How to improve public speaking

Written by Areni P

Public speaking is a necessary skill needed for personal development. Whether talking to just a few close friends or in front of thousands of people you don't know, knowing how to express your thoughts is very important. Despite it being a very important skill, many people struggle with public speaking. To help with this issue, here are 4 tips to improve your public speaking. 

Use Bullet Point Notes

Writing your ideas on little pieces of paper in your own words about the main points you want to cover can help significantly. If you get lost and forget what you need to say, refer back to your notes to help you remember. Do not read off the paper because it is not appealing to the audience. 

Be Comfortable With Pausing 

Staying away from constantly saying things like “um” because it shows uncertainty to the audience. Instead of using phrases like this to think of your next point, take a pause. This gives you an opportunity to think of what you're going to say next without making it seem that you are unsure. This also gives your audience time to reflect on whatever you just said, therefore emphasize your point. 

Incorporate visuals

Giving your audience something to look at during a presentation is also a good idea. It puts into perspective what you are trying to prove and also makes them more engaged. It gives the audience something to look at and not lose their attention. If you get anxious by everyone looking at you, giving people something else to look at gets their eyes off you for a few seconds, helping you relax. 

Practice!

By practicing expressing your ideas and thoughts, you understand the main goal of the presentation. Therefore, even when you get lost and forget what you wanted to say word for word, you can use other words that still get your point across. Practicing in front of family members or even in front of a mirror helps so you have your eyes up and makes you notice small details like swaying, using your hands and eye contact.