Speaking in Public

How Will This Session Help Me??

Most jobs require us to speak in front of others. That might be a formal presentation, explaining our views and ideas in a meeting or making suggestions to a client or customer. Lots of people find this makes them nervous but there are ways to make your communication clear, engaging and effective and minimise the fear factor!

Questions to get Started

  • "When you have to speak in front of a class or group, what makes you feel nervous, and what helps you handle it?"

  • "Have you ever listened to a speaker who was really interesting—what did they do that kept everyone listening?"

  • "If you had to explain a hobby you love to someone who knows nothing about it, how would you structure your talk so it makes sense?"

Focused Virtues

The Focused Virtue for this session is Resilience.

Resilience gives us the courage to speak out when we need to—in group projects, class discussions, or public settings—so our voices are heard and our ideas are clear.

Ask Yourself: "Can I grow in resilience to express my ideas clearly to teachers, friends, and future employers?"

Listen with focus, speak with your heart.

Skills Development:

Speaking in front of your class or thinking about future job presentations can feel intimidating, but that is where resilience comes in. Building the mental toughness to manage butterflies in your stomach and overcome hesitation will help you excel in school and set you up for career success.

One of the best ways to build resilience and overcome nerves is organising your thoughts beforehand. Putting your ideas into a clear structure stops you from freezing or getting muddled:

• Timeline Order: Explaining how an idea or project develops step-by-step.

• Cause and Effect: Showing how taking one action (like a new study habit or club idea) leads directly to a positive result.

• Problem and Solution: Pointing out a challenge in school or work and immediately offering a clever way to fix it.

Visual tools like simple slides or diagrams are also fantastic confidence boosters. Visuals take the pressure off you because people look at the screen while you explain. Keep slides simple with big fonts and clean pictures so they support your message.

Finally, stay aware of your body and voice. Nerves can make you talk quickly, but keeping a steady volume makes you sound and feel in control. Use natural hand gestures, keep an open posture, and smile. With a little resilience, you can conquer your nerves and stand out as a confident communicator.

Case Studies and Questions

Case Study & Reflection

You have been asked to present an idea to your school council about improving school outside spaces, but you are really nervous. How could you structure your thoughts to get everyone excited about your ideas?

• Do I know how to structure an explanation so my classmates and teachers follow my ideas easily?

• What techniques can I use to handle my nerves when speaking in front of a group?

 Useful Resources:

https://www.skillsbuilder.uk/universal-framework-steps/speaking-step-4-organising-thoughts 

https://www.skillsbuilder.uk/universal-framework-steps/speaking-step-9-sharing-visuals 

https://www.skillsbuilder.uk/universal-framework-steps/speaking-step-15-presenting 

https://www.saintleo.edu/about/stories/blog/9-tips-to-improve-your-public-speaking-skills

Guidance and Resources for Facilitators

Core Concepts & Background Information

  • Logical Frameworks for Structuring Thoughts: Anxiety during public speaking often stems from the fear of freezing or losing track. Introduce structural templates so girls can organize content logically beforehand:

    • Timeline (Chronological): Best for project updates or stories (Beginning $\rightarrow$ Middle $\rightarrow$ Outcome).

    • Cause and Effect: Best for proposals (Problem $\rightarrow$ Action Taken $\rightarrow$ Result).

    • Problem and Solution: Best for pitches or school council ideas (The Issue $\rightarrow$ The Creative Fix $\rightarrow$ The Benefits).

  • Strategic Use of Visual Aids: Reframe slides, charts, or props not as a test, but as a support system. Visual aids draw the audience's eyes to the screen, reducing direct pressure on the speaker while explaining complex ideas cleanly.

  • Engaging the Audience: Teach the use of clear signposting words (e.g., "First," "As a result," "In summary") and natural pauses to allow the audience time to absorb key points.

Guiding Reflection & Overcoming Barriers

  • Reframing Public Speaking Anxiety: Reframe "butterflies" not as fear or failure, but as body readiness and excitement.

  • Prompting Reflection:

    • "Instead of thinking 'I am terrified,' how does it feel to tell yourself 'My body is energized and ready to share this idea'?"

    • "What visual tool or slide structure could you use to remind yourself of what to say without reading off a script?"

  • Activity Idea (The 1-Minute Pitch): Pair girls up and give them 3 minutes to outline a 1-minute pitch for a school improvement idea using the Problem and Solution framework. Have them present to their partner using an open stance, controlled pacing, and a clear call to action.