos saliamos felices, dando lo mejor. Vale la pena experiemtar este ejercicio.

While technical advise and support are important, I believe it is crucial to also address the psychological roots of the challenge. Too often, the so-called shortcomings originate from past trauma. A woman who grew up in a repressive environment that discouraged and punished her for speaking up, for example, may experience high levels of anxiety and distress every time she has to speak in public. Addressing trauma is important both to protect the person's mental health and to help them overcome the root causes of their challenge.

No matter what, you always want to leave someone who expresses challenge or struggle of any kind with encouragement that they can take on into their lives moving forward. I have been successful when I encourage them to HAVE FUN & BE THEMSELVES. Also, I provide anecdotes or experiences from my own journey that will help to illustrate similar moments and breakthroughs. For example, if we are speaking about an issue of forgetting material or lines while speaking publicly, I will share a direct personal experience. This usually helps me to make a special connection with my mentee that not only encourages them to enjoy the process but really boosts their confidence as well because now they realize they are not alone in going through challenges.

Confirm the root cause. Many a times the issues with delivery relate to fear or anxiety. If it is relating to fear or anxiety, dive into the science of confidence with #Neurogetics™️. This approach isn't just about tips and tricks; it's about #rewiring your brain. 🧠 Neuroscience reveals that our neurological pathways play a significant role in #fear and #anxiety, especially when it comes to public speaking. Neurogetics™️ leverages this insight to create lasting change in your brain's 🧠 wiring, empowering you to speak confidently and effortlessly. Discover a world where stage fright is a thing of the past, all grounded in the transformative power of neuroscience.

Self-talk creates reality. "I struggle with..." Gives a direct instruction to the subconscious mind to... struggle with something. The question is, why do you believe you struggle with public speaking? When my clients unpick this in the coaching space, there are a few key themes without exception. "I worry how I come across" Which really means "I worry what other people think" Which really means "I worry I'm not good enough" It is the underlying FALSE belief of "I'm not good enough" which is at the root of all so called "confidence" issues. When we allow ourselves to challenge our oldest beliefs, is when we realise they are ALL just ideas, which we have stopped questioning, and internalised as truth. Self-talk creates reality.

Practice practice practice Most speakers simply don't rehearse enough and some even write a speech then just read it a few times before delivering to an audience That's a cold speech and it's asking for trouble How long should you rehearse Until your sick of it as its only then that you know it

If a mentee is having difficulty with delivering speeches in public here are some tips you can use to assist them in getting better: Boost confidence: Encourage your mentee to practice and start with speaking engagements to gradually build their confidence. Give feedback: Provide helpful feedback on their speaking abilities focusing on areas for improvement and offering suggestions for enhancement. Practice active listening: Listen to your mentee worries and anxieties about public speaking without judgment and offer them support and encouragement. Role play: Engage in role playing activities. Provide resources Establish achievable goals Promote participation Celebrate achievements

Practice, Practice, Practice. The only thing I've known to help one get over struggling during public speaking, is speaking! The more you do it, the better you'll get and pretty soon it just becomes second nature to you and you have no problem at all. Practice makes perfect and perfection builds confidence. Practice in front of friends and family, practice in front of a video camera, and learn your verbal and non-verbal cues, adjust accordingly and repeat. Pretty soon you'll have the next Les Brown or Tony Robbins on you hands

I will tell mentee the following: Your message is important. Your words matter. Many times, people struggle because of the feeling of inadequacy. So I'll let my mentee know the world needs their voice!

Most of the time the fear can be linked to how you think others see you. There has to be a mind and heart shift from you to the people you are serving. When you consider how you can best meet their needs, how you can help them be better, then your focus is taken off yourself to them. We must remember that in any service capacity, it’s never about us but those we’re trying to help. People instinctively know when you really care about them.

In addition to what has been discussed consider: -Focusing on details, help your mentee improve by breaking down public speaking skills. Address vocal delivery (pace, pitch), body language, and audience connection. -Address the fear, explain how stage fright is normal and provide tools to manage it. Teach techniques to shift from fear to excitement. -Be a supportive mentor, and tailor your advice to the individual. Create a safe environment for your mentee to make mistakes. -Role-play different speaking situations to prepare for the unexpected. -Encourage self-analysis by having your mentee record and watch their practice sessions. Look into organizations like Toastmasters for structured practice and a supportive community.

Create opportunities for them to shadow either myself or others presenting. Work with them to create opportunities for them to present.

Dress to impress, more importantly dress in a fit that you feel comfortable and confident in. When you feel good, you do good.