10 Public Speaking Tips

Being stared at by a crowd all expecting you to drop an impactful speech or a lecture? Did your knees feel like they were giving away? With the modern world so focused on information and communication, public speaking has just been attributed to it. Speaking in front of a crowd can be done in various situations/events and they all have one thing in common, a game of nerves and remembering what to say. While many can pull off public speaking, it is not easy for even more. Infact, over time people become comfortable with the concept by implementing various public speaking tips.

How to give an effective speech

1. Join the audience

Knowing the audience in front of you is paramount when it comes to public speaking. 

1. Tailor the message: Understand your audience and tailor your message to their needs, interests, and simplify it. Making it easier for them to relate to the message of your content and absorbing it are a key element in public speaking tips.
2. Adapt delivery: The delivery style should match the expectations and mood of your audience. If speaking to a group of children, you need to focus more on visual aids and simplify the language. However, if speaking to a group of professionals, you would be required to use more technical jargon and provide more concise and detailed information.
3. Build rapport: Showing an understanding persona to the audience will help build rapport. As trust increases, you will be able to put forward your message better.
4. Addressing concerns: Knowing your audience allows you to anticipate any concerns they might have and address them before they become an issue. This can help to build confidence in your message and avoid any misunderstandings.

2. Let forth your personality

Your personality is one of the key public speaking tips to effective speaking.

1. Confidence: public speaking is all about having confidence in yourself and delivering the message in your speech with conviction and authority.
2. Authenticity: Being authentic and true to yourself will help you connect with your audience on a deeper level. The audience has a knack of figuring out when someone is being insincere or putting on a show.
3. Charisma: Charismatic speakers usually have a natural ability to connect with their audience and hold their attention. Having a magnetic personality that draws people in is only bound to help.
4. Empathy: Being able to understand and relate to the emotions and experiences of others will also help you connect with your audience and create a sense of familiarity between you and your listeners.

3. Practice public speaking

The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you'll become. Make time to practice your speaking skills regularly, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. Record yourself practicing your speech or presentation, and then watch the video to see where you can improve. Pay attention to the tone of voice, body language, and pacing as additional public speaking tips. After all, practice makes perfect!

4. Make Eye Contact

Maintaining good eye contact is an essential aspect of public speaking tips. It helps you connect with your audience, establish trust and credibility, and keep their attention focused on you and your message.

1. Smile: Begin your speech with a smile to put yourself and your audience at ease.
2. Scan: Look around the room and make brief eye contact with different people in the audience. Try to avoid focusing on any one person for too long.
3. Three-second: Make eye contact with an individual for about three seconds before moving on to the next person.
4.  Sections: Try to divide the audience into sections or portions in your head and alternate looking at each section while speaking.

5. Press Pause

It's time to learn the most important public speaking tips, (Pause) the pauses.

1. Emphasizing: A well-placed pause can draw attention to a key point or idea. Moreover, it gives the audience time to digest the information and allows you to bring attention to the importance of the point.
2. Reflection: Giving the audience time to reflect on what you've said helps them to better understand and remember the information.
3. Suspense: Pauses help create tension and anticipation, which is pretty useful when telling a story or making a dramatic point.
4. Composure: Getting nervous or losing your train of thought? Take a pause, it can help you regain your composure and refocus.

6. Flank the outline

Using an outline as a public speaking technique is an element of effective speech as it will help you stay organized and on track while delivering a clear and effective presentation. Utilize the outline to guide your presentation, but don't rely on it too heavily. Practice using your outline and become comfortable with it as you may be required to adapt in situations based on your audience's needs and reactions. Some key points to focus on while designing your outline are to determine your main points, organize ideas, include transitions and finish it off the king of public speaking tips, practice!

7. Feedback gains

Begin by practicing in front of a small group of friends or family members as this will help you get comfortable with speaking in front of others without feeling too overwhelmed or being faced with unfamiliarity. Ask for feedback after you've practiced your speech or presentation. When asking, be clear about what areas you want to improve. Specific questions, such as "Was my introduction clear?" or "Did I use too many filler words?" will lead you to understand which public speaking tips to implement. Accept feedback with an open mind and a willingness to learn, after all, it is an opportunity for growth rather than a criticism of your abilities. Focus on one or two areas at a time and work on developing specific strategies to improve.

8. Its rewind time

Repetition can draw attention to pretty much anything. By simply repeating an idea or phrase, you can help ensure that it sticks in the audience's mind. It also helps build familiarity with an idea or concept as the more you repeat a message, the more likely it is to be remembered. Moreover, it can create a sense of rhythm in your presentation, which can be pleasing to the ear and help keep the audience engaged while reinforcing the themes of your presentation and help tie together different ideas or concepts. Upskill with the easiest public speaking tips, Repetition!

9. Keep Slides Simple

Keeping your slides simple is rather important when it comes to your audience staying focused on your message and preventing them from getting distracted by unnecessary information or cluttered visuals. There are many guides that help you get notified of the best tips for a presentation. Here are some tips on slides in the presentation:

1. Minimal text: Keep text to a minimum and use bullet points. Avoid using long paragraphs or sentences as they can be difficult for the audience to read and comprehend or may even cause the audience to focus more on reading than listening to you.
2. Images: Input high quality images that complement your message and can help illustrate your point.
3. Simple fonts: Choose simple, easy-to-read fonts that are legible from a distance. Avoid using fancy or complicated fonts that can be difficult to read (Looks at comic sans).
4. Contrasting colors: High-contrast colors for your text and background will help make your slides easy to read. Avoid using colors that are too bright or too similar in hue, as they will not be properly visible.
5. Consistent: Use a consistent design and theme throughout your presentation to make it look polished and professional.

10. Go easy on yourself

1. Focus: Rather than dwelling on mistakes, focus on the things that went well. Pat yourself for a job well done and take note of what worked so that you can replicate it in the future.
2. Reframe: Instead of thinking of mistakes as failures, think of them as opportunities for growth and learning. Mistakes are a chance to improve your public speaking skills.
3. Kind: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would treat a friend. Avoid negative self-talk and give yourself credit for having the courage to speak in public.

Public speaking can be a nerve-wracking experience, and it's easy to be hard on yourself when you get nervous or lose track on stage. However, it's important to remember that every experience is a new one, and even experienced speakers have moments where things don't go as smoothly as they would like. Utilize the public speaking tips and be effective!!! Do you know in order to be a good speaker you need to be a good listener too, here are some tips to be a good listener. Use the above tips mentioned in the article to turn out into an exceptional public speaker.