5 Quick Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking remains one of the biggest fears people have, and even seasoned public speakers are always looking for new tips, tricks, and ideas on how to improve their public speaking skills. Whether it’s about something you’ve always been terrified of or you’re looking to prepare for a specific upcoming event, you can use the following public speaking tips to start moving you in the right direction.

1. Always practice: Practicing really does make a big difference. You want to rehearse out loud and practice not only the message, but also projecting your voice, timing, and breathing. This will also help with your overall comfort level. When you really know the material, it will be much easier for you to deliver the speech or presentation.
2. Visualize: Do some visualization, imagine yourself delivering your speech and doing a fantastic job, speaking loudly, confidently and clearly, and being well received. Visualization techniques have been shown to improve confidence and performance.
3. Be positive: People aren’t rooting for your failure, so don’t start going down that road mentally. Be positive in terms of what you are thinking and how you think you are doing. Also, don’t call attention to “negatives,” like forgetting what you’re saying or being nervous. Just go ahead and get your train of thought back.
4. Focus on the message: Don’t think about how many people are listening to you, who they are, or why you’re up there. Instead, just think about what you’re saying. Focus on the message and let the rest fade away. Again, as mentioned above, the more familiar you are with your material and the more practiced you are, the easier it will be.
5. Watch Videos: Watch videos of presentations made by other people who you think did a great job. What made them so effective? Was it your level of eye contact or audience participation, the tone of your voice, your confidence, hand gestures, or anything else? Observe and learn from others, and take note of what you want to do for yourself. You’ll get some inspiration and some hacks that you can instantly start incorporating. Also, try recording yourself in a practice session and then watch the footage. You’ll see where you might want to improve, and you may also feel relieved that you’ve been so much better than you thought.

While many people can successfully improve their public speaking skills on their own, for many others, a speech-language pathologist can provide a superior and long-lasting solution by addressing any potential root issues or conditions and providing confidence, clarity and overall comfort.

Whether it is a speech at a wedding, a problem with work, or a general desire to simply improve your quality of life and your ability to handle any public speaking scenario you may encounter, it may be time to consult with a speech therapist and get more information. about how he or she can help.