I gave the keynote talk at a conference recently.
As always with such events, it was a big moment.
The way the day kicks off is critical for setting the expectations for the rest of the time.
- The keynote is so called for a reason.
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I had an hour to do on my favourite subject, storytelling.
The talk was in London, and, as is my way…
I went through it a couple more times on the train as I travelled.
Which is when this lovely feeling started to spread through me.
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I felt calm, confident, and energised.
In other words, the second best emotion in public speaking.
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Why did I feel that way?
Because I put the talk together a couple of months before the event.
I spent a few more weeks polishing and perfecting…
Then another month of practising.
Not every day, but pretty much every other day.
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Which meant I knew I was very well prepared to deliver the talk.
Hence that wonderful feeling of confidence and calm.
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So, if you want to enjoy the second best emotion in public speaking…
Therein lies the simple, but so very important lesson.
You can’t prepare and practice enough.
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Which leads me to the final point of this blog…
The question you're no doubt asking:
- What then is the best feeling in public speaking?
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To which the answer is simple:
That wonderful emotion when you’ve finished…
You get a huge round of applause…
The room is full of smiles…
And lots of people come up to you afterwards to say what a great talk it was.
(All of which, of course, comes courtesy of the second best feeling in public speaking!)
