Fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias clients seek help with.…
Public Speaking Tips – 10 Helpful Steps
Are you looking for public speaking tips?
Start by using the following public speaking tips to prepare for speaking engagements. And, if you’re still looking to improve your public speaking, get in touch for some professional help.
Tip 1. Rehearsing Your Speech
A huge amount of your success is determined before the presentation. Your audience will know if you didn’t rehearse your speech. Taking time to practise beforehand minimises your nervousness. The more comfortable you become with your material via rehearsing, the more comfortable you will be with your body language. For interviews that means anticipating possible questions and preparing model answers.
Tip 2. Closing and Opening
Try to memorise your opening and closing words. 90 seconds of each is enough. The most important thing your audience will remember is your closing. Second most important thing they’ll remember is your opener. Start with something attention grabbing, like a quote or statistic, which relates to your topic.
Tip 3. Practise Using These Public Speaking Tips
Have a quiet dinner with a friend and go through your speech with them. You won’t be as concerned about your public speaking skills if you can feel at ease with your material.
Tip 4. Avoid Last Minute Changes to Your Speech
Try not to make many changes in the last 24 hours. There is nothing worse than re-writing your speech at the last minute.
Tip 5. Public Speaking is Easier With Notes
Make notes and review your notes and visual aids the evening before. Your notes should only be brief memory joggers in bullet form, and are NEVER read to the audience.
Tip 6. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Eat a good breakfast the morning of your presentation. Even if you’re not speaking until that evening, feed your mind and body the proper fuel.
Tip 7. Check a Mirror
Check your appearance in a mirror before starting your speech. Knowing that you look good will give you an added feeling of confidence when public speaking.
Tip 8. Know Your Audience
Know your audience before designing your speech. What are their ages? Will they like a little humour or simply the facts? These are important things to think about when putting together your speech or attending your interview.
Tip 9. Eye Contact
Keep making eye contact with the audience frequently to establish rapport and a connection.
Tip 10. Time Date and Venue
Lastly make sure to confirm the time, date, and place with the appropriate contact person before any public speaking engagement. If possible, arrange to see the room ahead of time so you can practise visualizing in the exact location of your presentation. At the minimum, arrive at least one hour ahead of time.
More Help with Public Speaking
These public speaking tips are a great starting point but maybe you feel you’d like more help to overcome a fear of public speaking? Sometimes our fears and phobias of public speaking run a little deeper and it’s something within our subconscious mindset that needs to shift. Once this happens, you’ll feel much more comfortable.
I offer free no obligation initial consultations and can make a huge difference to your public speaking skills with only a few sessions (online or in person).
Contact me today to learn more.
Further Reading
Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study
