Whether delivering opening remarks before a whole committee or speaking to a whole bloc about a merger, public speaking is one of the central skills any delegate needs in order to participate in Model UN. For newer delegates and introverts (like me), this can often be a hurtle at first; speaking in front of fifty, one-hundred, or even four-hundred people isn’t always the most comfortable thing in the world. Yet, building confidence in public speaking (or faking it), though achievable through consistent practice, isn’t as difficult as it may sound. By adjusting how you present yourself, and where you focus during your speech, not only do you look more confident, but you’ll begin to feel more confident. Here are some key tips taken from Best Delegate’s Diplomat program on how to become more confident in speaking.
Narrowing the Audience Down
By far the most intimidating part of speaking in front of a crowd, no matter what size, is realizing that all attention is on you when you speak. An audience’s eyes can unnerve even the most experienced speakers, but controlling what you see can often defuse any anxiety this might normally induce. A very common strategy among most public speakers is to find someone you are comfortable making eye contact with, and although occasionally looking to others to address the group as a whole, make that person an ‘anchor’; it often feels you are talking directly to them, instead of a whole crowd. Similarly, finding a place behind the audience you’re speaking to, such as a spot or picture on the wall, or a doorway as an anchor be useful. By finding a place to anchor your gaze, not only does it defuse some of the stress of talking to a large group, but it also allows you to look more confident; where others might keep their eyes on their notes or on the ground, you’ll actually be speaking to the committee.
Posture and Movement
Something which chips away at public speakers’ confidence when speaking is how they carry themselves ‘on stage’. Shifting on your feet, playing with your hair, and fumbling with pages of notes not only detracts from your perceived confidence among committee members, but also can make you yourself feel less confident. When public speaking, pretending or even convincing yourself of your confidence in speaking is often the key towards presenting strong speeches, which more people are likely to actually make note of. Try to avoid shifting around, and keep your hands centralized in a hand diamond or clasped together. Stand straight and plan out any movements or gestures you do include in your speaking; make sure everything you do and say has an actual intention behind it. Not only will committee members take you more seriously, but you yourself may feel more confident in your own body language.
Finding the Words
Finally, one of the more difficult aspects of MUN speaking is the improvised nature with which many speeches are given. The topic of discussion in any committee is broad, and often contains subtopics which you aren’t always going to be prepared for. Nonetheless, you may need to speak about those topics, especially if another delegate presses them as something particularly important. Knowing what to say in these instances, where your research isn’t as strong or your confidence is weaker, is vital for delegate success. And although simply practicing your improvising might be the most effective means to accomplish this, there are short-term, ‘in-the-moment’ ways of countering this issue. Borrowing from other speeches, for example, by stitching together key phrases or ideas used by others can often yield effective speeches calling for the committee to write all of those ideas together. And simply agreeing or disagreeing with the previous speaker can also bring you attention from others. Simple reactionary speeches such as these can often allow you to find the right words when you otherwise don’t have them.
