5 Powerful Tips for Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
It’s probably no surprise that a lot of my clients bring up public speaking at some point. It’s not something many people are well practiced at and it can create uncertainty and even anxiety. Public speaking though is a crucial skill for business owners, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Whether you're delivering a pitch to potential investors, presenting a proposal to clients, or speaking at a networking event, your ability to communicate effectively can make or break your success. The good news is that with the right techniques and practice, anyone can become a confident and persuasive public speaker. I’m going to let you in on the five essential tips for mastering the art of public speaking.
1. Know Your Audience
The first key to successful public speaking is knowing your audience. Before you even put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) you need to understand your audience. Who are they? What are their interests, needs, and expectations? What kind of language and tone will resonate with them? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your speech or presentation to their specific needs, which will increase their engagement and make your message more memorable.
Tailoring your content, presentation and look to your audience will immediately build trust and interest. In turn making it a more comfortable (and even exciting) experience for you as you look out to a sea of engaged and interested faces. By doing your homework on your audience, you can create a powerful connection that will leave a lasting impression.
2. Grab their Attention
Next up is message. Your message is the main point or idea that you want to get across. It should be concise, relevant, and easy to understand. Your message should also be compelling, meaning it should capture your audience's attention and resonate with them. Whether you're persuading, informing, or inspiring, a well-crafted message can make all the difference in how your speech or presentation is received.
The second part to this point is to start with an attention grabber. By starting with a jolt your audience is immediately engaged and interested in what you have to say, allowing you to take a breath and to have an immediate confidence boost when they all lean in, start taking notes or have a laugh.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
The old saying "practice makes perfect" holds true for public speaking. Practice is crucial to improving your speaking skills and boosting your confidence. The more you practice, the more comfortable you become with your material, and the more natural your delivery will be. Practicing also helps you to become aware of any potential issues or stumbling points in your speech or presentation, allowing you to address them and make improvements.
There are several ways you can practice your public speaking skills. Start by rehearsing your speech or presentation in front of a mirror. This allows you to see your facial expressions, gestures, and body language, and make adjustments if needed. You can also record yourself and listen back to evaluate your tone, pace, and overall performance. If you’re using an online platform or any form of AV, practice with this as well to make sure you know that everything works.
4. Adopt a Power Pose
Tip 4 is another double header; before you go out on to the stage and whilst you’re on stage. But essentially the ‘power pose’ will be the same.
I love a power pose, many of my clients have found them useful, from athletes tricking their mind before a competition to Directors developing their own ‘pose’ for before big meetings and events. The idea is to physiologically and psychologically set yourself up for success.
Picture the you that has nailed the presentation and stand up tall, with your shoulders back and look straight ahead. Keep your chin up, smile and say ‘I’ve got this’ or ‘I can do this’, ‘This is my moment’ or whatever sentence makes sense to you and your situation. Say it even if you don’t believe it and say it with conviction (you can do this in your head if the situation doesn’t allow for expressions out loud!).
By standing tall and holding your head high you tell your body and brain that you are confident and ready. Smiling (even a fake one) releases neuropeptides, dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These all work together to reduce stress, immediate win!
5. Feedback and Learning
OK this isn’t something you can do before your presentation but it’s invaluable in becoming a confident presenter. After your talk, do the scary thing and ask for feedback. What could you improve, was anything distracting, how could you be more engaging?
By following these five tips you can become a confident and persuasive public speaker but if you still need a little help book in a free introductory call today and we can crush your next talk together. Happy speaking!