After several years of giving talks at conferences and meetups, I've accumulated some lessons that might help others who are starting their speaking journey.
Start Local
My first talk was at a local meetup with about 20 people. It was terrifying, but it was the perfect low-stakes environment to practice. Local meetups are:
- Forgiving - The audience wants you to succeed
- Small - Less pressure than a large conference
- Accessible - Usually just need to reach out to organizers
Your Slides Are Not Your Talk
I used to cram everything onto my slides. Now I follow a different approach:
- Slides are visual aids, not scripts
- Use large fonts and minimal text
- Let images and diagrams do the heavy lifting
- Your voice carries the story
Practice Out Loud
Reading through your slides in your head is not practice. You need to:
- Stand up (if you'll be standing)
- Speak at full volume
- Time yourself
- Record yourself (painful but valuable)
Handle Q&A Gracefully
The Q&A can be intimidating, but remember:
- "I don't know, but I'll find out" is a valid answer
- Repeat the question for the audience
- It's okay to defer long discussions to after the talk
Embrace Nervousness
I still get nervous before every talk. I've learned to reframe it: nervousness means you care. That energy, channeled correctly, makes for a more engaging presentation.
Start Speaking
If you're thinking about speaking, I encourage you to submit to a CFP (Call for Papers) or reach out to a local meetup. The community is welcoming, and you have something valuable to share.