Speaking up

With public speaking, feel the fear and do it anyway, says David Gauntlett

This article is about public speaking: which means, really, any kind of lecture or talk you might have to give as an academic. I don’t write it thinking that I am the most amazing person at public speaking. But I used to be less good at it, and now I’m better, so we might be able to identify some lessons learned.

As it happens, when speaking in public the type or number of people you’re talking to doesn’t make much difference. You might be addressing students, colleagues or the interested general public who have somehow found their way into a hall that has you at the front of it. I think the principles remain the same.