Not all employees are confident if given the task of speaking in public. Some of them are experts in doing their assigned job, but they dislike speaking in front of other people. It doesn’t mean they don’t know what to say. They’re just not comfortable talking to a crowd. If you see these employees as potential leaders given their strengths, it helps improve their public speaking skills. These are some useful tips to follow.
Give them the chance to speak during meetings
Invite them regularly during meetings. Offer these employees enough time to speak and be heard. Don’t judge them right away. Allow them to explain ideas and respond to questions. Start with small meetings before asking them to speak in bigger conversations.
On other meetings, you can offer an opportunity to present ideas using slides, videos, or pictures. It could be challenging, but it’s an excellent chance to practice. Start with a presentation among fellow employees before trying to speak with other executives. You should invest in a projector mount so that any presentation will be smooth, and won’t encounter technical glitches.
Allow them to speak directly with you
You can’t expect your employees to be confident when speaking in public if it’s impossible to speak with you. Talking to the boss is a huge leap for some people, and giving your employees the chance to speak to you could boost their confidence. If they have ideas, let them talk to you and express their thoughts. They might feel even more confident when speaking to other executives if they can reach out to you with ease.
Offer opportunities for public speaking
If there are tasks involving public speaking, you can tap the employee to deliver it. Make it clear that your goal is to help build public speaking skills. There might be hesitations at first, but your employee will eventually accept the responsibility. With constant exposure, your employee becomes more confident.
Give positive feedback and constructive criticisms
You can’t expect your employees to become confident right away. It entails practice. You should also provide feedback for improvement. Make sure you don’t say harsh comments that could prevent your employee from speaking again next time. Be supportive and try to offer advice for development. Offer a challenge to step up by saying that you see potentials. You can even provide tips you use to be confident when speaking in public.
You can’t force everyone to feel comfortable talking in public, but you can keep offering support. Your employee will eventually get used to the idea. Who knows? The ones you least expect to step up and volunteer, will do it next time.
You will feel proud of yourself if you can help change these employees. They will also acknowledge your contributions to their lives. Promote employees who work hard and are trying their best to improve their skills. They might not feel comfortable, but you should praise them for even trying.
