In this blog, we will cover about importance of public speaking skills and various tips on how you can improve them over time.
Did you know that about one in every five people gets nervous about public speaking? So, if the idea of standing up in front of a crowd makes you feel all sweaty and jittery, don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone in feeling that way.
Importance of Strong Public Speaking Skills
In both college and your career, being a great public speaker can really make you stand out. It boosts your confidence and opens up doors to leadership roles. Public speaking isn’t just about talking to a crowd; it’s one of the best ways to share your ideas, show what you know, and sway others to your viewpoint. Plus, it helps you stay organized and even makes you better at talking with people one-on-one.
Believe it or not, many folks who seem totally chill in front of crowds once had major stage fright. But by facing that fear head-on, practicing heaps, and building up confidence, they have gained excellent public communication skills. So, how can you tackle your nerves and still do great when you are delivering a speech in public? Let’s chat about a few simple strategies!
Know Your Audience
Ever noticed how talking to your friends is way easier than talking to strangers? It’s the same with presenting to a crowd. When you know who you’re talking to, it’s easier to connect. So, figure out who’s in the room and adjust your message to fit them. Perhaps crack a joke or two to start things off!
Also, try to figure out what your audience already knows about your topic. This helps you decide how much info to give and whether to keep things more professional or more relaxed. And while you are having a public communication, keep an eye on how they’re reacting. Adjust your approach so you can keep them engaged.
Calm Your Nerves
It’s totally normal to get nervous, even if you’ve prepped like a pro. When those jitters hit, take a deep breath. Remember, nobody’s expecting you to be perfect. Instead of fidgeting or getting caught up in nervous habits, try finding ways to chill out beforehand. Maybe squeeze in some exercise or do a quick meditation session.
Let Your Personality Shine Through
Be yourself! When others see the real you, they connect with you more. Share tales or relate personal experiences that hold significance for you. Similar to how many TED Talk speakers begin by sharing a personal narrative, doing so enables them to connect with the audience, express their passion, and build trust. It’ll make your presentation more interesting and help people relate to you. To add this kind of personal touch to your Public speaking presentation, make sure what you share has a direct connection with the topic at hand.
Embrace “The Pause”
Ever noticed how annoying it is when a speaker keeps saying “uh” or “um” all the time? But did you know that pauses can actually make your speech stronger? Certainly, a well-timed break in speaking can actually make your point stronger. So don’t be afraid to take a moment to gather your thoughts. It’ll make you a better speaker in the long run.
Using Minimal Notes
Due to the nervousness about public speaking, people often write down every word of their speech to avoid forgetting. But if you’ve ever seen someone read from notes the whole time, it literally blows up the whole interest. To improve public speaking, here’s a tip: instead of reading from a script the whole time, just jot down a few keywords or phrases to remind you of each point. That way, you can stay on track without losing your audience’s attention.
Watch Your Hand Gestures
You’ve probably seen someone use their hands to talk. That’s totally fine, but when you’re nervous, those gestures can get out of control. Although using your hands to draw attention to areas is a nice idea, excessive movement can be annoying. Thus, when you speak, pay attention to your hands. Slowing down their movement can also help calm your mind and make you feel more relaxed.
Using the Stage
Before you start, take a good look at the stage. Make sure your tech works and you know how everything’s set up. And own it while you’re up there! Make eye contact, move around a little, and maintain an open body language. Be confident, have a straight posture, and smile.
Moving Around
Ever notice how some speakers just can’t stay still? If that’s you, it’s probably because you’re a bit nervous. A little movement is okay, but pacing back and forth like you’re in a tennis match can make your audience feel a bit dizzy. So yeah, it’s totally fine to step away from the podium now and then but try not to overdo it.
Recording Yourself Speaking
Getting feedback from friends or co-workers is great, but sometimes you need to be your own critic to improve your public talking skills. Set up your phone to record your speech, then watch it later. You might notice some nervous habits or awkward moments you didn’t realize before. And if you’re presenting on Zoom, ask if you can record the meeting—it’s a great way to learn from your mistakes and get even better next time!
Incorporate Visual Prompts
If you’re worried about all eyes being on you, visual prompts can be a lifesaver. It could be a slide with an interesting image, a graph, or even something more hands-on, like pouring water into a glass to show the idea of “glass half full.” It’s a nice break for both you and your audience, plus it gives you something to do with your hands!
Make a Lasting Impression
Just like how you start strong, you need to finish strong too! This is your chance to leave an impression on your audience. So, wrap it up with something memorable. You could give them a call to action, like encouraging them to take the next steps after hearing your talk. Or maybe drop a quote that sums up your message perfectly. Lastly, always thank them for their time—it’s just good manners! If there’s time, you can even open the floor for questions or invite them to chat with you afterward.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Mark Twain, an American writer, humorist, and essayist, once said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” So, if you’re feeling nervous about public speaking, the best way to tackle it is by practicing—a lot. Each time you go through your speech, you’ll get more comfortable with it. You’ll know it inside and out, which will boost your confidence when it’s showtime. Trust the process, practice makes perfect!
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a born speaker to get better at it. By weaving the above-mentioned tips for public speaking into your daily routine, you can steadily improve your skills and feel more at ease when you have to give a presentation or speech.
To upskill, take professional English-speaking courses from DG Institution today! It will help you improve speaking skills which can further give you a career boost. It opens up all sorts of doors that others might shy away from.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the reasons to improve public communication skills?
Improving public speaking skills helps you feel more confident and advance in your career. It also helps you grow personally, communicate better, make new friends, and feel good about yourself. Plus, it lets you connect with more people professionally and become more persuasive.
- Who should Improve public speaking skills?
Apart from students and company owners, everybody can benefit from improving public talking skills. For example: if you’re in sales, public speaking skills can boost your success. You can aim for bigger sales targets, attract more customers, and close more deals by effectively communicating your message to audiences.
- How to improve my public speaking skills?
Listening to TED talks, and constantly practicing and taking English Speaking classes will help you abundantly in improving your public communication skills.
