Being an effective public speaker is a useful skill for everything from acing presentations at work to delivering a memorable toast at a wedding. With preparation and practice, anyone can become a skilled presenter and speaker. This guide covers techniques to build confidence, improve delivery, and connect with audiences when speaking publicly.
Overcome Nerves and Build Confidence
It’s normal to feel some level of anxiety when public speaking. You can manage those jitters and exude confidence by:
- Thoroughly preparing your speech or presentation in advance
- Practicing frequently to master the flow and your talking points
- Arriving early to check the equipment and room setup
- Doing vocal warm ups and stretching just before going on stage
- Channeling nervous energy into your passion for the topic
- Focusing on sharing your message rather than worrying about judgement
- Remembering the audience wants you to succeed
- Visualizing yourself succeeding and the applause after
As you gain more experience, your confidence as a public speaker will grow.
Know Your Audience
Understanding who you’re speaking to helps craft your tone, points, visual aids, and how much background to provide. Prior to your speech, consider:
- Audience demographics – age, education, backgrounds
- Existing knowledge level of your topic
- Reason for listening – required, choice, general interest
- Audience size and setting
With that insight, you can cater your delivery directly to that particular crowd to maximize impact.
Organize Your Material
A structured and logical flow keeps your speech focused. Outline key elements:
Introduction – Capture attention immediately, state your central theme and why it matters to this audience.
Body – Present main points in an organized sequence. Include supporting facts/stories/examples that reinforce each key point.
Conclusion – Summarize key takeaways, provide call to action, or circle back to introduction.
Remember, speeches follow rule of threes – 3 main points is optimum for retention.
Create Visual Aids and Slides
Visuals like PowerPoint enhance your speech by:
- Displaying key data and supporting your main points
- Keeping the audience focused
- Breaking up walls of text
- Providing takeaway reference points
Tips for creating effective visual aids:
- Limit text and bullet points to 6 lines or less per slide
- Use large, readable fonts and contrasting colors
- Consistent formatting for professional appearance
- Photos and graphics related to points (avoid clipart)
- Attributed quotes from experts
- Minimal animations and transitions
The visuals should amplify your message, not distract.
Practice Your Delivery
Polishing how you deliver your speech is critical.
Memorize key points and transitions – Use note cards if needed. Don’t read your entire speech. Sounding spontaneous and natural engages listeners.
Check your pace – Speak slowly and clearly. Avoid rushing. Pace yourself with pauses.
Vary tone and inflection – Don’t monotone. Convey meaning and enthusiasm through your voice.
Use body language – Gestures, posture, and movement help connect with the audience. Avoid distracting mannerisms.
Make eye contact – Scan the entire room, maintaining eye contact. Avoid staring down at notes.
Record your practice – Watch the video to identify improvements in content, body language, and vocal delivery.
Practice your speech multiple times to perfect the timing and flow.
Manage Q&A After Your Speech
Plan for audience questions at the end by:
- Repeating each question before answering so everyone can hear.
- Keeping answers clear and concise.
- Having note cards with key data and sources handy.
- Circling back to your key messages and theme.
- Avoiding tangents and politicized opinions.
- It’s fine to say you don’t have the answer but will follow up.
- Bring it to a close when time is up or questions get redundant.
Preparing some likely questions in advance allows you to deliver confident responses.
Dealing With Mistakes and Surprises
Despite careful planning, you may encounter surprises like technical issues, distractions, forgotten lines, or losing your place. Don’t panic. Just:
- Take a breath to refocus yourself before continuing. The pause seems longer to you than the audience.
- Have a glass of water ready by the podium to buy yourself a moment.
- If you go off script, smoothly work your way back to the prepared remarks.
- Make light of the situation with a quick joke, but don’t dwell on it.
- Avoid apologizing or calling excessive attention to small mistakes.
- Make a note of what went wrong and improve for next time.
The audience is rooting for your success and doesn’t want to see you fail. Recovering well can earn additional respect.
Reflect and Set Goals for Improvement
After your speech, take time to evaluate your performance:
- What parts of the delivery went well? Why?
- Where can you improve next time? Any persistent issues?
- How well did the audience respond and engage?
- Did you receive any direct feedback or comments from attendees?
Be your own critic to constantly strengthen your public speaking abilities. Set some goals like improving slides, adjusting pace, or connecting better with back rows before your next speech.
Join a Club to Gain Experience
One of the best ways to quickly gain public speaking experience in a supportive environment is joining a club like Toastmasters that offers opportunities for members to regularly research, write and present speeches and workshop ideas. Benefits include:
- Speaking experience in front of audiences large and small
- Testing speech topics inspired by your life and interests
- Feedback from fellow members on areas of strength and opportunities to improve
- Mentoring and coaching from more advanced speakers
- Tracking your progress
- Meeting others looking to improve public speaking abilities
The practice and constructive criticism that come with club participation can help new speakers master skills quickly.
Comparison Between Toastmasters and Skillshare Classes
| Category | Toastmasters | Skillshare Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Format | In-person club meetings and speeches | Pre-recorded video lessons online |
| Instruction Method | Peer feedback from other members | Lessons taught by professional instructors |
| Cost | $90 semiannual dues + club fees | Access to all classes for $99 annual fee |
| Time Commitment | 1-2 hours weekly for meetings | Self-paced video instruction online |
| Audience | Small club audience of ~20 people | Practice presentations solo or find own audience |
| Experience | Frequent speaking opportunities | Less chance to practice full speeches |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I stop feeling nervous before a speech?
Nerves are natural, but come prepared, practice to build confidence, visualize success, arrive early, do vocal warmups, focus on your message, and channel energy into your passion. Nerves will dissipate after the first few minutes.
How long should a speech be?
The optimal length depends on the event and your audience’s expectations. Aim for a minimum of 10 minutes and maximum of 45 minutes for standard professional or personal speeches. Watch for audience cues of restlessness to gauge ideal timing.
How should I prepare note cards?
Jot down key phrases, data points, quotes, and topic transitions – not full sentences. Use large font on one side of cards. This prevents you from reading your speech verbatim. Mark cards for easy topic navigation.
What should I wear when speaking?
Dress professionally in attire that matches the event setting and makes you feel confident and comfortable. Avoid distracting accessories or clothes that restrict movement.
Should I memorize my entire speech?
Memorize your opening, close, key points, and transitions between points. But allow flexibility in how you discuss your points. Sounding over-rehearsed can disengage the audience.
What if I mess up during my speech?
Stay calm, take a breath, and get back on track as smoothly as possible. The audience likely didn’t notice minor mistakes. Keep going confidently rather than drawing excessive attention to any mishaps.
Mastering public speaking is a highly valued skill for work and personal situations. With deliberate preparation and practice, anyone can become a polished, engaging presenter. Keep seeking out opportunities to speak, and track your ongoing progress. Soon you’ll be volunteering for presentations and motivating audiences with ease.
