3 tips to improve your public speaking skills

Does the thought of speaking in front of a group of people make you nervous?

Don't worry! You can take steps to become a better public speaker. Public speaking is a skill you can learn and improve with practice.

• Get your message across most effectively. Public speaking skills help you win the audience, motivate others, and communicate ideas in meetings and presentations.

• Advance in your career. Great oral communication skills help form connections with co-workers, customers, and potential clients.

• Enhance your leadership skills. Having these skills develops your vocabulary and helps boost your confidence.

Public speaking isn't just a skill that can give you an edge over others, but you can pursue a career centered around public speaking.

You could build a career as a:

• Spokesperson

• Speech writer

• News anchor

• Motivational speaker

• Politician

• Know your material. Select a topic that interests you, prepare an outline and give examples and analogies that make your points more relatable.

• Write down key details as bullet points. Include any important facts, statistics, and figures.

• Start and end with your most important takeaways. The audience will remember these the most.

• Memorizing your introduction and conclusion can be a useful strategy.

Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

• With practice, you can overcome anxiety and become a more engaging speaker.

• Record yourself on video. This will help you become aware of your mistakes, allowing you to correct them and make your practice sessions super effective.

• Practice in front of real people. Ask friends or family to listen to your speech and provide feedback.

• Use a timer to control the length of your speech.

Non-verbal communication:

• Pay attention to your pose and posture.

• Use hand gestures that enhance speech but don't overdo it.

• Maintain eye contact and avoid distracting mannerisms like moving your arms too much or pacing distractedly.

Verbal communication:

• Speak in a calm, slow, loud, and clear voice. Emphasize important parts using varying volume and enunciation.

• Use pauses for effect and to emphasize certain points.

• Limit filler words and nervous tics, and work to control breathing and tone.

• Use humor and a conversational tone to connect with your audience.

• First impressions matter! When you get on stage make sure to dress appropriately for the event, look smart, and hold yourself well.

• Remember to keep the focus more on the topic and less on the various aspects of your speech or performance.

• Don't focus on perfection. Pause, take a deep breath, and count to 3 before you speak.