How to Confidently Speak in Public: Top 10 Public Speaking Tips

Below are the 10 most essential and effective public speaking tips that will level up your public speaking game.

Prepare and then prepare some more

Firstly, you can never be too prepared for any public speaking situation. It is important to research your topic well, understand your audience, and go over your speech notes. The more you prepare the more confidently you will be able to deliver your speech.

Mirror practice is very useful in knowing how your mouth movements and body language will look on the big day. To prepare better you can take feedback from close friends and family. Do this a couple of days before you give your speech so that you have enough time to adjust and improve your presentation.

 Use keyword flashcards

Reading your speech off a paper or any other form of media is something that we would strongly advise against. It makes the interaction less engaging and more impersonal for the audience. Instead, prepare flashcards with keywords that would help you remember what you have to say and guide the flow of your speech.

Think of it like taking down quick notes when attending a college seminar or classroom lecture. Here you would jot down only the key points of what’s being said and then build on that. Keyword flashcards are one of the most effective public speaking tips that successful orators rely on.

 Dress fittingly for the occasion

While this tip may seem a little out of the box it definitely will give your confidence a major boost. Dressing with clothing that is both suited to the occasion and comfortable ensures that you project the best version of yourself.

Practicing while wearing your outfit and looking into a mirror, will help you visualize how you’ll look on the day of the event. Addtionally, it is good to dress slightly more formally than your audience, as you are the one in the spotlight.

Be honored and take pride 

It is important to remember that YOU have been chosen to speak which means that you have something of great value to deliver. You will be either an educator, problem solver, master of ceremony, motivator, or all of the above. All of the aforementioned roles are very prestigious and call for you to have confidence in your capabilities.

Further, it is good to understand that the audience is there to support you and listen to what you have to say. Do not assume that you are being judged and remove any pre-existing negativity that may be there. Effective public speaking can only take place if you are optimistic and take pride in your knowledge.

Start strong and pick the audience’s imagination

One of the most important public speaking tips that we can give you is to start with a bang. Pique the interest of the audience with the first few words you utter or in the first 30 seconds. Mentioning a mind-boggling fact, the name of a famous personality, or using a phrase the audience can relate to, helps capture the audience’s attention.

Creating hypothetical scenarios or following your statement with a question will increase their interest in what you have to say next.

They are likely to be more attentive throughout the talk as they would want to find out the solution or answer to that question.

Engage the audience verbally and non-verbally

Verbal engagement is the primary form of engagement during public speaking. Verbal engagement uses inclusive words, shared perspectives, and talking about common experiences. Signposting or indicating what comes next in your presentation is an effective way of ensuring continued interest from the audience. Furthermore, addressing the audience in first person (e.g. saying ‘you’) or using the first name of a participant, creates a connection with the audience.

Contrary to popular belief around 90% of communication occurs non-verbally. Non-verbal communication includes your body language and gestures. Physical expressions such as hand gestures should be used appropriately and not in excess. Avoid nervous gestures such as contracting your body completely, fidgeting, or crossing your arms.

Mastering this public speaking tip is important if you want to deliver an outstanding speech.

 Use multimedia to create an impact

It said that an image speaks a thousand words and this holds true while delivering a talk publicly. Using multimedia while presenting can comprise images, audio, and video.

The speaker needs to analyze the need for media, which type of media to use, and how much. Using graphs and other statistical charts often proves helpful in business scenarios. Whereas for a pep rally or a TED talk one might choose to use inspiring audio-visual aids.

It is important to note that the speaker shouldn’t overuse multimedia as this causes unnecessary distractions and dilutes the message being delivered. In a digital age like ours, the use of digital and social media is by far one of the most important tools for effective public speaking.

Encourage your audience to participate

Another great public speaking tip is to encourage your audience to be a part of your speech or presentation. This helps the audience feel more involved and prevents your speech from sounding like a monologue.

To encourage participation you can invite questions from the audience such as asking for suggestions or alternatives. Additionally, in an online scenario, you can even ask participants to click something on their screen or send virtual reactions. Audience participation helps a speaker capture the pulse of the audience, maintain attentiveness, and make it a fun experience for all!

Structure your content like a story

Stories, as we all know have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. It is a great practice to structure our speech on similar lines. Structuring your content is a great public speaking tip as it aids in taking your audience on a smooth journey with your words.

The introduction aims to captivate the audience’s attention and let them know what the speech or presentation is all about. The body of your speech should elaborate the problem, issue, or agenda and should be filled with supporting facts and arguments. The conclusion provides the resolution or the path to the resolution.

Storytelling is an effective public speaking tip because it increases the speaker’s credibility and demonstrates mastery over the subject.

Take a breath and use a focal point

It is okay to feel overwhelmed while addressing large gatherings or talking in front of unfamiliar faces. When you feel like you’re out of breath or losing focus pause for 3 seconds and then continue.

What helps is choosing a focal point on the wall right across you, somewhere just above the audience’s heads. Shift your gaze to that point if you feel constant eye contact makes you nervous. You can use 2-3 focal points on either side of the hall or room to make it seem more authentic. 

Remember we do not want the audience to feel disengaged or sense nervous energy. Therefore it is important to use this public speaking tip judiciously.