How to become a better public speaker

How to become a better public speaker in four easy steps

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two!”

That’s from a Seinfeld episode in the early 1990s. And the studies are still probably accurate today. 

This means if you’re at the funeral, you would rather be the person in the casket than the one delivering the eulogy.

So, can you change that? Yes, and I can help.

Over my career of facilitating and speaking professionally, I have had some coaching, learned from watching others and honed my own skill through trial and error. I’ve discovered some tips and tricks to help you stay calm while speaking in front of a group and – perhaps, just as importantly – engage with them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a high-stakes presentation to new clients, a team meeting or a wedding speech, the same lessons apply.

Becoming a better public speaker is easy, and this skill will positively impact all aspects of your professional and personal life. 

Plan your speech/talk/presentation  

Before you start writing your speech, you need to know what you want to say, and that starts with knowing your audience. Whether it’s your client, your manager, or a Fortune 500 company bringing you to speak at an event, you must find out what they hope to get from your talk or session. What does a homerun look like?

Knowing your audience and expectations will help you refine and order your content. 

Pro tip: When you start your speech, skip the superficial “I am so happy to be here with you today” opening line that makes for a pretty dull first impression.

Instead, start with a provocative question, statistic or story related to your topic that will hook your audience immediately. 

Know your content 

If you want to have some speaker swagger, you need to know your content. The concepts, the essence of the message not the exact words you will use on the day. Memorizing your speech word for word can actually work against you.

I prefer to learn my content. I write it out long hand first and sometimes record myself to hear what I am saying. It sounds like a Grade 8 book report if you rehearse it verbatim. It takes just one forgotten word or thought, and you’re suddenly a deer in headlights. 

Writing out key messages or ideas on index cards helps keep you on track and organize your thoughts without sounding overly scripted. 

If you are speaking about a subject you are not an expert in, it’s OK to say so. You may feel pressure that you must have all the answers once you’re in front of the room. But it’s OK to say I don’t know. If you pretend you know and your audience sees through it, your credibility will be lost. 

Be prepared, but don’t overdo it. Some people stay up late, cramming like a final exam for their speech. 

But if you’re not rested, your neural pathways aren’t firing. And when you can’t remember what you’re going to say or the words aren’t flowing, that makes you more nervous and impedes your performance. 

So, choose to get a good night’s sleep.

It’s OK to be nervous

Lose your fear of embarrassment or failure. Let go of the idea of being perfect. Verbal typos are OK. You don’t need to pitch the perfect game.

The most significant shift to becoming a better public speaker came when I stopped worrying about myself and focused on the message reaching the listeners. 

That’s all you are here to do. To share information with them.

It’s natural to feel some nerves. That is just performance anxiety, showing you care about what you are doing. Just don’t let it be a distraction. 

When you’re nervous, you breathe shallowly, and you babble. So when I come on stage, I say my first sentence slower than I would normally. You’ll be more in control, calmer, and more precise. 

If it’s a morning session, wake up early, move your body, and get some fresh air. This helps to expel nervous energy.

Remember, you are not there to be judged. Most people fear public speaking, so your audience will be compassionate. 

Connecting with your audience 

Ultimately, you’re trying to connect with the audience. So be authentic. If you are trying to mimic someone on your team or from TV, it’s unlikely to come off as the real you. Learn tips and ideas from them but don’t try to be them. 

Sprinkling some humour into a conversation also helps. But if you’re not funny, don’t try and be funny, it could backfire. 

 Earlier in my career, I tamped down my natural humour because I thought I couldn’t be taken seriously in business. Now I use it successfully to connect with my audience and have a more engaging conversation. 

Remember to smile and keep your body language open and inviting.

Another key is telling stories wherever possible. It’ll bring your message to life. Paint a picture, create a good story arc, a main character and a plot, and overcome conflict. Storytelling is our oldest form of communication, so use it to connect with your audience.