How do you feel when you have to speak in front of a crowd? Are you confident and unbothered, or do you feel anxious? If you’re nervous and panicked, you’re not alone. In fact, there’s even a word for the fear: Glossophobia. Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking, and it affects 15% to 30% of the population. While not all of us have a diagnosable phobia, many of us are scared before we do it. And guess what? We’re in the majority! According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 77% of the population fears public speaking.

Now let us ask you something else. When we think of a corporate job, our minds don’t immediately jump to public speaking. We think of reports, excel sheets and salaries. We imagine our bosses and dream of winning awards or being recognised. Only some of us think of public speaking in relation to work. However, once we do start working, we quickly realise that public speaking can be a surprisingly big part of our jobs. Further, it can even play a large role in our career growth.

This is partly because public speaking falls under the domain of communication skills. As people climb corporate ladders, they will be expected to excel at it. Managerial and leadership roles demand communication excellence. Strong public speaking skills mean better presentations, straightforward explanations and clear communication. At LUBM, we strive to equipp our graduates with everything they need to rise to the top. We believe that confidence, knowledge and clarity are the cornerstones of professional success. Thus, here are 11 actionable tips to help you become a more effective and confident speaker.

1. Understand Whom You’re Addressing

There’s an interesting article on Social Sci LibreTexts about the importance of understanding your audience. It goes into a lot of depth about why knowing your audience and their interests can influence the success of your speech. But we invite you to think on the topic before you read it. Why would it help to understand your audience’s background, interests, and expectations? How could knowing their drives and needs help you while public speaking? 

Simply put, it helps you to tailor your message effectively. It helps you craft content that is relatable and elicits responses. It helps speakers build common ground with listeners. In business terms, know your target market. Besides, it helps ensure that your message is crafted to communicate clearly and make an impact. How does it look in practice? It includes speeches made with the audience in mind. So, a professional presenting at a corporate meeting can incorporate concepts like listener expertise levels. It could look like a boss who acknowledges each audience member’s contributions to a project. The factors vary depending on audience size, expertise, gender, and why they are there.

2. Clarity First

While writing your speech, remember that the most important thing is clarity. In any communication scenario, the most important thing is to be precise and clear. In a public speaking situation, this shows up in the speech, body language and tone modulation. Thus, it is vital to first note down your key points. Then, build your speech around it. So, as you write your speech, ensure you have a clear introduction. Everybody should know the subject you are speaking of. If you are mentioning industry specific elements, take time to explain them succinctly to listeners who may not understand.

The body of the speech will not be clear if the introduction is vague. A well structured speech should improve comprehension and retention among listeners. Lastly, close with a strong call to action or some memorable insight.  

3. Weaving a Story

Sometimes we can get our priorities mixed up while public speaking. We can get so focused on creating the best possible speech that we forget everything else. But the truth is that the best speeches are made for listeners. It becomes the best by reaching the most people and touching their hearts and minds. Thus, storytelling is important in public speaking. Incorporating personal anecdotes and stories makes your speech more engaging and memorable. Why? Because stories help the audience relate to the speaker. It builds authenticity and connects with the audience on an emotional level.  

4. The Non Verbal Part of Public Speaking  

Now we get into the meat of it. Did you know that your body language is massively significant in your communications? Experts back this up! A body language researcher named Albert Mehrabian shared a breakdown. He stated that 55% of communication is nonverbal in face to face interactions. 

For public speaking, this means that body language is extremely significant. When we think about how other mammals communicate, this doesn’t feel like a big stretch. Cats, dogs, and all other mammals also use body language to communicate, just like humans. Your hand gestures and eye contact convey a lot about your confidence, trustworthiness and expertise. Your posture and breathing can also impact how your message is received. So, we suggest you practice with a trusted friend and ask for honest feedback! Alternatively, you could try recording yourself in full and make changes as you spot them! Thus, you can convey your message more powerfully.

5. Vary Your Vocal Delivery

We just discussed Albert Mehrabian, the body language researcher and his findings. The same man broke down all human face to face communication into three parts. Further, he also shared what percentage it contributes. He shared that all communication is 55% nonverbal, 7% words, and 38% vocal. Here, we’re going to focus on the vocal part. How does it affect public speaking? It means that variations in pitch, tone, volume, inflections and pace matter. They influence how engaged the audience is. Further, they are invaluable in emphasising key points. Thus, vocal variety is essential for expressiveness and maintaining listener interest during public speaking.  

6. Visual Aids: Adding Pizzaz

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Thus, it is no surprise that a well placed image or video can significantly enhance audience engagement during public speaking. Visual aids can amplify your message and increase audience understanding and information retention. Presentations with visual elements are more persuasive and help in conveying complex ideas effectively. Imagine a work meeting without a presentation. Further, imagine it without data visualisation. Would you retain the information as easily? We think even a single, well chosen image per point can be a game changer. Try it!

7. Practice makes Perfect

We don’t think we need to explain this point in depth. However, we did think it would be useful to point out that this is an expert backed view. In a Verywell Mind article, author and clinical psychologist Arlin Cuncic states that practising public speaking can reduce anxiety. Upon reflection, that makes sense. Rehearsing your speech multiple times helps. It refines your delivery and builds confidence. Purposeful practice leads to improved performance and reduced anxiety. In application, how can you incorporate this? Arlin Cuncic suggests joining public speaking clubs. Alternatively, she suggests public speaking regularly in front of family and friends. This looks like sharing an anecdote or an interesting fact. If you’re preparing for a speech, we suggest practising in front of the mirror. Further, you could try recording your practice sessions as a video and spotting concerns.

8. Managing Anxiety

Public speaking is no task for the faint of heart. For many, it can cause nervousness and tension. And the psychological solution isn’t what you would expect. You may have thought that the solution is to get rid of your anxiety. However, both Arlin Cuncic and a Forbes article state the opposite. The way to overcome public speaking anxiety is to reframe it. The process is called Cognitive reframing or cognitive restructuring. Essentially, we have to reframe it to ourselves as us being excited for it. It seems that it’s easier to interchange anxiety with excitement because the sensations are similar. Thus, we can reframe our nerves as ‘I’m excited to get my point across clearly’ rather than ‘I’m worried that I won’t communicate my point well’. Convert adrenaline into enthusiastic energy. Therefore, nerves become your ally rather than your obstacle. You could couple this with breathing exercises, and we believe it can make a difference!

9. Actively Engage Your Audience

We all enjoy comedy, and many of us enjoy stand up comedy. For those familiar with it, ask yourselves this: why do comedians engage in crowdwork? Why do you think they push themselves to think on their feet in public? Multiple factors contribute, but we’re going to focus on this one: it’s engaging. Simply that. An audience that expects to be interacted with stays engaged. They pay attention, because it’s exciting to participate compared to sitting passively. Thus, we suggest that you pepper your speech with engaging questions. You don’t have to do crowdwork like comedians. You could ask them to raise their hands. Alternatively, you could ask questions or answer them. Interactive elements make your presentation more dynamic and memorable.

10. Ask for Feedback, and Act on It

This is tied into some points we have made before. It’s related to practice, body language and public speaking itself. Before you’re due to go on, we suggest seeking feedback from friends, family or mentors. You trust them, and they can provide valuable insights into your speech. They could advise on strengths and areas for improvement. And most importantly, incorporate that feedback into your big moment. Constructive feedback is crucial for continuous development as a speaker.

11. Study Famous Speakers and Speeches

Lastly, we strongly suggest studying up on public speaking. By this, we mean that you should consume famous speeches by the dozen. The fact is that humans are excellent at imitation. We learn through observation and trying to copy it. You see it in children, and it’s just subtler in adults. Let’s use our humanity to our advantage. Observing skilled speakers can provide inspiration and techniques. Thus, you can enhance your own speaking abilities. Take care to analyse their delivery, structure, and engagement strategies. These can offer significant pointers for improvement and excellence.

Conclusion

Improving your public speaking skills is a journey that involves understanding your audience. Further, it necessitates organising your content, engaging through storytelling, and refining your delivery. It requires practice, feedback, changes and practising again. By implementing these strategies, you can become a more confident and effective communicator.

At LUBM, we recognise the importance of communication skills in professional development. Our programs are designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge to excel in various aspects of your career. That includes public speaking. Further, stay tuned to our social media and website. Why? Because we often host workshops and seminars for working professionals. They often feature industry experts covering relevant topics. Further, they’re an excellent way to network for free.