Photo creditgettyPublic speaking is surrounded by myths, many of which keep talented people from ever stepping onto a stage. When you embrace these truths and you’ll deliver presentations that are more engaging, memorable, and impactful. Public Speaking Truths That Help You Deliver Compelling PresentationsPublic speaking is one of the most powerful ways to build your personal brand. Often, though, mistaken mindsets and pervasive myths get in the way of your ability to deliver a powerful presentation. To speak powerfully, put these truths into action and watch your career soar.1. Public Speaking Is about ServingPublic speaking is not about the speaker. It’s about the audience. When you adopt this mindset, you take the pressure off yourself and commit to delivering something that will be interesting, helpful, and meaningful to the people sitting in front of you.2. Your Audience Wants You to SucceedOne of the biggest fears people have about public speaking is that they’ll be judged by the audience. In reality, your audience is rooting for you. They don’t want to sit through a bad presentation any more than you want to give one. They want to learn, grow, and be entertained and inspired.3. Nerves Are Common When Public SpeakingCassandra Powell, public speaking mindset expert and Director of Coaching at BostonSpeaks said, “Every person who public speaks has a certain level of nerves. It’s not that some people have them and some don’t, but realizing that in certain speaking situations they can be more activated than others. But everyone has them! When you accept nerves as a part of the process, no longer will the idea of them or the physical feeling of them hold you back.”MORE FOR YOU4. Less Is MoreOne of the biggest mistakes people make in public speaking is trying to cover too much material. Overly ambitious agendas, bulleted slides with dozens of words, and too many topics to count can turn off an audience. Focusing on one topic and making your message clear is essential. It’s also valuable to break your presentation into three parts. Audiences remember simple structures, and three-part frameworks are particularly effective.5. Variety Is Key To Public SpeakingWhen a presentation becomes monotonous or predictable, your audience’s attention begins to drift. That puts their brains into autopilot. When in autopilot, they feel like they’re participating, but their brains are taking a break. That’s why effective public speakers create experiences with many different elements. Variety keeps attention alive. Alternate between stories, visuals, interaction, video, data, and discussion to maintain energy and engagement.6. A Presentation Is Not an Activity, It’s an ExperienceEvery element of your presentation contributes to the experience your audience has. Great speakers design presentations the way great brands design customer experiences. That means you need to think about each element (script, slides, interaction, environment, wardrobe, etc.) individually. Then, make sure they work together to deliver a memorable experience.7. Audience Interaction Is EssentialOne of the most powerful ways to keep the audience engaged is to involve them in your presentation. When you ask questions, invite discussion, or encourage people to share ideas with a neighbor, you transform passive listeners into active participants. Even just asking for a show of hands “Who agrees with me that AI is making the workplace more human?” will get your audience to engage more deeply. People pay more attention when they know they might be asked to contribute.8. Mishaps Are MagicFear of something going wrong causes many speakers to play it safe or lose confidence before they even begin. The magic isn’t in the mishap. It’s in how you respond to it. Powell suggests, “The best way to embrace mishaps is to shift our mindset and train our response. When something doesn’t go according to plan, begin to train your mind to think: “This is okay. Road bumps happen.” Mishaps provide an amazing opportunity to connect with the audience on an emotional level. They may make you feel vulnerable, and that vulnerability makes the audience like you even more. Powell added, “Give your self time to respond to the situation rather than using the feeling of panic to rush you forward. The less internal stress you feel about the mistakes, the more you’ll be able to use it as an opportunity to connect to the audience and show them that you are human and relatable.” 9. Slides Are Your Supporting Cast. Treat Them that WaySlides are not the show. They’re not your teleprompter. They’re not something to underestimate. They should be thoughtfully designed and used strategically. Think of them as your supporting cast. You’re the star of the show. They’re there to make your presentation more fun and engaging, and to help reinforce your message. Create them in a way that bolsters your key ideas and connects with the audience, while not letting them take over the stage.10. Rich Media Is More Powerful than TextResist the urge to turn slides into documents. No one wants to attempt to read a document on a screen. Try to keep words to a minimum – 12 or fewer, and try for just three words per slide if you can. Then, use rich media to support your story. Images, short videos, animations, and visual metaphors usually communicate ideas more effectively than lines of text.11. Spontaneity Is the Spice of Public SpeakingPresence beats perfection. The downside of an over-rehearsed presentation is that it keeps you focused on a script, not on what’s going on with the audience. Being fully present allows you to respond to the audience, adapt in the moment, and come across as more authentic and confident.12. Practice Is More Valuable than RehearsalThere’s an important distinction between practice and rehearsal. Rehearsal is what Broadway performers do to learn their part by heart, knowing exactly what to say when, and where on stage to say it from. Practice helps you master your message. Rehearsal helps you memorize your script. The former creates flexibility; the latter can make you sound robotic. Audiences connect with real people, not flawless performances.Public Speaking Gives You An Opportunity To Stand OutFew professionals fully appreciate the opportunity that comes with having an audience's attention. Public speaking remains one of the most powerful forms of human communication. It provides an environment that fosters connection and engagement. The more you speak, the more visible, influential, and memorable you become. Few skills have a greater impact on your personal brand and career success.William Arruda is a keynote speaker, personal branding pioneer, and Senior Contributor to Forbes. Join his complimentary Maven Lightning Lesson, Public Speaking Myths: What Great Presenters Really Do.