What a Teacher Can Teach You About Public Speaking with Megan Sweet.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

When we think of public speakers, we might not include teachers — but we should. Teachers present more often than those in just about any other profession. They stand in front of their primary audience five days a week for three quarters of the year. On top of that, they regularly present in meetings, whether school-related or otherwise.

In this episode, Megan Sweet talks about how her experience as a teacher has made her a more effective public speaker. Megan is an expert in leading community-driven education transformation in high-need schools and districts. With more than 25 years in education — and 15 years directly leading change in schools, districts, and statewide in California — she knows that education is the most powerful lever we have for creating a more equitable society. Here's my conversation with Megan Sweet.

Why Teachers Are Natural Public Speakers

Peter: Megan, when we think of public speakers, teachers don't necessarily come to mind — but they should. As a teacher, what skills have you developed that prepare you for public speaking?

Megan: That's a great question. When I was a teacher, I didn't think of myself as having public speaking skills. It wasn't until I started working with others in presentation settings that I noticed how far ahead I was. And when I reflected on it, it made complete sense. From your very first day in the classroom, you're standing in front of a group of people. You're public speaking from the moment you walk in.

As a teacher, you manage everything a public speaker has to manage — your presentation style, your voice, your content, the unexpected, and getting comfortable with people looking at you and listening to you. Over time, it just becomes second nature. You don't have a choice but to figure it out. So you do.

How Megan Prepares to Speak

Peter: When it comes to preparing for a talk, everyone does it differently. How do you prepare?

Megan: For a while, I typed out my comments word for word — even as an elected school board member who felt confident speaking. But when I listened back, I heard how different it sounded compared to when I just spoke naturally. That taught me something important.

What works for me is getting clear on the essence of what I want to say without scripting the exact words. I review my main ideas, pull out the key points, and trust that when the moment comes, I'll be able to say the right thing. When I do that — when I connect with the heart of what I want to say — it comes across as genuine. And it lands so much better.

Peter: I get asked all the time — how are you supposed to memorize the whole speech? And I always tell people: you're not supposed to.

Megan: Exactly. And when people compare themselves to someone like Obama, they forget about the teleprompters. Those two large pieces of glass on either side of the podium? That's not a food guard. It's a real thing.

Handling the Unexpected

Peter: You mentioned that teachers deal with the unexpected constantly. How do you handle it as a speaker?

Megan: I've spoken in front of some very angry crowds — communities being told their school is closing, or that the school they love is going through a major change. You never quite know how people are going to receive that kind of news. So I've had to prepare for the unexpected every time.

The first thing I do is meditate, or at least center myself, before I go up. That helps me remember why I'm there. I settle down and ask: what do I want to come out of this event? For me, it's almost always the same answer — I want to connect with the audience, hear them, and share what I need to share with honesty and integrity.

When someone gets angry or expresses displeasure, I treat it not as an attack but with curiosity. I listen well, repeat back what they've said, and validate it. Mostly, people just want to be heard. For technology glitches and other surprises, I rely on humor and try not to take myself too seriously. When people and technology are both involved, control generally goes out the window. You just ride with it.

Peter: I would imagine teaching gave you a real baptism by fire.

Megan: Absolutely. Before my first day in the classroom — I was 21 — I had a whole laundry list of nightmare scenarios for my professor. What if a kid stands on his desk and refuses to listen? He just said, that's probably not going to happen. Let it go. That was genuinely helpful. And what I've found is that once you live through the unexpected and survive it, you have that lived knowledge. Each time, it becomes less of a barrier — because you know you can get through it.

Finding Your Voice and Message

Peter: As a public speaker — not just a teacher — how did you come to find your voice and your message?

Megan: It came over time. What I started to notice was the gap between what was happening inside my head and what I needed to say out loud. My core message became clear: believe in yourself, stay calm, connect with your own insight and knowledge base, and be natural and authentic. Those are the things that have made me most effective.

Feedback has been invaluable. I learned that people appreciate that I feel grounded and accessible, so I leaned into that rather than trying to be more formal. I also started listening to my own recordings — noticing my own patterns, like when "um" shows up more when I'm uncertain. Watching and listening to yourself speak is uncomfortable at first, but it's one of the most powerful ways to get clear on your message and how you express it.

Peter: My clients are always nervous the first time I put them on video — and then they're eager for more, because the feedback is second to none.

Megan: It's exactly what athletes do. Steph Curry is voracious about watching himself and making micro-adjustments. The key is to approach it with an eye toward improvement, not self-criticism.

Public Speaking Beyond the Stage

Peter: Public speaking skills show up in so many areas of our lives. How do you use yours off the stage?

Megan: In two significant ways. First, with my team — 25 people spread across the country. Our Zoom calls and presentations really matter because we're not in the same room very often. My ease in conversation, my curiosity about what people have to say, my ability to roll with whatever comes next — all of that comes into play constantly.

Second, in grant interviews and funding pitches. My organization attributes a significant grant we recently secured to my public speaking ability. I was able to convey our ideas clearly and succinctly, address their questions with confidence, and project a comfort that the funders responded to. That kind of ease in the room can make all the difference.

Peter: Megan, it's been a pleasure. Where can listeners find you and learn more?

Megan: The best place is my website — your3eyes.com. That's Y-O-U-R, the number three, E-Y-E-S dot com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram at your3eyes. I love supporting people with the internal work it takes to feel genuinely comfortable speaking to others.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.