Master the Art of Public Speaking: 33 Proven Strategies for Success

( Art of Public Speaking )

Does the thought of giving a speech in front of an audience make you nervous? It doesn’t have to be that way.

Whether it’s presenting a topic at university, giving a speech at a wedding or displaying the results of the monthly balance sheet at work, public speaking is inevitable in many aspects of life.

A source of insecurity for many and paralyzing fear for others, standing in front of an audience with confidence is something that can be learned and improved with practice.

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’ve faced the classic and uncomfortable physiological reactions of fear of public speaking: instant sweat, shaking hands, and a cracked voice that’s impossible to hide, as well as speaking too quickly, forgetting your speech, or, worse still, going mute.

We know that fear of public speaking causes negative feelings. It even leads to losing many opportunities, both professionally and personally. That’s why we have good news for you: you are not alone!

On this occasion, we share with you some strategies and tips to free yourself from panic and express your ideas effectively and calmly:

× What is public speaking?

Public speaking means transmitting a message to a group of individuals. This type of communication differs from one-to-one interactions in that the message must be directed to a group, so it is not personal and requires skills to be effective.

While until a few decades ago public speaking was done in person, today there are mass communication formats such as television, webinars or video call meetings that do not require the physical presence of people.

×. Why there is a fear of public speaking?

The fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia, is really common. When you suffer from this phobia, you may fear that you will forget your speech, that the audience will reject you, or that what you say is irrelevant.

But you may also believe that you will bore the audience, that you will make a fool of yourself, or that you will be stunned. All of these scenarios can cause anxiety, but why?

One of the causes of glossophobia is a genetic predisposition to resent stress or anxiety; therefore, people with psychological or emotional conditions tend to feel more insecure when speaking in public. This fear can also be caused by unpleasant past experiences in which a public presentation went wrong.

For millions of people, the fear of public speaking is an everyday reality and goes far beyond mild nervousness. Overcoming this fear is not easy, but knowing how to speak in public effectively will help you improve your communication skills.

Let’s see what elements you should take into account to speak in public successfully.

×. Elements for public speaking

There is no strict list of requirements for public speaking. After all, each person expresses himself differently, and even the most outstanding speakers are known for having a unique style. However, there are some elements that promote good communication with audiences. These are:

×. Topic: This is the topic you are going to talk about. Although in some cases you may not have planned a speech, you cannot talk about a completely different topic than the one being discussed in the meeting. The important thing is that what you say makes sense within the topic discussed.

×. Tone:¹ This is the way in which things are said. In some cases you can use a serious tone, but in others a relaxed or even joking tone will be desirable. This element must be in accordance with the type of meeting, audience and moment in which you have to speak.

×. Language is the medium through which ideas are communicated. It is a mistake to think that public speaking is only about the voice; on the contrary, it also depends on gestures and body movement. This is something that speakers who use sign language know very well.

×. Presence: This is the conjunction between the speaker and the audience. As we have seen, this element does not necessarily occur physically, but can occur through video calls or mass media. However, in any case, the existence of a live audience is necessary.

×. Authority: is the ability that someone has to speak in public. Many times this element triggers insecurity in people to do so, because they feel that their opinion is not valid or can be questioned. But, as we will see, this element is fundamental: it makes the audience respect the speaker and makes the speaker feel confident about what he says.

With this information in mind, it’s time for you to begin your preparation for public speaking. The following tips will be useful to you, whether you have a moderate or pronounced fear of this activity. Take them at your own pace and, above all, be patient and kind to yourself.

×. Importance of public speaking

Public speaking is important because it allows people to communicate ideas to more than one individual. At the end of the day, much of our interactions take place publicly and with more than one person. Therefore, public speaking is useful not only in organizations, but also at school, in the family, or with friends.

In the business world, public speaking is necessary to coordinate teams, talk to clients or make public announcements.

For example, when a leader needs to present a project to his or her team, when an executive must present an offer to a client’s board of directors or when a business communication has to be made to the media.

But public speaking also occurs in the day-to-day of a company. This is the case in brainstorming sessions to create a new product, in team integration meetings, or even when there is a get-together and someone has to give a congratulatory or motivational speech.

But despite the fact that public speaking is so important and common, many people feel aversion or insecurity when speaking in front of an audience. Let’s look at the causes behind this phenomenon and how you can deal with them.

×. Learn from the best

If you’re preparing for a presentation, do some research into what makes good speakers so good. Look up the latest TED Talks and pay attention to the presenters’ mannerisms, habits and behaviors and try to incorporate them.

×. Know your material

Improvising is not a good idea. While going with the flow and being spontaneous is recommended, relying on your presentation to be good without a shred of preparation is something that even the best speakers won’t do.

Do your research. Know your topic intimately and know what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. Knowing what you’re talking about is one of the best ways to calm nerves.

×. Practice, practice, and practice again

Once your presentation is put together, review it. Then, review it again. Practice your speech in front of a mirror, and then practice in front of a family member or friend.

Each time you go through your presentation, you’ll become more comfortable, and the idea of giving it in front of an audience will become less intimidating.

×. Prepare a“Plan B”

Thinking about “what if…” creates anxiety. “What if the computer doesn’t recognize the PowerPoint presentation?”, “What if someone keeps interrupting?” and “What do I do if the projector doesn’t work?” are some of the questions that can cause panic in any speaker.

×. Don’t wait until the last minute

To check that the microphone is working, that the projector is projecting or that the lighting is bright. All of this should be prepared in advance.

In case something goes wrong, smile and try to keep your composure while you or others take care of the problem. The most important thing is how you react.

×. Look after your appearance

While what you say and how you say it is most important, your personal appearance is also an important factor when it comes to giving an effective presentation.

The more polished and professional you look, the more confident you will feel in front of your audience. Make sure you look your best.

×. Don’t make excuses

Inexperienced speakers are often advised to convey their insecurities to the audience, i.e., at the beginning of the presentation, say things like “Sorry, I’m just nervous” or “I’m not good at this.” If you can avoid this, all the better.

Prepare yourself enough to be able to speak in public without having to make excuses.

×. Use visual aids as support

Having a good PowerPoint presentation and even providing handouts to the audience will take some of the pressure off of you, as the audience’s eyes won’t always be on you and you’ll have something to go on if you go blank.

Remember, though, that your slides shouldn’t be too text-heavy, as then no one will hear what you’re saying.

If you spend the entire presentation reading directly from a paper or slides, you’ll show a lack of confidence and knowledge in what you’re saying. It’s recommended that you only use visual aids as an extra support, not as a crutch.

×. Talk to one person at a time

One of the most terrifying aspects of giving a speech is the audience. The mere thought of standing in front of a bunch of expectant people, waiting to hear your words, can send shivers down your spine. The best way to overcome this fear is to talk to one person at a time.

Pick three people in the audience and alternate your gaze between them, as if you were having a conversation in a café. And look them in the eye.

Most importantly, don’t stare at the floor, the ceiling, or your notes – this will show that you’re not prepared enough and don’t have confidence in what you’re saying.

×. Incorporate your personal opinion

Anyone can “copy and paste” a topic and repeat it mechanically in front of an audience. What will make the difference in your presentation is what you can bring to it from your personal experience and knowledge.

When giving your speech, try to occasionally include some of your own thoughts and opinions. Although these should be previously planned and prepared, try to make them seem spontaneous.

Bringing a little of yourself to the presentation will make it feel more relaxed and interesting to the audience.

×. Speak clearly

Speaking at an excessively fast speed is one of the most indiscreet indicators of nervousness. Even if your speech is brilliant, if no one can understand it, it has the same value as dictating your shopping list. Try to speak slowly and clearly, even a little slower than usual.

×. Keep it short

Unfortunately, there are many speakers who drag on their presentations to the point of being unthinkable, with never-ending speeches, without caring about boring the audience to death or respecting their time.

Don’t be one of them. Be clear about what is expected of your presentation and stick to it, no more, no less.

×. Relax

Humans tend to be their own worst critics. If you forget a sentence in your notes or accidentally skip a slide, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just a presentation.

×. Define your goal

The first step in preparing a speech is to define your ultimate goal: what do you want the audience to do when they leave the room? What information should they leave with?

Once you’ve defined what you want your audience to take away, develop your key points to support your objective. This will lead you to craft a more focused and practical speech that provides real value to your audience.

For example, let’s say a big-name speaker has invited you to speak on how small businesses can grow their sales organizations. Start by getting your objective straight.

If you want the audience to hire you as a consultant, build your talking point around five things that prevent small organizations from growing.

×. Give, Don’t Take

Renowned speaker Simon Sinek says, “We are very social animals. Even from a distance, on stage, we can tell if you like to give or you like to take, and people are more likely to trust a person who likes to give, a speaker who gives them value, who teaches them something new, who inspires them, compared to someone who takes something from the audience.”

Once you’ve defined your end goal, create a presentation that offers real value to your audience, regardless of whether they want your product or service.

If you talk about your consulting service in an immediate and opinionated manner during your presentation, you will probably lose the trust of your audience and the credibility of the rest of your speech

Offer tips and strategies that are fresh, useful and insightful to your audience. Leave your sales pitch for the end and approach it in a subtle way.

×. Use your slides as an aid, not a crutch

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends using keywords, rather than sentences or paragraphs, on your slides.

This helps your audience focus on your message. Integrate bullet points, using specific sentences without using more than eight words per line or eight lines per slide.

Another general rule of thumb is to make your font size twice the average age of your audience. This means the font for most of your presentations will be between 60 and 80 points.

×. Practice (but really do it)

Believe it or not, speakers are often underprepared. Maybe your assistant created your slides and you went over them several times. Or maybe you rehearsed your presentation, but no one else helped you.

Make sure you practice your presentation in front of multiple groups of people – do it with people you trust, your coworkers, friends or family who represent your audience. Ask for honest, critical feedback on the good, the bad and the ugly of your presentation.

It is also a good technique to record yourself during one of your practices so you can review the areas that need work.

×. Prepare your voice

To prepare your voice, drink more water – being dehydrated will affect all of your body’s lubrication systems. Keep tea, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks to a minimum. If you have a dry throat while training, drink a small amount of water, hold it in your mouth for a second, then swallow.

Additionally, sufficient rest and sleep are vital to keeping your voice healthy. If your body is tired, it won’t be able to support your voice effectively. Don’t forget to rest your voice if you’ve been practicing a lot or have a cold.

Finally, warm up your muscles. All muscles connected to voice production, not just the vocal cords, need to be warmed up before going into action, just like the other muscles in the body. A short vocal workout should suffice:

×. Eat well and reduce your cortisol levels

It’s not all work. Eat a protein-packed snack before a speech. It boosts your energy, focus, and mood. But what if there was a way to decrease stress, too?

Well, there is. Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone ,” can interfere with your memory and limit your ability to process complex information.

To lower your cortisol levels, exercise one to three hours before speaking. You’ll feel less stressed and your audience will notice.

×. Get to know your audience members first

It’s always a good idea to meet with some of your audience members before you go on stage.

This is a great way to calm pre-presentation anxiety, not to mention it will help your networking as you recruit some last-minute listeners . You earn extra points if you find a way to incorporate these conversations into your speech.

To illustrate, let’s say you spoke to Laura from XYZ Sales at the coffee shop this morning.

If Laura shared that sales recruiting is a big obstacle to scaling her sales team, include this anecdote in your presentation, along with advice on how you would approach the situation.

×. Give yourself time to adapt

Many speakers start talking immediately after being introduced or upon entering the stage. Instead, try to approach the stage quietly. This gives you time to gather your thoughts, take a deep breath, and get used to being in front of an audience.

It also gives your audience a chance to get used to you. If they’re checking email or answering some last-minute texts, it provides them with a few moments to wrap things up. This pause also sets the tone for the rest of your speech, which should be even, effective, and purposeful.

×. Don’t open with an excuse

How many times have you heard a speaker start with, “Sorry, I didn’t have much time to prepare,” or “My flight was delayed last night, so I’m a little tired.”

Your audience doesn’t care. Telling them that you’re unprepared or tired from a long flight won’t change how they remember your presentation.

×. Be conversational

The first 30 seconds of a speaker’s presentation tell you almost everything you need to know about what’s coming next. That means you need to get your audience’s attention as quickly as possible.

So how do you make the most of those first few seconds? First, be conversational. Use inflection in your voice and natural, friendly body language. Instead of standing glued to your podium, pace back and forth in front of your audience.

Don’t memorize your content. You must understand the concepts you are communicating and know the general structure of your presentation. Don’t recite your speech word for word, as this is not a poem.

×. Share the order of your intervention

Organizing your data, ideas, and topics will help you create organized presentations and have a presentation guide, but also to keep your listeners from wandering while you speak.

A good practice that works in executive reports, conferences, and business presentations is to tell your audience in advance the order of the content you will discuss during your speech

For example, it is common that after a speaker’s presentation, a slide is projected with a brief index of the topics to be discussed.

Anxiety often causes us to stray from the main topic when speaking in public, so having a clear guide of the things you will say will help you not to lose sight of what you are talking about.

You can even use color blocks or place the number or name of the topic on each slide.

×. Be happy from the first mistake

While we don’t recommend making the first mistake you make obvious to your audience (they may not even notice it), it is something you can take note of.

Don’t beat yourself up about it or forget your composure. Simply acknowledge your first mistake and see it as permission to relax and continue with your presentation.

×. Tell stories and make it personal

Do you think your audience doesn’t care about personal stories? Let’s put it this way: they probably care more about the story you just told than the pie chart on the screen behind you.

It’s easier for your audience to remember and share the stories you tell than the statistics and numbers on your slides. Make your presentation personal and remind your audience that you’re human.

Check out some of the best TED Talks to learn how to tell stories. TED Talks are built on powerful storytelling, which is why they are so memorable.

Stories also give your audience more context around your topic – they increase their ability to relate and find value in what you have to say. Basically, when in doubt, tell a story!

×. Channel your nervousness into positive energy

If you’re not excited about your presentation, why would your audience be? One way to channel excitement into your public speaking is to transform your nervousness into positive energy.

Simon Sinek gives another great insight: after watching interviews with Olympic athletes, he noticed that many of them had similar answers when asked if they were nervous before competing. Most said, “No, I was excited.”

Sinek mentions that they translated the body’s signs of anxiety or stress (sweaty palms, tension in the neck, rapid heartbeat) into excitement. When Sinek is on stage and notices these same signs, he says out loud to himself, “I’m not nervous, I’m excited!”

×. Change the focus of your gaze

If eye contact is what you’re worried about, fear not! Many great speakers like Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubSpot, prefer to avoid it. He tends to look at the foreheads of those in the audience.

And of course, that helps him redirect his nervousness and focus on giving an amazing talk.

×. Speak slowly and pause often

It’s hard to speak slowly, especially when you’re giving a presentation. But not only does a slower speed make it easier for your audience to understand, it also makes your speech seem more composed and thoughtful. The pace should feel a little slower than normal to give the right cadence.

Another way to pace your presentation is to routinely pause for three to five seconds. This pause time stays conversational, while allowing you to breathe and focus before moving on.

As a bonus: it will be long enough to get people to stop looking at their smartphones and turn to you to find out why you stopped.

×. Repeat your audience’s questions

Whether you’re working in a large room or a three-person meeting, try repeating your audience’s questions. In large settings, give everyone a chance to hear what someone asked, which will keep them waiting for your answer.

In smaller settings, repeating audience questions gives you additional moments to focus your thoughts. More importantly, it ensures that you have understood what the question is and that you are actively listening to the needs of your audience members.

×. Reinforce key points

Repeat key points several times throughout your presentation. It helps your audience retain the most important points.

A simple technique for doing this? Mention each key point three times. Present your main points in the agenda you share at the beginning, explain them clearly during your presentation, and reinforce each one in the closing.

×. Use videos and GIFs sparingly

GIFs and videos can be a great way to break up your presentation and re-engage a drifting audience. But they can also distract listeners from the important points you’re making.

When appropriate, include a GIF or video. But make sure it helps your storytelling, rather than distracting from your audience’s attention.

If you’re tempted to add yet another GIF to your presentation, take a hard look at the quality of the content you’re preparing. Could you illustrate that point better with a thoughtful anecdote or past experience?

×. Always finish on time and be thankful

Whether your audience has given you five minutes of attention or an hour, end on time and say, “Thank you.” Consider that time is valuable, and your audience has chosen to spend a significant portion of theirs with you.

Be respectful of that time and always end early, especially if you anticipate a longer Q&A session.

×. Conclusion

Public speaking is a transformative skill that not only enhances your ability to communicate but also builds confidence, leadership, and influence.

Conquering the art of public speaking requires consistent practice, self-awareness, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.

From mastering body language and vocal delivery to understanding your audience and structuring your content effectively, every step contributes to becoming a more compelling speaker.

To truly excel, adopt strategies like rehearsing regularly, seeking constructive feedback, and learning from experienced speakers.

Remember, progress in public speaking is gradual, and even small improvements can make a significant impact.

Whether you’re addressing a small group or a large audience, strong public speaking skills can open doors to new opportunities, strengthen relationships, and inspire others.

Embrace the journey with patience and dedication, and watch as your words leave a lasting impression.