Observe exceptional speakers in person when you get the chance. Pay close attention to an engaging lecturer, a co-worker who is great at client presentations, or a politician who knows how to electrify a crowd. You can also watch great speakers online. Check YouTube for well-known public speakers, or check out the recordings of TED talks.
You might, for example, notice that people who advance more quickly in your company use less corporate jargon when they speak. If so, keep this in mind when it’s time for you to make a presentation.
You can also look for low-pressure public speaking opportunities in your area. For instance, a local chamber of commerce, historical society, or charitable organization might be on the lookout for speakers.
For instance, if you hear from several people that you tend to talk too fast, you’ll know you need to work on maintaining a slower speaking pace. You might get opposing feedback from two different people, though. For example, one person may think you were too jokey, while another might really appreciate the humor you sprinkled in. In this case, you may need to prioritize whose feedback you value the most.
Training sessions with a coach may help you improve your delivery style, body language, speaking voice, and overall confidence. Look for a coach who works with your natural attributes, rather than trying to impose a “one-size-fits-all” public speaking style.
Brief pauses of 1-3 seconds, and sometimes even longer ones, indicate that you are both thoughtful and focused on clarity. Try pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth, during times when you’re tempted to utter a filler word. This little trick can help train you to avoid them and use pauses instead.
For instance, don’t say, “when we juxtapose the ways in which these two divergent groups utilize the product,” when you can instead say, “when we compare how these two different groups use the product. ” Adjust your vocabulary to suit your audience. You can use more technical terms or “insider” phrases when speaking to an audience that you know will be able to follow along.
For instance, seemingly innocuous phrases like “that’s b. s. ” or “swear to God” might offend some people. Also, they lack the air of professionalism you should be aiming for. Even if you’re trying to be folksy, avoid saying things like “ain’t. ” Likewise, avoid using abbreviations, acronyms, hashtags, or other slang phrases to show how “trendy” you are.
For instance, don’t transition with, “So, anyways,” or, “OK, anyhow. ” Instead, use something like, “Let’s move on to…” or, “Another aspect to consider…”.
An active voice sentence usually follows the form of subject—verb—object, with the verb expressing the action taken by the subject on the object (e. g. , “The dog ate my homework. “). A passive voice sentence usually is in the form of subject—verb—agent, with the verb expressing the action taken by the agent upon the subject (e. g. , “My homework was eaten by the dog. “). For example, compare the following: “Project X will be completed by us next Tuesday. " “We will complete Project X next Tuesday. ” Passive voice is sometimes preferable, however, such as in scientific or technical contexts when generality or universality is the goal.
For instance, you might speak a bit more quickly when you’re summarizing or recapping content, then slow down a little more when you’re introducing something new. Speaking a little faster is also a way to build up some more enthusiasm, while slowing down helps you to hammer home a key point.
This only works with genuine smiles, however. A forced, faked smile won’t have the same effect, and may make you seem untrustworthy. If you aren’t in a smiling mood, try to think of something happy, right before speaking or even during your talk. In addition to smiling while talking on the phone, work on other forms of nonverbal communication, like posture and hand gestures. It makes a difference!
If you’re standing, keep your feet at shoulder width or slightly wider. The overall goal here is to project confidence by making yourself appear a bit larger and more open. You don’t want to appear too aggressive or dominant, however—by gesturing with clenched fists, for example.
Reduce how often you have to look at notes by memorizing your speech, or practicing what you want to say so it comes naturally. If looking people right in the eyes distracts you, focus on the tops of their heads instead. Don’t stare directly at someone for more than 10-15 seconds. Move on to someone else, or break eye contact for about 5 seconds, then return it.
Make eye contact while the other person is speaking. Nod your head and make brief affirmations like “mm-hmm” or “I see” to show that you’re listening. Quickly summarize what they’ve said when it’s your turn to speak: “So what you’re saying is…”
