In this age of social media and video, it can be hard for people to stand out in a crowd. But if you want your audience to remember what you have to say, then your presentation skills are vital. If you’re having trouble performing in front of an audience or just want to improve your public speaking skills, here are some tips:
Focus on Your Breath
Breathing is key to public speaking. Taking deep breaths, exhaling slowly, and focusing on your breath can help calm your nerves and focus on what you’re saying.
When you’re in front of a group, try to focus on the sound of your own breath rather than the movement of your chest. If you find yourself getting carried away by thoughts or feelings while speaking, take several long breaths through pursed lips as if blowing out candles on a birthday cake (or whatever). This will slow down any panic-inducing thoughts and make it easier for you to stay focused on what’s important: delivering an effective presentation!
Practice in Front of a Mirror
One way to improve your public speaking skills is to practice in front of a mirror, video camera, or group of people. When you do this, it’s important that you are comfortable with the content and style of what you’re presenting. If possible, try practicing this at least once per day for at least 5 minutes each time (this may seem like a lot but it will help). Once you feel confident enough with this type of practice session then move on to other forms such as having someone give feedback on your presentation after they’ve seen it.
Try Looking toward Your Audience
- Use eye contact to connect with your audience.
- Use eye contact to keep them engaged and focused on what you’re saying.
- Avoid looking at the audience as a whole, focus on individuals instead of trying too hard to impress everyone at once (this will make you seem like you’re trying too hard).
Use Your Own Body Language and Facial Expressions to Convey Your Message
You can use your own body language and facial expressions to convey your message. For example, if you’re talking about a tough topic such as politics, use your hands as often as possible to emphasize points. If something is difficult to say or understand, show emotion with an angry face or sad eyes.
These are just two examples of how people use their bodies when they speak—but it’s worth noting that there are many more ways people try to communicate through body language than we realize!
The next time you’re in a conversation with someone, pay attention to how they use their body. You’ll be surprised by how much information you can get from someone just by looking at them!
Study Great Public Speakers
By studying the best speakers and the worst, you can learn how to improve your own public speaking skills. Here are some of the things you might want to consider:
- What makes them good or bad? What do they do that others don’t?
- How do they make their presentations interesting? How can you incorporate these techniques into yours too (e.g., by using humor)?
What makes them good or bad? As you watch the videos, pay attention to what they do. Do they use humor when appropriate? How do they keep people interested in what they have to say? What kind of stories do they tell, and how are these stories relevant to their topic?
Prepare Talking Points
A talk is only as good as the material you use to deliver it. The more prepared you are, the better your talk will be, and the more people will be able to learn from it.
Here are some tips for preparing meaningful talking points:
Choose a topic that matters to you and make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. If you’re delivering a speech or presentation that doesn’t interest you, why should anyone else care? This goes for any type of speaking engagement—from business meetings to weddings.
Know Your Audience
When you’re giving a presentation, it’s important to know the audience and what they expect from you.
- Know their level of knowledge about your topic: Are they experts in this field? Do they have experience with similar topics? Have they done research on your topic before?
- Know their level of interest: How much do they care about the subject matter at hand? Are there any specific things that will make or break them being able to follow along with what’s happening during your speech or presentation (for example, if there’s a lot of technical jargon involved)?
- Know how experienced people feel when listening to presentations like yours – whether it be through writing down notes while watching someone speak publicly (which can help build connections between speakers), asking questions after hearing something new from another speaker who may not share common ground with yourself but has something valuable to say nonetheless; whatever method works best for getting across ideas effectively without sounding robotic!
The Bottom Line
Public speaking is a skill that will serve you well in any profession. You can use it to improve your career, make new connections and be more confident in yourself. If you’re new to public speaking or aren’t sure where to start, we are here to help! Our speech coaches are professionals with years of experience helping people improve their speaking skills. Contact us today for an appointment so that we can help you become an even better speaker!
