Public speaking is something that needs to be practiced, especially if you are an introvert or have low self-confidence. This skill can be honed with a little practice and confidence. For presentations or interacting with others, use the following methods to improve your public speaking skills. To speak well in public, you need good preparation, confident thinking and behavior, and paying attention to your voice and body language.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Comfortable in Public Speaking
Step 1. Know your audience
The stress of public speaking, whether in presentations or at social gatherings, usually occurs because you don't know your audience well. You don't know if what you say is correct. You don't know if your words are acceptable to those people. You don't know if you sound smart or not.
- Before public speaking, take the time to get to know your audience. This is especially easy when you are giving a presentation. Think about why you were asked to speak and where you were speaking. Then, answer some related questions.
- Try to find out about how many audiences will be attending, their age, gender, educational level (both experiential and socio-economic), religion, friendliness, and whether the audience knows you. You can make all of these into one easy-to-remember acronym: BUG TARA (number, age, gender, education level, religion, friendliness, and you).
- By answering these questions, you will be able to compose a speech that you can comfortably deliver in public. The type of audience does affect the way you speak.
- If you can, try interviewing 3-7 people in your audience. Find out their challenges so you can make specific referrals. Ask about their successes too so you can highlight them. This will build the audience's support and trust as you speak.
Step 2. Change the way you think
Negative thoughts, related to your ability to speak in public, can interfere with your ability to deliver a speech as well as the incredible knowledge that lies within you. Instead of letting your negative thoughts linger, turn them into positive thoughts.
- Imagine yourself speaking with confidence and your audience responding positively. Imagine the benefits you can bring to your audience and remind yourself that you are in the right place at the right time.
- If you're nervous or scared, chances are you're also nervous about the mistakes you're about to make. These thoughts change your voice and body language in a negative way.
- Instead of letting negative thoughts rot in your head, remind yourself to think positively. Positive thoughts will brighten your feelings, making you feel more relaxed and confident. For example: instead of thinking about "I shouldn't have made a speech!" Change the way you think and give yourself a little motivation. Say: "Wow, I can share my knowledge on a topic I've worked on with great people who want to hear what I have to say!"
- Take this opportunity to speak as a compliment. Know that it's likely that the people who come will really want to hear you speak. Those people really want to hear you talk.
Step 3. Learn to be comfortable with silence
You may feel awkward about silence, especially if you're standing in front of a lot of people watching your every move and waiting for you to say something. But really, silence is a great time to breathe and remember everything you wanted to say.
- Think of speaking as an option. Talking is not something you need to do because you are standing in front of a lot of people. Talking is something you do when you're ready.
- If you are comfortable with silence, you will find it easier to give pauses and intervals when speaking in public. Of course you don't want to rush a speech. The silence will last longer for you than it will for those who don't have to speak. Smile, collect your thoughts, but not for too long. If what you say is good enough, the audience won't care about a bit of silence.
- Use silence as an opportunity to be aware of your breathing and calm yourself. You can also use silence to make a statement more "hit" to the audience. If you're speaking in public and want your audience to really soak in something, use silence before moving any further. Silence is your friend, not foe.
Step 4. Find out what your speech pattern looks like
By understanding how you speak in casual conversations with other people, you can improve your public speaking skills.
- Pay attention to all the "filler" words you use when talking to other people. Filler words are the sounds and words you make when you're processing your thoughts and don't know what to say next. Words like "ah", "em", "kayak", and so on. You can also reduce the use of filler words if you are comfortable with silence.
- We all have speech habits that really sink into us because they are repeated throughout our lives. For example, if someone sneezes, you might pray for that person. This speech behavior also exists when speaking in public. Determine what behaviors are familiar to you, both verbal and nonverbal. What kind of behavior makes you seem nervous and powerless?
- Once you've determined what those behaviors are, you can start working on them.
- Maybe, when you're nervous, you'll adjust your glasses, or clean your nails, or use more filler words.
- To change those habits, learn to be aware of what you do in various situations. Even for example, when you talk to a friend over the phone, be aware of what you are doing. When you realize you are doing something, try to stop.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing Yourself and Speech
Step 1. Plan carefully
Take the time to plan your speech well, so that when you do speak, it feels natural and normal. If you are familiar with the content of the speech, you will not feel stressed.
- Imagine yourself delivering a speech, from going to the location, walking to the stage, delivering the speech, until returning home. This can help relieve anxiety as well as remind you of things you still need to prepare for.
- Think of giving a speech as a theatrical play. If you don't memorize your lines well, you won't be able to start a conversation and grab the audience's attention. Audiences always know when a theater performer forgets a line.
- The more you prepare, the less you will worry. You might also find it helpful if you create a character. You don't have to just be you. You can also create a new persona. If you're an introvert, create an extroverted character and play that character in public speaking.
- Plan everything you can plan, so that when you speak you just have to concentrate on what you have to say. Not only do you have to know what your speech will look like, but you also have to plan what you're going to wear and the food you're going to eat.
- Plan your outfit the day before. If you're ready, you don't have to worry. Plan what you eat and when. If you know you'll feel nervous and not hungry before a public speaking, plan your meal a few hours in advance.
Step 2. Write an outline of the speech
You don't have to write down the entire speech. However, prepare a speech outline that you can use.
- You do have to memorize speeches. However, with an outline, you can ensure that you've made all the points you want to convey.
- With an outline, your speech will feel more fluid. You won't have to panic if you forget the next point you want to say because you just have to look at the outline you've made.
- In the outline you make, also include the main sentence of the speech. Like in an essay, this core sentence will help convey what you are trying to convey. These core sentences make it easier for you and your audience to determine what exactly is the point of your speech. To your audience, you will also appear prepared and knowledgeable.
- You may suddenly talk about something else while giving a speech, depending on what kind of forum you are talking to. You can get right back to what you wanted to say if you have a clear outline and knowledge of the topic.
Step 3. Practice your speech skills, while being recorded
You will be more confident with practice. Practice well: practice your speech while being recorded. Pay attention to the way you speak, the tenor of your voice, your body language, and other factors. Then look back at the tape, and note down what needs attention. Make changes as needed.
- Like an athlete or an artist, you too need to practice to be successful. When practicing your speech, speak a little slower so you can really digest what you are saying and how you appear to others. When giving a public speech, you may have a tendency to speak more quickly than usual. However, you can keep the tempo with practice.
- With practice, you'll also memorize your speech better and feel more prepared. When you finally need to speak publicly, you are well prepared.
- Be sure to rehearse the middle part of the speech over and over again as this is the part that is most often forgotten. Don't just practice your speech from the beginning, try starting from the middle to the end a few times to help keep it all in your memory.
Step 4. Breathe deeply, smile, and drink water to keep yourself hydrated
Breathing is a key component in delivering a great speech. The breath and oxygen that enters your body will make you calm and focused. Smiling can make you feel happy and water boosts your energy. When you smile, you will feel better.
- When you take a minute to breathe, you will lower your heart rate while processing what you are doing and saying. When we are nervous, we breathe more shallowly. Shallow breathing like this does not give our brain enough oxygen and the mind becomes distracted.
- Deep, even breathing can help you relax your mind and body. Besides, smile. Smiling will release endorphins in the brain. This hormone makes us feel happy. Also make sure your body is given enough water. When you're dehydrated, you won't be able to think clearly. Your body will tire more easily.
Step 5. Get some rest, and dress appropriately
If you know you're giving a speech in the morning, get plenty of rest at night. Then, when you feel fresh enough, wear the clothes that you have planned in advance.
- Do whatever it takes to relax your body and allow you to sleep peacefully. Work out, watch a movie, read the book you've always wanted. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep so you can feel refreshed when you wake up.
- Plan the clothes you will wear, so that when you want to give a speech, you just have to wear it. You should wear something that gives you confidence and makes you feel like a great person. Whether it's a new suit that makes you feel like you can rule the world, or a classy dress that really fits you. Dress appropriately and appropriately and wear something that makes you feel confident. If you feel you look cool, your self-confidence will increase sharply.
Part 3 of 3: Public Speaking or Giving Presentations
Step 1. Warm up
Before giving a speech, you must prepare your voice and body first.
- Stretch your body, so you feel light and don't look stiff when you're talking.
- Prepare your vocal chords with exercises, such as voicing your entire vocal range. Start with the lowest possible note, then work your way up to the highest note. Repeat again.
- Do some speaking exercises and complex sentences to prepare the mouth and lighten the jaw.
Step 2. Introduce yourself
Even if you're talking to people who already know you, self-introduction is an easy way to get into your speech and prepare your audience.
- This self-introduction can be as simple as stating your name and yourself. Explain why you are speaking today.
- If it feels appropriate, you can also be more casual. Start with a small personal story about something that happened to you, and relate it to the topic you are going to talk about. A story or joke is a good mood breaker.
- You can calm and focus your audience by introducing yourself before starting to speak. In addition, you will feel more relaxed. Of course, you want your audience to feel comfortable around you.
Step 3. Begin your speech by delivering your main sentence
Then, briefly, outline the passages in your speech.
- By delivering the main sentence, the audience will know the topic of your speech. They will also see that you are ready.
- Then continue with a short outline of your speech. By doing so, you show that you are not underestimating this opportunity and convey to the audience that your speech will have its end. Audiences love it when they know your speech will stop at some point. They will find it easier to stay focused and not sleepy from the start.
- By stating an outline, you'll also be able to remember what you were going to say before getting into your speech.
Step 4. Make eye contact and use good body language
Look your audience in the eye, and use facial expressions and hands. Whatever your topic, remember that your speech is not boring and neither are you.
- Look your audience in the eye. Keep your eyes on one person, then maintain eye contact for a sentence or two. This way, you will appear to be speaking to the audience and not to the audience. With eye contact, you will also feel calmer. You may feel more comfortable focusing your attention on one person and treating your speech as a conversation rather than addressing a group of people.
- Your body language is as important as your words. If you just stand up straight and look tense, you will also appear nervous and boring. If you're gesticulating too much, or moving too much, you'll also appear panicked and nervous. Stand up straight, remember all your nervous habits. Move while you are moving to another point. Go for it, not too fast and not too slow. Make sure your walking speed matches the speed of speech.
Step 5. Pay attention to your articulation
When speaking in public, you need to pay close attention to your articulation. You have to sound people. If other people can't understand you, they will quickly get bored.
- Speak slowly and loudly, so everyone can hear you. Of course, don't overdo it. Try to finish each word before saying the next.
- You may find it helpful to remember to breathe and be comfortable with silence.
- Pay attention to your tone of voice. Don't let yourself sound like a monotonous robot. You can change the tone of your voice, to be very interested or very gentle, to convey certain feelings.
Step 6. Show energy
Your audience will have energy, and so will you. If the energy you show is nervous energy, your audience will feel it too. Don't follow the energy of the audience; lead that energy.
- The way you speak and your body language will show your audience what energy is in your body. You are passionate about the topic you are discussing and you know the topic well enough to be able to speak publicly. Use that energy to lead the audience.
- Remember to think positive and smile. This kind of positive energy will influence the audience, and as a result it will come back to you too.
Step 7. Follow your outline
When needed, lyric back the skeleton. However, do not look and read the outline.
- With practice and talking to your audience, you shouldn't have to see and read the outline you've created. However, sometimes you may need to glance at it so that all the important points can be conveyed.
- If you are speaking on a podium, you can also put the outline of your speech on the podium. While talking, you can walk away from the podium. You can also use your outline as an anchor point. This point is a safe place that you can always visit. Breathe, then let the audience absorb what you have to say, then double-check to make sure you're on the right track.
Step 8. Have fun
People who have good public speaking skills usually have a lot of fun speaking in public. You should be proud that you can share your knowledge and that people want to hear what you have to say.
- At the end of your speech, you may want to summarize the main points and rephrase your main points.
- Thank the audience for listening to your speech and being a great audience. Then, ask if they have any questions.
- Before you start your speech, it's a good idea to write down some questions you have yourself about the topic you're about to address, questions you've heard before, or questions you think you'll be asked. Answer the questions well. Answering the questions shouldn't be difficult because you already know the topic well.
- If no one is asking, show that you are experienced by asking certain questions. Then use one of the questions you wrote down.
Tips
- Take a good rest the night before your speech, so that you feel refreshed.
- Practice so that you don't have to rely on your notes and can face the audience.
- Smile and think positive.
- Create an alternate persona of yourself, which is someone who has great oratory skills. Play this character on stage.
- Remember to keep breathing and relax. Audiences want to hear what you have to say. Give them a chance to hear what you have to say.
- You can start by telling a funny story.
