How to Improve on Your Public Speaking

Public speaking is something that terrifies many people and can be difficult to improve upon unless it is practiced regularly. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to help yourself become more comfortable when presenting in front of other people.

1. Do Research on Your Topic

When you know what your audience will already know about the topic that you are discussing, it is easier to be a confident public speaker. You can find out what people know about your topic by doing research online or asking friends and family members who might have knowledge about the topic. This will help you plan effective ways to discuss your topic as well as provide insight on how much background information to present.

2. Learn Your Material

If you are in a position to do so, you will want to learn your material in advance. This way, when it comes time to speak in front of others, you won’t be struggling with what to say next. You can make your discussion more interesting by knowing the material inside out.

Understanding what you are talking about makes answering questions easier, and going off on tangents is welcomed!

3. Practice

If you are anything like me, then you have probably had at least one nightmare about speaking in front of a group. The only way that these nightmares become less scary is through practice and (sometimes) experience. Practice your speech ahead of time until it feels natural and smooth. Deliver it often to family members, friends, or even in the mirror if necessary. However, never practice your speech too much because it can begin to feel stale and unoriginal.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

This is my favorite one because I love practicing so much! When most people think of public speaking tips, they imagine preparing their material for a group of people to listen to. A lot can go into practicing and it does not have to be done in front of an audience or even alone! Practice with someone close by so they know what kind of feedback you seek out when things don’t feel right – this helps tremendously if there are any self-conscious moments while watching yourself on video playback later on.

5. Know Your Audience

As I’ve mentioned previously, an important part of public speaking is knowing your audience. You should know their age range as well as what they might find interesting or boring. In other words, you will want to customize your speech based on the people that you are speaking to. If you can connect with them on a personal level, then they will be more likely to respect and appreciate your message.

6. Learn To Manage Your Nerves

Public speaking is very nerve-wracking regardless of how much experience you have. The best way that I’ve found to manage my nerves while speaking in front of others is by breathing deeply and slowly. Focusing on these deep breaths will help take your mind off of the nerves and provide you with more opportunities to think about what you are saying.

7. Look Your Audience in the Eyes

Although this might feel uncomfortable, it is important that you find ways to look your audience in the eyes when speaking to them. This will show them that you are confident and enthusiastic about what you are talking about. It will also help you connect with them on a more personal level and help the speech feel more intimate to them.

8. Use a Teleprompter

This is a tip that I have never experimented with myself, but it is popular amongst many public speakers. If teleprompters are available for use, then you can utilize one to help you move your eyes from side to side while speaking. This will prevent any awkward movements of the head and make you feel more confident in front of a crowd.

I hope that this article has helped you gain some insight on how to improve your public speaking abilities! Public speaking is something that many people struggle with, but it is an important skill to have regardless of career choice. The trick is to keep practicing and learn the material in advance. If you simply practice, then your speech will become more natural and smooth with time.