We all know that feeling of stepping up to speak - whether our words address a few people in a meeting room or fill a whole stadium.

I’m  working with a speaker coach to level up my moderation and public speaking skills.

Here are 5 insights, all about 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩. 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩.

1. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 - own that space right away.

2. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗱𝗼 𝗮 𝟮-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻 - from feet to head, settle into your posture.

3. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟯 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 1 inhale, 2 exhale, 3 inhale…on the final exhale, speak. A game-changer for your nervous system.

4. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲” - between chest & belly button. Let your hands rest there unless you use them for gestures.

5. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 - speed signals insecurity, stillness signals confidence.

Next up: the mental game behind 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 when you speak.‍

‍Image: Moderation of Audemars Piguet's panel at ArtTech Forum, Istanbul.