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The importance of public speaking skills
How to improve public speaking skills — 4 factors to keep in mind
Know how to improve public speaking skills and master your fears
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Jump to section
The importance of public speaking skills
How to improve public speaking skills — 4 factors to keep in mind
Know how to improve public speaking skills and master your fears
Some people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying.
I know that sounds extreme, but it makes sense when you think about it.
Our ancestors needed one another to survive. Social acceptance or rejection meant the difference between life and death.
And if there’s one situation where you run the risk of mass rejection, it’s public speaking.
No wonder many of us find it terrifying. It’s our survival instinct kicking in.
Yet, public speaking is an essential skill in today’s labor market.
If you want to know how to improve your public speaking skills, keep reading for tips and strategies that will help make you a better public speaker.
Strong spoken communication skills are essential for a successful career or business.
According to a study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the majority of executives and hiring managers prioritize strong oral communication skills.
Most jobs require some degree of public speaking, whether it’s giving a presentation to your team or speaking at a conference.
But the survey respondents reported that less than half of college graduates are satisfactory in this area.
Public speaking requires you to present your ideas clearly. At the same time, you must project an image of yourself that inspires empathy in your audience.
But many of us experience public speaking anxiety. It can hinder your ability to deliver your message and engage your audience.
Public speaking isn’t only important at work. Fear of public speaking can also affect your personal life. It may create misunderstandings with family or friends or prevent you from taking part in activities.
For example, you might avoid speaking about your ideas or plans or giving a speech at a wedding or social event.
The inability to communicate your ideas results in feeling misunderstood. This can lead to frustration, loneliness, and even social anxiety.
But if you have stage fright, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Few people are born with a natural talent for public speaking.
This is good news, as it means it’s a skill that you can learn. So let’s dive into how to become a great public speaker.
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Developing your public speaking skills has many benefits in a work environment. It will also increase your confidence.
Even if you’re an introvert or suffer from chronic anxiety, overcoming your fear and learning to be a great public speaker is possible.
Here are four factors that influence your ability to communicate effectively.
Your voice is the most basic communication tool you possess. Learning to use it properly is key for improving your public speaking.
Diaphragmatic breathing is a useful voice control technique. It can give your voice greater power and clarity and prevent the shortness of breath that anxiety causes.
To do this technique, relax your belly and let it expand as you breathe. Extend your inhalations and exhalations to a count of four each.
Practicing this type of breathing without speaking will help you prepare to use it while speaking.
It also helps calm your nerves.
During your public speaking event, use diaphragmatic breathing to control the three main aspects of your voice:
Your body language is the combination of your gestures, facial expressions, and movements.
It’s an integral part of how we communicate. It helps your audience better understand the nuances of your message.
If your body language contrasts with what you want to transmit or seems incoherent, your speech will be confusing.
Once you confuse people, you lose them.
Use the following tips to improve your body language and engage your audience:
Delivery is the way you speak. Good delivery is essential for your audience to understand your speech.
Follow these tips to improve your delivery:
If you want your audience to listen to you, you need to engage them from the beginning.
The following are ways to connect with your audience:
Public speaking is a skill that anyone can develop.
These tips for public speaking will help you overcome your fear and show up with confidence at your next public speaking engagement.
Giving a great speech or presentation starts with planning.
Identify the core message you want to transmit. Look for interesting facts and statistics to back up your point. Prepare for possible questions that might come up.
Preparing also includes logistical planning. Visit the event location beforehand to get familiar with the environment.
Use this opportunity to identify any technical requirements, such as a microphone or projector.
Consider using a visual aid, such as a PowerPoint presentation. But if it’s going to give you more anxiety and stress worrying about clicking through the slides, then don’t. There is no hard and fast rule on visuals.
Practice in front of the mirror or record yourself speaking, then watch it back.
Analyze your speed, tone, body language, and facial expression to identify areas for improvement.
Look for public speaking opportunities — whether it’s giving a presentation at work or joining a local Toastmasters club.
Practice your speech as many times as possible before your public speaking engagement.
You can do this in front of the mirror, record yourself, or practice in front of friends and family.
Everyone gets nervous before a performance. In fact, research shows that a healthy amount of nervousness enhances performance.
But don’t let your nerves suck you into a spiral of negative thoughts. Instead, embrace them and use them as performance rocket fuel.
To cultivate a positive mindset, visualize yourself giving the best speech of your life. Top performers use visualization to improve their results.
Not only does this grab their attention, but it’s also a way to take the spotlight off of you.
Sharing the starring role with your audience members will help you establish a connection with them and feel less nervous.
Humans are wired to pay attention to stories. It activates the same parts of our brain that would activate if we experienced the events first-hand.
We all respond to stories in this way. There is no difference across cultures. This means you can harness the power of storytelling to establish a connection with anyone.
When you start your speech, you only have one minute to make a good impression on your audience.
A story, anecdote, or question can pique their curiosity and make them want to keep listening.
When you look good, you feel good. And feeling good is the key to giving the best possible performance.
Think about it. Do you feel more confident in your favorite suit or dress or in your pajamas?
Dress to impress, but make sure you feel comfortable. Don’t wear anything that’s not your usual style.
Avoid wearing anything that you will constantly have to adjust as it will be uncomfortable and distracting.
It can be tempting to emulate a strong public speaker you admire. But this is a mistake.
We are all unique, and although you can never be someone else, you are great at being you.
Perhaps you wish you were funnier, but you’re not a natural comedian. That’s okay. Don’t start cracking jokes as soon as you get on stage.
Instead, embrace your other quirks — we all have them — and let them shine through in your speech. You never know how many audience members might resonate with you.
Ask a trusted friend or colleague to watch your presentation with a critical eye and give you feedback. (You can also film or record yourself.)
Ask them to be as specific as possible. Tell them to analyze what you do well, as well as what can be improved.
You probably already have some perceived strengths and weaknesses regarding your presentation skills. Ask your feedback buddy to look out for those specifically.
Even if you’re an introvert or suffer from social anxiety, it’s possible to overcome your fear of public speaking.
It will also boost your confidence, and you may even discover you enjoy it.
But if you still need more information on how to improve public speaking, consider taking a public speaking course. Alternatively, you could engage a coach to help you improve your confidence and become a better public speaker.
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Unlock the power of clear and persuasive communication. Our coaches can guide you to build strong relationships and succeed in both personal and professional life.
Unlock the power of clear and persuasive communication. Our coaches can guide you to build strong relationships and succeed in both personal and professional life.
Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships.
With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.
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