Public speaking is routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears. Fortunately, there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and increase your confidence. Are you ready to get started? Here are my top public speaking tips to help you deliver a memorable speech.
How To Be Better at Public Speaking
Whether you are giving a presentation in-person or virtually, there are several things you can do to improve your public speaking skills. Follow these tips to improve your technique and overcome your fear of public speaking.
Practice and Prepare
Nervousness is normal, and everyone feels some sort of physiological reaction like a fluttering heart or shaking hands. Don’t associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly, though. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush will make you more alert and ready to give your best performance.
The best way to overcome anxiety is to practice and prepare. Take time to go over your notes several times. Once you feel comfortable with the material, practice your speech. I suggest that you videotape yourself or get a friend to critique your performance. Often, you’ll learn a lot from watching yourself and can make a note of the things you can improve upon.
Know Your Audience
Remember that your speech is about them, not you. Before you begin to craft your speech, consider who the message is intended for. You’ll want to learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your word choice, level of information and motivational statement.
Work From an Outline
Reading from a script hinders the connection with your audience. By maintaining eye contact with the crowd, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. However, you should always have an outline with you on stage to help jog your memory and keep you on track.
Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively
Did you know that approximately 70% of communication is nonverbal? This means what you don’t say carries most of the message. Try to omit nervous hand gestures, pacing or fidgeting on stage. Instead, you will want to hold a power pose — stand straight with your shoulders back and feet shoulder-width apart — to boost your confidence.
Practice Voice Control
Your voice is the most valuable tool you will use as a public speaker. One way to improve your voice is by learning to breathe from your diaphragm. Diaphragmatic breathing— or belly breathing — is a technique often used by professional signers to access their most powerful voice. It also reduces the feeling of breathlessness related to speech anxiety. This type of breathing will allow you to better control the tone, pitch and volume of your voice.
Let Your Personality Shine
If you remember anything about public speaking, it should be this: be yourself. Your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person instead of a talking head. One way I like to infuse my personality into speeches is to include an anecdote about hockey — for those who don’t know, I’ve spent over 20 years as a hockey referee, which I believe, has taught me everything I know about business. Sharing something about yourself that ties into topic is the perfect way to let your personality shine through.
What are some of your favorite public speaking tips to help deliver a memorable speech? If you are looking for a speaker to discuss marketing and strategy insights and leadership skills development, I would love to connect with you to learn more about your organization.