In today's skeptical and information-driven world, the ability to communicate authentically with others is highly sought after. Speakers with this quality can inspire others and influence individuals, teams, and organizations. Without it, however, a potential moment of connection can be lost.
Speaking in front of a group of people and being "authentically yourself" sounds simple, but it's usually difficult.
Most people pretend and don't show their true selves.
Authentic behavior and communication create closeness and connection.
Let's take a look at what an authentic speaker does. Here are six factors to show your authentic self when speaking in front of an audience.
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”
Oscar Wilde
Most of us are very relaxed and confident when we're with our friends or family. We can tell stories and even crack jokes. However, this changes when we're on stage. When we speak to an audience, we usually put on a mask and use a different voice.
Honestly, the same thing happened to me during my training to become a presenter. I just wasn't myself. I wanted to be full of energy and enthusiasm and captivate my audience. When I saw a video of my first presentation, it was like a lightbulb went off. I thought to myself, who is this person? That's not me. I come across as far too unnatural.
It seems so simple, right? Just be yourself and don't pretend. But why can't we be ourselves when we speak in front of an audience?
The reason is that we want to be perfect in public speaking, to present at a high level and deliver a virtually flawless performance. People see us as experts, form opinions and judgments, which is why we want to present ourselves in the best possible light.
However, being authentic doesn't mean being perfect; it's much more about being sincere and genuine.
Therefore, the first tip is: don't pretend. Just be yourself. Record your performance and analyze it afterwards, and in doing so, you'll find your way more and more to your golden, authentic balance.
In situations where we speak in public, so many of us become completely different people. How often have you seen a friend, colleague, or team member on stage or in a meeting and almost didn't recognize them? And how often have you unconsciously transformed yourself into someone else while giving a presentation? Public speaking can shrink our true selves and make us slip into a role. To avoid this, forget that you're giving a presentation. Think of it as a conversation, like you're talking to friends or family. Relax. You don't have to preach or dictate; you simply want to share your knowledge and expertise with people.
But public speaking is a performance! So how can you perform and be authentic at the same time? Although public speaking is a performance, it's not the same as acting. As an actor, you pretend to be someone else, but as a public speaker, you are yourself. The trick is to appear so natural that it doesn't seem like you're playing a role!
This example illustrates that: When I watched the annual international public speaking competition at Toastmasters International, there was one of the eight finalists I found particularly impressive. He gave it his all, interacted with the camera, and used humor and storytelling. He exaggerated a bit, but for me, he was an entertainer and the clear winner. However, he only came in second. The winner, on the other hand, didn't impress me much. Then, at the Vienna Speakers Club, where I'm president, I showed the three best speakers without revealing who had won. Afterward, I had people vote on who they thought had come in first place. Most voted for the actual winner. When I asked why, I got the answer: She came across as the most authentic, like she was talking to a friend. This example beautifully illustrates that presenting as if you were chatting with friends seems genuine and is most effective with the audience.
Most public speaking, whether at work or at an event, should feel like a casual conversation – relaxed and natural. You need to be genuine and authentic with your audience, because when you are, people will listen to you with their hearts.
It's about showing your listeners your true self through your words, your voice, and your body language. Being authentic, therefore, means "being real." When we are real, we are convincing and gain trust. It's not primarily about impressing others, but about showing people our true selves. Knowing this takes the pressure off and makes us and our message more engaging, interesting, and, above all, more relatable.
Authenticity doesn't contradict the many facets within us. I, as Danja, want to be calm and cozy at home. But on stage, I'm much more energetic. Despite these different facets, I can still come across as genuine. When I'm on stage, it gives me a lot of energy, and I'm more alert than in other situations, even though I'm still myself.
Nevertheless, I have to adapt when speaking in front of an audience. If I'm talking about facts and want to convey information, I speak more calmly and pause more often, even though I tend to talk quickly and without pauses in normal conversations. So feel free to adapt a little to convince and inspire, and to convey your message effectively.
Don't be afraid to show your different personal facets and stay true to yourself.
Authentic speakers have a high energy level and know their material without sounding overly rehearsed. They don't read from PowerPoint slides or let the slides dominate the presentation. Likewise, they don't read from notes or memorize their speech word for word.
I recently noticed this with a client during my public speaking coaching. I listened to her presentation and realized it sounded a bit odd. I asked if she was reading from her text, to which she replied yes. That was precisely the problem; it just didn't sound natural. She was reading from her text because she didn't want to make a mistake, but this striving for perfection undermines authenticity. It's better to make a few mistakes than to read from a script. That's more human and comes across as much more genuine.
You can do it too. Prepare well for your speech. But don't get fixated on memorizing every single word. Excessive rehearsal can make you seem inauthentic and stiff during the actual presentation.
You should be familiar with the structure and content of your presentation. You should know which slide comes next or which key points you want to highlight. Trust that you'll find the right words when the time comes. Each time you practice your presentation and text beforehand, it should be slightly different. Your ideas and their order shouldn't change, but most of what you say shouldn't be "pre-written."
The audience wants to connect with the presenter. Storytelling can be incredibly helpful in establishing this connection and gaining the trust of your listeners. Give your audience insights into your experiences or share personal stories with them. This way, you don't have to invent anything, and your narratives will make you seem much more authentic.
Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Try to speak from your heart. Be vulnerable, share a story from a time when you were down and out and trying to make a difference. Being vulnerable isn't a weakness. It takes courage to be who we truly are. The connection with the audience is built when we share our experiences, our failures, and our successes. When you let people in, they see themselves reflected in your story and know it's okay to be themselves. You are the message, so share your story, be vulnerable and authentic. Just be yourself!
“Words are worthless if you don’t underline them with the right body language and tone of voice.”
Stefan Verra, body language expert
Some speakers come across as artificial in their body language. This is because the nonverbal signals they send contradict their words. For example, saying "I'm very excited to be here today" with a monotone voice and an indifferent facial expression. When there's a disconnect between our verbal and nonverbal communication, people judge us as unconvincing at best and insincere at worst.
Our body language is driven by our emotions or impulses from our brain, which precede conscious thought. Authentic gestures occur before we even think about speaking. Therefore, when gestures are used after the words, it looks artificial. Take your time to focus on your message and key points instead of thinking about your hand gestures. This will help you connect authentically with your audience through natural and relaxed body language.
Conclusion
Being authentic means being yourself. Don't try to pretend and share personal things with your audience to create a connection. Your presentation shouldn't seem rehearsed, but rather like you're talking to friends or family. Therefore, practice delivering your text as naturally as possible and don't despair if it's not perfect. Perfection is a thing of the past – authenticity is the new perfect!
Do you want to be and come across as authentic in your speeches and presentations? Then feel free to contact me at info@danjabauer.com.I'll give you my honest feedback.
