7 Key Tips to Improve Public Speaking & Make a Strong Impression

Public Speaking – while many excel in the art of communication, some experience bouts of anxiety, nervousness, and consciousness upon facing the crowd.

Some usual questions that hound when asked to give a speech in public happen to be:

What will everyone think of me?
Will I be able to speak clearly?
What will happen if I forget my lines or blackout on the stage?
Will I end up making a mockery of myself?

It’s common to have these questions in mind if you are someone who fears public speaking. But, you must remember one thing that no one’s blessed with great communication skills. It comes with practice and consistency. The more you practice, the better you get. The same goes true for Public Speaking.

And to ensure that you get this practice right, we’ve got some very important and effective tips that will help you master the art of Public Speaking and leave a strong impact on your speech.

Have a look at these tips:

1. Understand Your Audience

When speaking in front of a group, it’s important to understand who your target audience is. For instance, if you are an expert in management lessons and are expected to address a crowd of students, your content must revolve around management lessons that are vital for a student. Knowing your audience helps you prepare the speech better and connect with the people on a deeper level. This has a great impact on your speech.

2. Make the Content Interactive

Once you know your audience, the next thing to do is prepare the content. Here you need to keep in mind that the content must be easy to comprehend. Don’t use too many complex words as it might leave your audience confused. Let your content be a balance of flair and simplicity. And don’t forget to make it interactive by adding in a few interesting questions related to the topic here and there.

3. Practice & Rehearse

Even the best in this trade believe in thorough practice and rehearsal. It helps you build confidence and improve your speech. If possible, try and practice with some distractions around so that you can learn to deliver your best even amidst slight chaos.

4. Work on Your Body Language

Too many hand movements or absolutely zero movement can ruin your speech. Body language is a make or break deal in the domain of public speaking. So, ensure that you work on your body language. And never try to imitate some other public speaker. It would be a lot better if you develop your own style.

5. Take a Pause

Using pauses can help you with speed and pacing. When using pauses, you have to be sure of using them in a strategic way. Insert pauses right after significant points to let the audience sink them in or use them right before so that you can gather your thoughts and get the attention of your audience.

6. Make Eye Contact

Eye contact is the vital key in public speaking. It allows you to connect with the audience better. Moreover, eye contact proves the most effective when you adjust your focus on one person at a time. When you make eye contact, people are more likely to pay attention and listen to you carefully.

7. Prepare the Opening & Closing Lines Well

The opening line of your speech decides how your audience is going to perceive you and how connected they’re going to be. And with a closing line, you seal the deal making sure that people part ways with your words repeating in their minds. So, it’s very important that you prepare your opening and closing lines well. The goal should always be to ensure that you start and end powerfully while still allowing yourself the room to speak naturally in between.

Remember, it’s pretty natural to feel scared the first time you are required to speak in front of an audience. However, if you continue to practice and improve with every chance, you will be on your way to becoming a successful public speaker.

To gain more knowledge in regard to effective public speaking, have a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rFPxlyR66c