Know your audience
Understand who you’re speaking to and what interests them. Consider what’s important to them and what they might find useful. This will help you tailor your message and anticipate questions.
Practice regularly
One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is through regular practice. Review your speeches to identify mistakes and areas for improvement.
Use effective body language
Body language can help you appear confident and reinforce your message. Avoid putting your hands in your pockets or crossing your arms. Instead, start with your arms at your sides and use purposeful hand gestures to emphasize your points.
Make eye contact
Eye contact helps you appear confident and sincere, keeping your audience engaged. Avoid staring at the ground or your notes for long periods. As you build confidence, try making eye contact with individual audience members.
Structure your speech
Transition smoothly between points and build on each one. Organize your talking points in a logical order, starting with the most important message. Having an outline helps you stay on track and ensures you cover all key points.
Be yourself
Incorporate your personality into your presentation style. Use your natural pitch and tone to create a meaningful connection with your audience.
Prepare thoroughly
Prepare your talking points and rehearse your speech. Through repetition, you’ll feel more comfortable presenting in front of an audience.
Record and review your speeches
Watch recordings of your speeches to identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to your body language, how your voice sounds, and your pacing.
Take a class and study great speakers
Consider taking a public speaking class, either online or in person. Watching and learning from exceptional speakers offers one of the best ways to improve your own public speaking skills.
To start, search for examples of great public speakers on YouTube. Check out some of the TED Talks available online. Toastmasters International also provides examples of some of the best public speakers in the world.