In what area of public speaking do you feel you need the most improvement

Are you anxious about public speaking? Do you find yourself stressing out before every presentation? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many people feel this way, and for a good reason: to improve your public speaking skills can be intimidating. But it’s also a skill that can be learned and improved with practice.

First, it is essential to relax and take a few deep breaths before you begin speaking. This will aid in calming your nerves and prevent you from rushing through your presentation. Second, make sure to make eye contact with your audience members. This will help engage them in your talk and demonstrate that you are speaking directly to them. Finally, try to use natural gestures and expressions throughout your speech.

Here are six more tips to help you become a better public speaker. Start using these tips today, and soon you’ll be delivering confident and polished presentations.

1. Preparation is Key – Know Your Topic Inside and Out

You can do a few key things to make sure you give a great public speech and know your topic inside and out. First, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the event’s format.

Before you begin, ask yourself the following questions:

• Will there be a podium?
• Will you be using PowerPoint?
• How long will you have to speak?

Knowing the event’s logistics will help you feel more comfortable when it’s time to take the stage.

Second, it’s critical to know your audience. What are their expectations? What do your readers know about the topic? Tailoring your speech to your audience will help ensure that they walk away engaged and informed.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice – Get Comfortable With Your Material

One of the best ways to prepare for public speaking is to practice your material aloud. This will get you acquainted with the sound of your voice and the flow of your words. You can also use this time to experiment with different inflections and pacing.

Another tip is to record yourself giving the speech or presentation, then listen back to identify any areas that need improvement.

3. Be Aware of Your Body Language and Utilize Positive Gestures

Public speaking is a skill that is often underrated. Many people assume that as long as they can talk, they can speak in public. However, public speaking is more than just talking. It’s about engaging your audience, conveying confidence, and using body language to emphasize your points. To be an efficient public speaker, you need to know your body language and use positive gestures to reinforce your message.

For example, you should use confident body language when you’re making a point. Stand up straight, focus on your audience, and use hand gestures to emphasize your points. On the other hand, if you’re conveying uncertainty or hesitance, your body language should reflect that. Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting, and keep your voice steady.

By being aware of your body language and using positive gestures when speaking in public, you can convey confidence and authority.

4. Maintain Eye Contact With Your Audience and Keep a Strong Voice

Making eye contact with your audience is one of the most critical aspects of public speaking. It allows you to connect with the crowd and create a rapport. You also appear more confident and in control when you make eye contact.

To ensure you are making effective eye contact, try to focus on making eye contact with different people throughout the room. Doing this will help to ensure that the audience feels included and engaged.

In addition to making eye contact, it is also essential to have a strong voice when public speaking. A strong voice projects confidence and authority. It also helps to ensure that your audience can hear and understand you. If you are unsure of your voice, practice speaking in front of a mirror or recording yourself. Doing this will help you to gain an understanding of how your voice sounds to others.

Finally, remember to take your time speaking in front of an audience. Rushing through your speech will make it more difficult for people to understand you. Instead, try speaking slowly and clearly.

5. Take Pauses to Allow People to Digest What You’ve Said

When speaking publicly, it’s vital to take pauses to allow people to digest what you’ve said. This gives the onlookers time to process the information and form their opinions. It also allows you to gauge the crowd’s reaction and make sure they understand what you’re saying.

If you notice people starting to get lost, you can slow down or explain things differently. Taking pauses is also an excellent way to emphasize important points. You’ll help ensure that people remember what you’ve said by pausing before and after crucial statements.

With practice, pauses will become second nature and help you deliver more effective speeches.

6. Avoid Filler Words Like “Um” and “Like”

When speaking in public, filler words can be your worst enemy. Also known as verbal pauses, these words and sounds serve no real purpose other than to fill up space. And while they may not seem like a big deal in casual conversation, they can make you sound nervous and unprepared when speaking in front of an audience.

So how can you avoid filler words when public speaking? The first step is to become aware of them. Pay attention to the terms and sounds you use when talking, and see if you can identify any patterns. Once you know which filler words you’re prone to use, work on cutting them out of your speech.

This takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if you find yourself slipping up at first. Another helpful tip is to slow down your speech. This will give you more time to think about what you want to say and help you avoid relying on filler words to keep the conversation going.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, by following these simple yet effective steps, you can vastly improve your public speaking skills. By avoiding common mistakes and practicing regularly, you’ll feel more comfortable when speaking in front of a group and convey your message with greater clarity. Good luck!

1. Career development
2. 5 Ways To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated June 2, 2022 | Published March 12, 2019

Updated June 2, 2022

Published March 12, 2019

Related: How to Overcome a Fear of Public Speaking

In this video, Jenn, a certified Career Coach, explains the common causes of a fear of public speaking.

Many positions across all experience levels and industries involve some level of public speaking. Practicing and improving your public speaking skills can help you make advancements in your career and potentially identify a new strength for your resume.

There are several various skills that make a great public speaker, some of which include:

1. Body language

2. Connecting with the audience

3. Delivery

4. Interesting presentation

5. Practice

Here are several examples and tips to keep in mind as you work on improving your public speaking skills.

Work on your delivery

The way you deliver a message is important when speaking publicly. While the content of your speech may be perfect, the audience needs to be able to both hear and understand the information you are sharing. Here are some examples to help you improve your delivery:

Cut out the filler

Cut out filler words like “um” or “ah,” which might distract from your message. Bringing an outline of general ideas in your speech can help you avoid stumbling on your words when you’re not sure what to say next. You should avoid memorizing a script, however, which can be harmful if you forget or skip a word or phrase.

Speak slowly and enunciate

Speak more slowly than you would in normal conversation to ensure your words are heard clearly. Be careful to articulate your words.

Pause

Include occasional pauses to give the audience a moment to think about what you’ve just said. A pause can be especially useful right after you’ve made a point, explained something or asked a question. (Example: Pause for a moment after asking, “What type of leader do you think you are?”)

Use the correct tone of voice

Work on your tone of voice. Speak loudly enough for the group to hear. Use varying pitch to draw the audience in rather than a monotone voice. Listen to public speakers you admire or popular TED talks to hear examples of engaging voice modulation.

Use body language effectively

When speaking in public, body language can help support your speech as nonverbal communication. Keep your shoulders back and spine straight with a gentle smile. Move around the stage calmly, moving with the flow of your presentation. Avoid standing behind items like desks or tables, but do not be distracting to the audience by moving too much. Here are some additional body language tips for public speaking:

• Stand with a relaxed, upright posture. Avoid swaying or rocking back and forth.
  

• Gesture with your arms and hands to make a point or describe details of your story. (Example: Open your arms out to the group as you say, “This is something we’ve all experienced at one time or another.”)
  

• Move to different areas of the stage occasionally without turning your back on the audience. If you’re at a podium, angle your head and body toward different parts of the audience as you speak.
  

• Match your facial expression and overall energy to the tone of what you’re saying. For most professional presentations, you want to exude a pleasant, energetic disposition.

Connect with the audience

Making the audience feel included in the speech can keep the group engaged and help them connect with the information you are presenting. Here are some simple ways to connect with your audience when speaking in public:

• Make eye contact with the audience. Look at various audience members throughout your speech.
  

• Ask questions to encourage input from your audience. Call on audience members to hear their answers or ask for a show of hands. Listen thoughtfully or jot down notes to incorporate their responses into your presentation. (Example: “By a show of hands, who here has a hard time writing performance reviews for their employees?”)
  

• Use vocabulary, metaphors and examples that your audience can relate to. If the audience includes people from a variety of backgrounds, don’t use industry-specific language that some members might not understand.

Make your presentation interesting

Even a tedious topic can become interesting when it’s presented in the right way. Rather than just listing off information, look for ways to make your speech or presentation more engaging for the audience. Consider using some of these public speaking tips:

• Start with an exciting opening line like a surprising statistic or a funny anecdote. If you’re not personally familiar with the group you’re speaking to, you may also want to open with a short introduction about yourself.
  

• Include a personal story or a joke that ties into the topic you’re covering. Inject some humor or light moments into the presentation.
  

• Use visual aids like charts, graphs or photos to illustrate your points. Make sure your slides aren’t too text-heavy since this can distract the audience from what you’re saying.
  

• Create a callback phrase or ongoing theme to connect ideas throughout your speech.
  

• Outline what you’re going to talk about so the audience knows what to expect. (Example: “Today, I’m going to talk about three key factors for marketing success: positioning, promotion and analysis.”)

Practice often

A good public speaker will be prepared when giving a speech or presentation. One of the best tips for how to improve public speaking skills is to practice frequently. Plan out what you’ll say in advance and read it aloud over and over. Start by practicing on your own, then ask a friend or coworker to provide feedback. You can also record yourself rehearsing the presentation to help identify and improve any potential problems with your body language or delivery.

When you feel very familiar with the material, you’ll be less likely to stumble over your words in front of an audience. Practicing often helps to reduce any anxiety you have about speaking in front of a group. While some level of nervousness before a big speech or presentation is normal, feeling fully prepared due to frequent practice can boost your confidence when the time comes.

Even if a job doesn’t require speaking at conferences or leading company-wide meetings, being a skilled public speaker can help advance your career. From managers and sales representatives to teachers, there are a wide variety of roles where communicating effectively and confidently is essential.

Use these tips to practice your public speaking skills and become more comfortable talking in front of a group. Whether you’re looking for a new job or you want to improve your standing in your current position, becoming a better public speaker is a smart career move.