7 ways to improve your public speaking skills
Whether you're looking for a way to improve your presentations at work, speak more authoritatively in front of others, or find more confidence to speak up, improving your public speaking skills is easier than you think.
Public speaking is one of the greatest fears, affecting 30 to 70% of the population. Yet, according to a study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, strong spoken communication skills are amongst the most desired in the hiring process, as most jobs require some degree of public speaking.
Luckily there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to speak confidently; here's what you need to know.
Being nervous is normal
Everyone, even the most seasoned speakers, feels nervous before giving a speech or presentation. What's important is to avoid associating nerves and pounding hearts with the idea that you are bad at public speaking. Some nerves and anxiety are good, as the adrenaline rush that causes this also makes you ready to speak.
Practice, practice, practice
The best way to overcome anxiety about speaking in front of others is to practice doing it whenever possible. Forget the event but get used to speaking up in class, at work, or at social events. Offer an opinion in front of others even if it makes you feel uneasy. The more you do this, the easier it becomes to do it in front of more and more people.
Become comfortable with your material
In many ways, if you find public speaking nerve-wracking, the last thing you want to do is feel anxious about what you are going to say. This is why it pays to review your notes/speech/presentation so that you become very comfortable with it and tackle your nerves.
To remember what you read, don't keep re-reading.
1. Read it and then take a 10-minute break.
1. Then summarise it and share this summary aloud with a friend or colleague.
This works because the best way to retain information is to pause and teach it to someone else. This helps with retrieval and allows you to understand the material more clearly after you explain it to someone.
Film yourself speaking
This one may make you feel vulnerable, but it's an excellent way to look at your performance and deal with performance anxiety. If you are prone to being hypercritical, ask a friend or family member to review the video and give you constructive tips. Again the more you do it, the more comfortable you will become being viewed as you speak.
Learn to control your voice
When you're nervous or anxious, your heart rate and breathing accelerate, making breathing hard and speaking even harder. Getting your voice under control is key to 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.
The most important tip to remember is when you feel your nerves getting the better of you to breathe out before you breathe in. This will instantly start to calm your breathing. Alongside this, use the Breathwrk app to help you eliminate anxiety when you speak.
No one expects you to be perfect
Whether it's a presentation, a speech, or simply speaking up more often, no one expects your performance or what you say to be perfect. The audience is there to listen to what you say, not critique your performance as a speaker. Make your topic engaging so that what you say is the focus and you can draw them into your presentation or speech.
Work with a public speaking tutor
First Tutors Business can help you find a public speaking expert near you who can work with you to improve your public speaking skills and deal with the anxiety and fear of speaking in front of others.