I have an opportunity coming up in a couple of months to speak on stage at an entrepreneurial event that I previously spoke at last year.
This is something I would have avoided at all costs just a few years ago.
The idea of getting on stage in front of a room full of people was probably one of the least appealing activities I could have imagined. There were many reasons for this. I struggled with imposter syndrome. I felt that it took time away from all the things I had to do in my business. And I believed I wasn’t an engaging speaker.
None of these things were even remotely true, but more importantly, looking at it from that perspective completely overlooked the benefits that come from sharing my knowledge from stage.
It took me a while to realize this. And it wasn’t willingly—I essentially had to be dragged kicking and screaming.
Once I started to get more comfortable with public speaking, I started doing it more often, getting better at it, and as a result, reaping tremendous benefits from it.
The first of which was that it dramatically improved my self confidence, which is crucial as an entrepreneur. Outsiders see the glamorous side of entrepreneurship, but only those of us who live it can understand the pressure that comes with this life. We’re tested with every decision we make, from marketing our products or services, to seeking funding, to pitching the media, to recruiting talent. Everyone we encounter is doubting us to some degree, and that takes its toll on you.
The self confidence to stay committed to our goals, even when there’s no evidence that we’re going to succeed and no one else believes in us yet, is the foundation for entrepreneurial success.
Without this, you’ll lack the perseverance you need to win. I’ve seen it happen countless times. A smart entrepreneur comes up with a great idea, builds a business around it, and then veers wildly off course making decisions based on criticism, doubt, and fear. This is a recipe for failure.
Public speaking taught me that not only am I actually a good speaker, but also that I have valuable insight that other people want. And that’s how confidence is built—it doesn’t come from hyping yourself up with BS pep talks and delusions of grandeur, it comes from seeing the impact from your efforts.
Another area where I’ve benefited from public speaking is in the clarity of my thinking.
When I’m talking with my team, we have a shared experience and background that makes communication easy. We understand how our industry works at a deep level. We understand the value of what we do and the impact it provides. And we understand how to leverage what we do to provide significant benefits for our clients.
But when you’re talking to someone outside of your industry—even your clients, who in reality, are tangentially involved in your industry, that communication is often significantly less effective.
Public speaking, especially when the audience does not work in your industry, essentially forces you to refine your thinking to communicate on a different level. It forces you to simplify your approach so that people who don’t have your background and knowledge will understand exactly what you’re saying and why it matters. And it forces you to find ways to make a topic interesting even though it’s most likely nothing more than an afterthought to anyone who doesn’t work in your industry.
And for what it’s worth, the U.S. military, which is arguably one of the most effective organizations in the world, follows this strategy religiously.
They have a concept called “train the trainer,” where servicemembers will routinely educate and train the service members below them, and in some scenarios, even those above them. This helps to keep their skills sharper, but it also helps them to be better communicators, better leaders, and to become more proficient at their job.
Public speaking can also give you better market insight that you’d likely never get in your day to day operations.
For example, whenever I get done speaking, I’m deluged with feedback and questions from the audience. Especially when I’m speaking to people outside my industry.
This provides valuable insight that can only come from outside perspectives. In some cases, it may open my eyes to new opportunities I hadn’t previously considered. In other cases, questions may identify deficiencies in how I’m articulating my ideas, which helps me to refine them. Sometimes, I might even uncover improved systems, processes, and tools other people are using that no one else in my industry is. And I wouldn’t have been exposed to any of this if I hadn’t gotten over my fear of public speaking.
So even though I didn’t always think this way, I now see public speaking as a superpower for entrepreneurs.
It boosts your confidence, helps to refine your thinking and communication, and provide insight you can use to improve your business. And that’s on top of the exposure and authority status it brings.