Public Speaking: Why Historians Need to Do It and How to Improve
A few weeks ago, my brilliant friend, Megan Kate Nelson, wrote a thread about conferences, especially in the time of Zoom. She begged people not to read papers at her through a computer screen and the response was….mixed.
Some graduate students replied that they had been taught to read their papers in graduate school and that’s what they are going to do. I found that response a bit baffling. If you are still in graduate school, now is the time to try something new, especially if a senior scholar tells you it will help your communication.
Graduate school is when you are supposed to learn and practice additional skills, you're not supposed to be fully formed on day one, otherwise what's the point of slogging through 5+ years of school? You aren’t expected to have a perfect dissertation when you first start, no one expects you to present perfectly on day one either.
Also, let's be honest, so few graduate students are going to be teaching at tenure track with the state of this job market. I’ve yet to see a single employment ad, in or outside of the academy, that calls for the employee to be an expert at reading words off the page. So consider it an opportunity to work on skills that will be in demand.
Note: I am not saying that no one should read, if people have disabilities and that's what you can do, that’s just fine. I'm also a huge fan of a workshop panel, which gives much, much better feedback anyway.
With all of that out of the way, here's why public speaking is important. Almost every single history position requires speaking to humans. Whether it be teaching students, talking to site or museum visitors, meeting with donors, or working with press, speaking is a daily part of history work. I don’t care what you are doing, the likelihood is that you need to be able to verbally communicate in an effective manner.
Ideally, graduate programs should include training on these skills, but obviously most don't. How they could is subject for another post. In the meantime, here are my tips for presenting publicly and practicing yourself.
If you are presenting at a conference or public presentation, you can write out the paper and practice until you know it by memory. But I don't recommend it. Not only does it take a lot more time, but having a written script actually makes me much more nervous because there are words I'm supposed to be saying and maybe getting wrong. I think this step is where most people get into trouble. They write out a script and then the minute they go slightly off it, they get really flustered. Here’s what I recommend instead:
I outline my talk with the points I want to make, bullet points with details, and I will include quotes if I want to get that specific language right. These outlines vary in detail, but typically it’s just a few words per bullet point to remind me of the next point. Then I practice the talk until I feel like I can talk through it comfortably. Practice it out loud. Reading isn’t sufficient. For what it’s worth, once you get used to it, this type of prep actually takes less time than writing out a paper.
Let me be very clear, this method means my wording won't be exactly the same each time. That's ok! If there is a specific phrase you want to get right, then practice it, but otherwise a bit of organic flow is actually much more appealing to listeners. Print out the outline and bring it with you, or prop it up in front of your computer for virtual talks (I have a whole slew of virtual talk tips, I guess that will be another post).
When you are first getting started, it really helps to practice in the correct environment (i.e. a classroom, board room, hotel conference room, etc.). That’s not always possible, but if you can make it happen, it will help.
Use images as place markers for yourself. Don't use lots of text. Not only will the images help you keep track, but they are enjoyable for viewers or listeners and will keep their attention focused.
A great way to practice is to film yourself on zoom. If you can make eye contact with yourself, you can make eye contact with others. Yes it will hurt the first several times and you’ll probably hate the sound of your voice, but you’ll get over it.
Say yes to any opportunity to talk publicly, whether it be a podcast, talking to a colleague’s class, presenting at conferences, or even just presenting in a working group. My first visiting lecture was a DISASTER. Seriously, I’m not being self-deprecating. It was terrible. But the next one was better, and the one after that was better than the second.
No talk is perfect, no human is perfect. There are always things you can improve, that’s what makes speaking fun! Make note of them, so you can get better in the future, but don’t dwell on it. If you can, record your talks and practice talks. It will help you pick up on your vocal tics, phrases you overly use, etc.
Show your personality, make occasional (and appropriate) jokes, have passion for the subject, and people will give you the benefit of the doubt! People often tell me that it looks like I’m having fun when I’m presenting. And I am! But some days are easier than others, and sometimes I have to work harder to cultivate that enthusiasm and energy. I know that the audience will have a better time if I show up with a pep in my step. They also will be less likely to remember any flubs or missteps.
Plan for the physical details of speaking. Even if you love to speak, and I do, your adrenaline will spike and you will probably sweat. TMI, but it’s true. Patterns, whites, and dark colors tend to hide that best. I also recommend wearing a short sleeve under a jacket, the layers help. You want to be comfortable and confident in your attire, as that will make you more comfortable and confident in your presentation.
Finally, and this point has helped me so many times, no one listening knows what you’re planning you to say. So if the wording isn’t perfect, or you leave out a point, NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW! You will always be your own worst critic. I promise other people won’t notice the same things you do.
