Public speaking generally means presenting information to a group in person or over the phone. It can involve a public forum, such as at an event or conference, or lectures and presentations to students in the classroom. Public speaking is one of the hardest things to do, especially for those who have never done it. Knowing how to overcome fear is essential for any professional. Whether you’re going on stage or talking with a friend, these tips will help you become confident and can’t-help-but-listen. Having a plan before you go on stage or preparing beforehand is critical.

Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

1. Read up on the topic.

If you’re giving a speech or presentation, it’s essential to know about your topic and what other people in the room may want to hear about. They may want to avoid hearing about how you came up with a case. That can be another speech entirely. Research into your audience is essential before going on stage. It’ll make you more comfortable knowing what the crowd is looking for. It’ll also help you to talk out of your strengths versus asking questions and trying to think on your feet.

2. Practice

When in doubt, practice makes perfect. There is a reason why actors will do rehearsals before going on stage or why singers warm up their vocal cords before singing in public. Practicing what you’re going to say goes along with knowing the material or having an outline and note cards with key points to succeed at public speaking. It’ll help you confidently give your presentation and remember what to say next.

3. Be Aware of Your Hand Gestures.

In most situations, gestures are frowned upon. They can result in unintentional rudeness, which is never good for your image. It would help if you only used a motion during a skill or process demonstration. Otherwise, keep your hands at your side. It’ll make your presentation more professional and strengthen your speech. It’ll also show that you know what you’re talking about, even if the gesture itself is a bit wacky.

4. Be Prepared for Mistakes

Nothing is going to go as you planned, so have a little contingency plan in mind if you encounter any issues. Just improvise if you’re giving a presentation and need to figure out what to say. If you don’t see the point of a particular section, state the obvious so that everyone knows what the issue is again. Never be embarrassed by that moment of silence because it is turned into a pause – an opportunity for others to ask questions if they’re interested.

5. Don’t read from the notes.

Again, the notes are just that if you need to figure out what to say or how to say it well enough already to memorize everything you’re saying. Reading from the notes removes the personal connection and makes you robotic. Find images that are meaningful to you, or use a voice recorder. If you’re going to read from the notes, make sure you’re comfortable with your material and use it to guide you so the audience can see through your eyes.

6. Get rid of the nervous energy.

Everyone hates fear and nervousness, so if you’re feeling uneasy about what people will think of you while on stage or in front of a classroom full of students, take some deep breaths to relax and reduce anxiety. It’s okay to feel nervous. They are excellent as long as your fears are reasonable and will not negatively impact your speech performance and delivery. It’s no one’s job to make you feel comfortable, so do what it takes to reduce your stress and get speaking in front of a crowd.

7. Keep the atmosphere light and breezy.

Ensure your audience enjoys listening to you as much as you enjoy presenting. You are keeping the conversation genuinely enjoyable and involving them in some way. It can be a good strategy if they are made a part of the presentation instead of just watching someone speak at them. It’ll feel more like you’re talking to a friend than your boss or audience. As long as it’s genuine, you’ll be able to keep the audience engaged and on your side.

8. Relax and breathe.

Getting caught up in our thoughts when we’re nervous and stressed out is straightforward. The best thing you can do is relax and breathe to become less anxious, which will allow you to be more effective at speaking in front of the group. If your presentation feels overly scripted, it may also make you seem nervous and paranoid that everyone is looking at you this way or that way.

9. Speak slower.

Some people will be nervous and determined to rush through their speech. At the same time, it may seem like a fire in your pants will continue burning; remember that running through the presentation means missing out on crucial information or losing the audience’s attention entirely. One of the main reasons for these presentations is to put your personality out there; rushing through everything will do you no good, either.

10. Learn how to breathe effectively.

Breathing is a powerful tool used to relieve stress and anxiety. People may not think you’re actually breathing when you’re on stage, but proper breathing techniques can reveal your confidence. To do this, inhale through the mouth while your stomach expands in front of you. Hold for a second, then exhale through the mouth while your stomach contracts back into the body. Practice this several times before going on stage or in front of an audience.

11. Avoid put-downs.

If there are others like you in the room, they may feel less confident than you because they will compare themselves to you. Avoid speaking about them or making the mistake of putting yourself down. Your audience may not like that, and it will only make them wonder why you’re giving a presentation in the first place. It’s best to be confident in your skills and abilities without making others feel inferior. It will also make you seem more professional and respectable.

12. Don’t be embarrassed by silence.

A presentation is not a conversation, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid a few seconds or moments of silence because you fear the audience has stopped paying attention. The worst thing to do is to check your watch every second so that you can rush through the presentation. Instead, try to discuss the points that need clarification or ask questions when necessary. Please communicate with your audience and make them want to listen rather than wanting you to stop talking altogether.

13. Relax the arms and hands.

If you feel nervous, your hands and arms will shake uncontrollably. In many instances, gestures can be very effective in delivering a message. Still, in public speaking, it’s essential to ensure your body language is relaxed so that the audience knows you’re genuine with what you’re saying. It’ll also help if you think of something calm before going on stage so that your body remains loose and open when it needs to be.

14. Visualize success.

The more you visualize yourself giving a presentation, the easier it will be for you because you’ll know what to expect. You can picture yourself in front of the audience, pretending it’s just another day at work. The more you do this, the less fearful you’ll feel when you’re up there. You can practice this anywhere: in bed before going to sleep or alone at home. It will take the pressure off because you won’t have to worry about doing it in front of anyone else. It’ll also make you more confident when it’s time to deliver.

15. Stay present.

Make sure you are entirely focused on what you’re doing and not thinking about anything else, such as your next assignment or presentation. If you think about it, that will be all the audience will notice, which is why they came to hear you speak in the first place and how they will react to what they hear. It’s okay to look around or check your watch occasionally, but try not to dwell too much on the rest of the world around you. Give them your best so they can remember what happened and who said what.

These are just some public speaking tips on how to improve your public speaking skills. With a bit of practice, you can become a better orator and increase your confidence on the platform. People will enjoy listening to you more and seeing you grow. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to try your hand at public speaking, even if it’s just in front of your friends or family. You can always move on to bigger and better things. It’s about how far you want to take it, and no one can stop you from achieving your dreams.