It often surprises people to know that I’m an introvert, because I come across as very outgoing and confident when I’m speaking to groups (note: you can be confident and nervous and an introvert at the same time!) It also surprises people when I share that introverts can be brilliant presenters, and I love helping my more introverted clients find ways to lean into their own unique strengths to find a presenting style that works for them.
If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you may remember an interview I did with best-selling author Jennifer Kahnweiler, who is one of the top global leadership speakers on introverts. And I’m delighted that she has agreed to do a guest blog post, so read on for Jennifer’s insights and top tips for introverts:
Public Speaking and the Introvert: A Surprising Truth - by Jennifer Kahnweiler
One of the most common myths about introverts is that they aren’t good at public speaking.
Not true. Take Susan Cain, author of Quiet and probably the most famous introvert. Susan says, “I used to be absolutely terrified of public speaking. Yet, over the last ten years, I’ve given hundreds, possibly thousands of talks, including a TED talk that has been watched over 40 million times.” Susan says that “it is a fear you can overcome.”
Being introverted doesn’t mean someone can’t be a confident, persuasive, and even dynamic speaker. You may approach it differently.
Preparation is your secret weapon. Consider these preparation strategies.
Visualization Picture success before the event, “Act as if” during presentations, channeling a person to step confidently into the spotlight. One of my favorite images comes from a friend who imagined himself as James Bond when speaking. He wore the same sunglasses as Daniel Craig in Skyfall to truly step into the part and gain confidence.
Positive self-talk Replace “I’m terrible at this” with “I’ve got this.” Remind yourself that your audience will benefit from hearing your words.
Practice in small groups or with a friend—Test out ideas and build comfort over time. Speaking up in smaller groups as often as possible is great practice for the bigger moments. It lets you see how your message lands and gradually builds your confidence.
Memorize the beginning and end of your talk, but speak conversationally throughout the body of the speech. Use bullet points for prompts. Practice aloud to hear how your words land.
Introverts can be powerful speakers when they play to their strengths. With preparation, self-awareness, and a bit of quiet after the spotlight fades, you will deliver your presentation with significant impact.
Thanks so much to Jennifer for sharing her wisdom in this post. You can check out Jennifer’s podcast, Introvert Ally here, and pre-order the 3rd edition of The Introverted Leader: Building On Your Quiet Strength, coming out on June 24, 2025.
Mel Sherwood is a Presentation Skills and Personal Impact Speaker, Founder of The RED Effect™ and Author of ‘The Authority Guide to Pitching Your Business: How to make an impact and be remembered - in under a minute!’ She works with ambitious business leaders, teams and individuals who want to express themselves with confidence, credibility and charisma. An Australian based in Scotland, Mel is an award-winning speaker, author and coach and combines over 25 years’ experience in business with a background as an actor, presenter and singer.