Lynn Kirkham

Public Speaking Coach

Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others.

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Tips for starting a conversation for socially awkward people

Something like 70% of people have anxiety when it comes to talking to someone new, so you aren’t unique here. The first step is identifying the root cause of your fear so that you can release it. Are you scared of not being cool or saying the wrong thing? Is it anxiety about rejection? Working on that underlying problem will fix a lot. Then, how do you just practically improve at talking to people? I think one of the best things you can do is make eye contact. Make a lot of eye contact when you talk to someone new. It puts you in the moment and makes it easier to express yourself efficiently. Beyond that, it’s all about body language and practice. Just be open, don’t shy away from people, and practice!

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How do I calm my nerves before I have to give a speech?

You could do a couple minutes of jumping jacks or go for a run to work off some of your nerves. That's an awesome way to do it. That's always a good way to get rid of a lot of the nervous tension. I would also recommend meditating; get quiet and visualize yourself actually getting a standing ovation.

How can I engage with another person when we're having a conversation?

Try making eye contact with them and smiling while you're talking so you look more involved in the conversation. When they're speaking, look them in the eyes and carefully listen so you can remember what they say.

How can I become a more fun conversationalist?

Try using your hands and emoting while talking so you seem more involved in a conversation. It can also help to take some time to practice telling stories so it feels more natural when you're speaking.

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Co-authored Articles (33)

150+ Amazing Birthday Toasts They’ll Never Forget

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Not Be Annoying

If you are worried about annoying other people and are seeking solutions to solve that problem, you have already won half the battle. All it takes is being self-aware and adjusting the way you interact with the people ar...

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Enunciate

Enunciation is a skill everyone could benefit from practicing, especially before a public speech, a singing performance, or just a crowded, noisy gathering. With enough practice, anyone can change, mumbling, mispronuncia...

How to Research, Write, & Give an Informative Speech

How to write and deliver an informative speechAn informative speech tells an audience about a process, event, or concept. Whether you’re explaining how to grow a garden or describing a historical event, writing an info...

A Guide to Writing School Speeches: Structure, Delivery, & More

Sway voters to elect you for student council or club leadership If you’re running for office in school elections, delivering your candidate speech can be one of the most important parts of the whole process. And you c...

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Give a Great Impromptu Speech

Most speeches are the result of careful planning, revision and practice. There may be times, however, when a situation demands that you give an impromptu speech with little or no time to prepare. When you find yourself i...

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Write an Acceptance Speech

Follow our guide for everything you need to include in your speech When you win an award or honor, it's traditional to share a few words. Writing an acceptance speech can be challenging, so it helps to brainstorm and pre...

How to Become a Politician: Process, Qualifications & More

Simple steps to start your career in politicsIf you're looking to truly make a difference in the world, becoming a politician may be your calling. In office, you could instigate change! How amazing would that feeling be?...

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Judge a Debate

Debate is a popular extracurricular activity that gives participants opportunities to refine their critical thinking and public speaking skills. Judging debate tournaments is a great way to support this tradition! Make s...

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Be a Good Debater

It doesn't matter whether you're debating from a podium or you're just fighting with your mom at home: a few simple rules apply to arguing like a pro. When you use effective communication, a well-placed argument, and rea...

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Write Talking Points

Talking points are often used to prepare for a public speech or an interview. By crafting your own talking points, you can feel more comfortable talking in front of others or answering questions from the media or the pub...

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Write a High School President Speech

Campaigning for school president is an exciting opportunity to build your leadership skills and bring change to your school. If you want to win the presidency, you’ll need to give a persuasive campaign speech to get pe...

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Write a Keynote Speech

A good keynote speech is gripping and inspiring. It sets the tone for the event, program, or conference, and it can really unify the audience. If you’ve been invited to write and give a keynote speech (congrats!), you ...

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Make a Public Comment at a City Council Meeting

Council meetings are public forums where local officials discuss issues or bills in regards to the city. If you have any concerns about an issue in your city, you can express them during the public comment portion of the...

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Become a Motivational Speaker

When you think of motivational speakers, you might think about self-help gurus telling you how to channel your inner child or visualize your path to success. However, motivational speakers can deliver presentations and s...

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Lead Into a Quote

Introducing a quote in a paper can be tricky, as you want the quote to feel seamless and relevant to your topic. You may want to use a quote from a literary text to support your ideas in an essay, or as evidence in your ...

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Win Informal Arguments and Debates

Skilled debate is an art that takes quick thinking, good organizational skills, and effective communication. Unlike formal debates scored by a judge, informal arguments and debates can happen just about anywhere. In an i...

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Make Good Quotes

Making a good quote can help you communicate your message to key audiences. If you are hoping to make your upcoming speech or social media post more memorable, you may want to learn the art of writing good quotes. It is ...

Your Guide to Engaging in Conversation

Everything you need to know to start conversations and keep them going in professional and personal settingsIf you're shy or anxious by nature, you may worry about starting or carrying conversations with others. If this ...

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Critique a Speech

A good speech critique helps build the speaker’s skills by honestly identifying areas for improvement in a constructive, encouraging manner. Offering a good critique can also benefit your own public speaking skills! Th...

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Q&A Comments (46)

Co-authored Articles (33)