Public Speaking Tips and Tricks Everyone Should Know

It’s common knowledge that 75% of the population is scared of public speaking.

Cue shaking knees, voice quivers, and did I mention the sweats? Yet, data shows us that 70% of people will be required to do some form of public speaking as part of their job.*

Public speaking is often perceived as a talent you're either born with or without. However, it's important to remember that anyone can develop this skill. We can all become engaging, confident speakers with the right guidance, practice, and a dash of confidence. 

I have been in the speaking industry for over ten years, and in that time, I’ve presented to audiences of five and over 2,000. Many people are surprised to learn that I’m actually an introvert, and when I first started presenting, I was beyond petrified. I would often feel my hands shake as I held the microphone, nervously tug and pull at my hair or clothing, and make incredibly awkward jokes to try and break the ice. 

Hot Tips Within Your Control for Beginners: 

• If you’re worried about your hands shaking, CLENCH YOUR BUTT, yep, you read that correctly. The blood will rush to your gluteus maximus, making it nearly impossible to have shaky hands.

• Wear clothes you feel comfortable and confident in, and try to avoid any clothing that has seams at fingertip length that may be tempting to tug on.

• If you play with your hair (like I used to), wear your hair up to prevent the urge.

These days, presenting feels like a privilege, and I’ve compiled a list of the best tips and tricks I’ve ever been told, tried and tested.

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Tried and Tested Tips and Tricks:

Know Your Audience 

It sounds simple, but building a connection and rapport with your audience in the first few minutes of your presentation is critical to gaining their trust, building your confidence and delivering a message that resonates. 

• Find common ground: What do you have in common with your audience? 

• Do your research: If you are presenting to people you don’t know, where have they come from? Why are they in your audience? 

Engage Your Audience

These days, attention is something everyone is competing for, and it’s a tough gig to try and be more engaging than the small rectangular piece of technology found in most people’s hands or pockets. There are some simple things you can do to help engage your audience: 

• Use your facial expressions and body language purposefully: if you share a story, be animated and use gestures.

• It might feel awkward to begin, but make eye contact with different people and sections of your audience. This will make it much harder for people to look at their phones and other distractions, as they will feel connected to you. 

• Ask for a show of hands, a thumbs up, or a head nod every so often. This will help increase engagement, as they won’t know when they’ll be asked to participate, and it will assist with building a connection to your topic.

Tell Stories 

This is one of the most effective forms of engagement we can use, and research by people such as Dr. Paul Zak has helped to scientifically prove this.* Storytelling helps us to captivate an audience by promoting immersion. 

• People gravitate towards stories that they relate to: humans subconsciously grasp onto what feels familiar, comfortable and known to them (this is why knowing your audience comes first)

• Immersive storytelling releases oxytocin in the audiences’ brains, increasing their sense of joy, pleasure, delight, and other emotions when they listen to you speak.

• Use sensory language to help build your story; this gives a great opportunity for more people to connect with what you’re sharing as they can picture themselves in your narrative and go on the journey with you (think touch, taste, sight, sound, textures)

Be Authentic 

Authenticity is key to establishing trust and connection. We can all tell when someone is being inauthentic or feels fake and performative. When you are genuine, your audience can sense it and are more likely to engage with you and your message. Are you a little bit goofy? Embrace it. Do you snort when you laugh? Relatable. 

• Speak in your natural tone and style: Avoid mimicking other speakers; just be yourself.

• Share personal experiences and opinions genuinely: People appreciate honesty and are likelier to connect with you when you are open and sincere.

• Embrace your vulnerabilities: Acknowledge your nervousness or any mistakes you make. This humanises you and makes you more relatable to your audience.

Use Visuals Wisely 

Visual aids can enhance your presentation by providing clarity and reinforcing your message. However, they should complement your speech, not distract from it. A mistake many people make when they start speaking is relying on their visual aids. If you can get away without them, this is one of the best ways to fast-track and become great at presenting, storytelling, and engaging your audience quickly. However, if you do need to use them, remember the following: 

• Create simple, visually appealing slides or props: Use clear, relevant, and not too text-heavy visuals. Key points or images only! 

• Practice using these aids during your rehearsals: Ensure smooth transitions and familiarity with the technology you’ll be using

• Text should be minimal, but please make sure it’s readable! Consider how large the room you are presenting in will be and how far away your audience could be sitting from the screen. 
  
  
  

Remember, public speaking is not an innate talent reserved for a select few—it's a skill anyone can learn and refine. Embrace the journey with an open mind, a positive attitude, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Each time you speak, you'll grow more confident and competent. 

So, clench those butt muscles, put on your favourite outfit, and get ready to captivate your audience. You’ve got this!

Want to learn how to master your workshops, presentations or meetings?

If you’re ready to learn more about hard and soft speaking skills, put them into practice and receive valuable feedback, explore training options with Youth Engagement Project. We offer individual, group, and organisational training tailored to your team's specific needs. 

References:

*Eser, Alexander. “Essential Public Speaking Statistics in 2024.” Zipdo.co, 10 July 2023, zipdo.co/statistics/public-speaking/#:~:text=70%25%20of%20jobs%20involve%20some. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
*Zak PJ. Why inspiring stories make us react: the neuroscience of narrative. Cerebrum. 2015 Feb 2;2015:2. PMID: 26034526; PMCID: PMC4445577.