Public speaking makes you feel as if you’re center stage while a massive spotlight exposes your every single awkward moment. Does the idea of just addressing a crowd make you sweat? You’re not alone. Public speaking is not an innate talent – it needs learning and practice. That means anyone (yes, even you!) can become better at public speaking with some practice. You don’t need to transform into a motivational speaker right away – but mastering a handful of basic techniques will increase your confidence and reduce your anxiety during public speaking events. Here are 9 easy methods that can boost your public speaking abilities – if you feel uneasy at the thought of it.
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Practice in Front of a Mirror
Although it may seem strange initially, speaking to yourself in front of a mirror helps you understand your audience’s point of view. Observe your facial expressions, hand movements, and posture. Do you look nervous? Stiff? Bored? This method helps you to become more comfortable with your presentation style. This method provides a relaxed rehearsal environment where you can practice without an audience to watch you.
Record Yourself Speaking
Recording your voice lets you hear the actual sound of your voice – it sounds different when you listen to recordings than what you experience internally. Read a short speech aloud or narrate a story and then evaluate your recording. Notice whether you speak at a fast pace, frequently use filler words such as “um” and “like,” or if your voice lacks variation. Listening to your own voice might sound uncomfortable at first because we all dislike hearing ourselves speak. But this method is one of the most effective ways to progress.
Start Small (Like Talking More in Group Conversations)
There is no need to jump into delivering a TED Talk right away. Start by speaking up during regular interactions – you can share your ideas during team meetings, join in group chats, and offer toasts at family dinners. As you become more accustomed to hearing yourself talk during social interactions, you’ll find that public speaking to large groups becomes simpler.
Slow Down & Use Pauses
Nervousness makes us rush through our speech as if we are competing in a sprint. When you speak quickly, people struggle to understand what you’re saying, and you often stumble on your words. Deliberately slow the pace of your speech and insert pauses to highlight essential statements. By taking a brief pause before delivering an important statement, you can highlight its importance while allowing your audience to process the message.
Know Your Topic Inside Out
Have you observed how effortless it becomes to discuss topics you’re deeply interested in? When you have complete knowledge of your subject matter, you need not fear forgetting your talking points. Before delivering any presentation or speech, you must master your topic to the point where you can discuss it in an everyday conversation. This technique helps you to regain focus when you lose your place or miss a line without feeling anxious.
Use a Simple Outline (Not a Word-for-Word Script)
Memorizing your entire speech will make your delivery sound mechanical – a single forgotten word will cause you to completely lose your flow. Create bullet points with key information to stay organized during your speech. This will help to maintain a natural dialogue flow. You should approach your speech as if you’re telling a personal narrative instead of following a fixed script.
Practice with a Friend (or Even Your Pet!)
Begin with a low-stakes audience – a close friend, family member, or even a pet – if practicing in front of people makes you anxious. When you practice your speech aloud, even to a pet, you grow familiar with your voice, so it doesn’t feel so intimidating during the actual presentation.
Work on Your Body Language
The way you deliver your words carries just as much weight as the words themselves. Your appearance will be more confident if you stand tall while making eye contact – use hand gestures rather than putting your hands in your pockets. Do not cross your arms, as this can make you appear defensive. Focus on using open body movements instead. Even small adjustments in body language can drastically improve your level of engagement with others.
Remind Yourself: The Audience Wants You to Succeed
Many people fear public speaking because they believe that the audience is silently evaluating every error they make. But in reality? The majority of your audience is not anticipating your failure. Your audience doesn’t pay attention to every pause or minor error you make because they are eager to understand your message. Rather than fixating on your nervous feelings, focus on how you can help, inform, or entertain your audience.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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