The "Speaker" Persona

A common trap for public speakers is to adopt the false persona of the "speaker:" they find themselves confronted by an audience and assume the expectation is that they orate as they imagine a practiced, confident speaker would. It's a delusion based on a misconception, and it's meant to be a shield against anticipated criticism. It's also the opposite of a successful approach to public speaking.

The best speakers are confidently themselves. They don't feel compelled to take on a persona--they are simply being who they are as they communicate with their audience. If you find yourself slipping into a fake personality that isn't authentically your own, look at your audience and tell them the truth.