8 tip to improve your public speaking

skills

Some people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying.

I know that sounds extreme, but it makes sense when you think about it.

Our ancestors needed one another to survive. Social acceptance or rejection meant
the difference between life and death.

And if there’s one situation where you run the risk of mass rejection, it’s public speaking.

No wonder many of us find it terrifying. It’s our survival instinct kicking in.

Yet, public speaking is an essential skill in today’s labor market.

If you want to know how to improve your public speaking skills, keep reading for tips
and strategies that will help make you a better public speaker.

The importance of public speaking skills

Strong spoken communication skills are essential for a successful career or business.

According to a study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the

majority of executives and hiring managers prioritize strong oral communication skills.
Most jobs require some degree of public speaking, whether it’s giving a presentation to
your team or speaking at a conference.

But the survey respondents reported that less than half of college graduates are
satisfactory in this area.

Public speaking requires you to present your ideas clearly. At the same time, you must
project an image of yourself that inspires empathy in your audience.

But many of us experience public speaking anxiety. It can hinder your ability to deliver
your message and engage your audience.

Public speaking isn’t only important at work. Fear of public speaking can also affect
your personal life. It may create misunderstandings with family or friends or prevent you
from taking part in activities.

For example, you might avoid speaking about your ideas or plans or giving a speech at
a wedding or social event.

The inability to communicate your ideas results in feeling misunderstood. This can lead
to frustration, loneliness, and even social anxiety.

But if you have stage fright, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Few people are born with
a natural talent for public speaking.

This is good news, as it means it’s a skill that you can learn. So let’s dive into how to
become a great public speaker.
How to improve public speaking skills — 4 factors to
keep in mind
Developing your public speaking skills has many benefits in a work environment. It will
also increase your confidence.

Even if you’re an introvert or suffer from chronic anxiety, overcoming your fear and
learning to be a great public speaker is possible.

Here are four factors that influence your ability to communicate effectively.

1. Voice control
Your voice is the most basic communication tool you possess. Learning to use it
properly is key for improving your public speaking.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a useful voice control technique. It can give your voice
greater power and clarity and prevent the shortness of breath that anxiety causes.

To do this technique, relax your belly and let it expand as you breathe. Extend your
inhalations and exhalations to a count of four each.

Practicing this type of breathing without speaking will help you prepare to use it while
speaking.

It also helps calm your nerves.

During your public speaking event, use diaphragmatic breathing to control the three
main aspects of your voice:

 Volume
 Tone
  Pitch

2. Body language
Your body language is the combination of your gestures, facial expressions, and
movements.

It’s an integral part of how we communicate. It helps your audience better understand
the nuances of your message.

If your body language contrasts with what you want to transmit or seems incoherent,
your speech will be confusing.

Once you confuse people, you lose them.

Use the following tips to improve your body language and engage your audience:

 Stand up straight and avoid slouching if you are able. .

 Make sure your facial expression is coherent with your message.
 Stay still. Constant movement can distract your audience or change the way they
receive your message.
 Practice power poses before your speaking event. This reduces stress and
boosts your confidence. Try standing with your feet apart and arms stretched up.
Take a few deep breaths, then observe how you feel.
 Watch a TED Talk and identify body language that effective communicators use.

3. Delivery
Delivery is the way you speak. Good delivery is essential for your audience to
understand your speech.

Follow these tips to improve your delivery:

  Speak at the speed of a normal conversation. Avoid speaking too quickly because
people will get lost in what you are saying. But don’t speak too slowly, either, as
they will get bored.
 Pause regularly. This gives people time to absorb the concepts and ideas. It also
makes you appear more confident.
 Don’t mumble or eat your words — articulate clearly.
 Avoid making noises such as “ahh” or “umm” between words. If you need time to
think, take a brief pause. There is nothing wrong with a few seconds of silence.

4. Audience relations
If you want your audience to listen to you, you need to engage them from the beginning.

The following are ways to connect with your audience:

 Smile and greet the audience. Thank them for being there. This will humanize
you and establish a conversational tone.
 Look for people in the audience who seem actively engaged in your speech.
Imagine speaking only to them.
 Make eye contact with as many people as possible. This will help establish
personal connections with your audience.

8 tips for public speaking

Public speaking is a skill that anyone can develop.

These tips for public speaking will help you overcome your fear and show up with
confidence at your next public speaking engagement.

1. Prepare
Giving a great speech or presentation starts with planning.

Identify the core message you want to transmit. Look for interesting facts and statistics
to back up your point. Prepare for possible questions that might come up.

Preparing also includes logistical planning. Visit the event location beforehand to get
familiar with the environment.

Use this opportunity to identify any technical requirements, such as a microphone or

projector.

Consider using a visual aid, such as a PowerPoint presentation. But if it’s going to give
you more anxiety and stress worrying about clicking through the slides, then don’t.
There is no hard and fast rule on visuals.

2. Practice
Practice in front of the mirror or record yourself speaking, then watch it back.

Analyze your speed, tone, body language, and facial expression to identify areas for
improvement.

Look for public speaking opportunities — whether it’s giving a presentation at work or
joining a local Toastmasters club.

Practice your speech as many times as possible before your public speaking
engagement.

You can do this in front of the mirror, record yourself, or practice in front of friends and
family.
3. Have a positive mindset
Everyone gets nervous before a performance. In fact, research shows that a healthy
amount of nervousness enhances performance.

But don’t let your nerves suck you into a spiral of negative thoughts. Instead, embrace
them and use them as performance rocket fuel.

To cultivate a positive mindset, visualize yourself giving the best speech of your life.
Top performers use visualization to improve their results.

4. Involve your audience

Not only does this grab their attention, but it’s also a way to take the spotlight off of you.

Sharing the starring role with your audience members will help you establish a
connection with them and feel less nervous.

5. Start with a story

Humans are wired to pay attention to stories. It activates the same parts of our brain
that would activate if we experienced the events first-hand.

We all respond to stories in this way. There is no difference across cultures. This means
you can harness the power of storytelling to establish a connection with anyone.

When you start your speech, you only have one minute to make a good impression on
your audience.

A story, anecdote, or question can pique their curiosity and make them want to keep
listening.
6. Dress for the occasion
When you look good, you feel good. And feeling good is the key to giving the best
possible performance.

Think about it. Do you feel more confident in your favorite suit or dress or in your
pajamas?

Dress to impress, but make sure you feel comfortable. Don’t wear anything that’s not
your usual style.

Avoid wearing anything that you will constantly have to adjust as it will be uncomfortable
and distracting.

7. Be yourself
It can be tempting to emulate a strong public speaker you admire. But this is a mistake.

We are all unique, and although you can never be someone else, you are great at being
you.

Perhaps you wish you were funnier, but you’re not a natural comedian. That’s okay.
Don’t start cracking jokes as soon as you get on stage.

Instead, embrace your other quirks — we all have them — and let them shine through
in your speech. You never know how many audience members might resonate with
you.

8. Ask for feedback

Ask a trusted friend or colleague to watch your presentation with a critical eye and give
you feedback. (You can also film or record yourself.)

Ask them to be as specific as possible. Tell them to analyze what you do well, as well
as what can be improved.

You probably already have some perceived strengths and weaknesses regarding your
presentation skills. Ask your feedback buddy to look out for those specifically.

Know how to improve public speaking skills and master your fears
Even if you’re an introvert or suffer from social anxiety, it’s possible to overcome your
fear of public speaking.

It will also boost your confidence, and you may even discover you enjoy it.

But if you still need more information on how to improve public speaking, consider
taking a public speaking course. Alternatively, you could engage a coach to help you
improve your confidence and become a better public speaker.