Getting good at talking in front of people is a great way to get your message and intention across, but many folks struggle to be confident about it. This problem can hold back personal and career growth because, in everything that we do, communicating effectively helps people understand us better. And that shows how important it is to build self-confidence when speaking on stage.
Dale Carnegie, the author of the best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People, once said, “There are always three speeches, for every one you give. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”
Know Why Getting Ready Matters
As we know, getting ready is super important. Here’s how to ensure your talk grabs people’s attention and gets them to remember your messaging.
Read this guide to cover all the basics to help you become a confident public speaker!
Do Your Homework
A noteworthy speaker starts by doing a deep dive into the subject. Getting info from trustworthy places like reputable magazines and job papers and talking to experts is key. This doesn’t just boost your audience’s confidence but also makes sure the talk is educational, useful, and interesting to your audience.
Make a Detailed Plan
After that, making a detailed outline is a must-do. This helps to put thoughts in order and ensure that the content is connected and well-thought-out for the audience to understand. Splitting up the main ideas into clear short parts and adding proof and examples will make the key points stick.
A speech can be planned by breaking down your messaging into sections in a coordinated flow that connects them seamlessly and keeps people interested the whole time.
Remember the Main Points
It’s really important to remember your messaging and key points at any given time. Practising often and focusing on the big ideas and key details helps you improve in delivering your intention and message to your audience. At times, distractions can happen, so knowing the goal of your speech and key points can help you stay on track when you speak.
And if you’re stuck and your nerves are kicking in during the spotlight or when you’re losing your train of thought, do this:
- Use items like flashcards or a small note to carry with you to the stage
- Making up little songs with a flow
Using tips like these can help you remember your main points and messaging and ultimately boost your mood and confidence level, and that’ll translate into how well you do when speaking to a crowd.
Fun Ways to Feel More Confident
How to Breathe and Chill Out
Did you know that breathing exercises are key to becoming a better public speaker? In an article by Harvard Business Review, an ex-opera singer points out how deep breaths help you speak loudly in a big room.
For this exercise, find what works best for you. As a start, try standing the right way. Keep your feet as wide as your shoulders, and lift your arms high. Then, as you breathe out, bring your arms down. Try to keep your chest big and your shoulders loose. This way of standing helps you control your breath better and makes you look sure of yourself.
If you want to know how you sound, you can hit the record button on your phone as you practice your speech and replay to know how you sound.
- Are you getting your messaging across well?
- Is your intention clear?
- Picturing yourself as an audience, are you interested and following?
Sometimes with a bit of bias, it can be difficult to spot your own mistakes. Alternatively, you could practice with friends to hear how full and rich your voice sounds.
More often, your results will have better outcomes when you have your breathing exercises and techniques right.
Picturing Success
A great way to increase your confidence before doing anything is to imagine success first.
This means visualizing every tiny thing, from stepping up to the stage to the crowd applauding you.
If you constantly visualize yourself doing well, it can help with nerves about talking in public and make you more confident overall. Confidence is key!
Groups for Public Speaking
Another fun and effective way to practice and get better at speaking is to join public groups like Toastmasters. The platform provides a place to practice often, get helpful tips, and try being a leader. When you are constantly exposed to how others speak on stage, you tend to pick up the good traits and leave the bad ones out from your observation!
These clubs let you speak in different types of places, from small groups to big events. This helps you feel more sure of yourself and able to handle different speaking situations. You could also read more and participate in local events in your town; libraries and Meetup groups are also good places to get practical practice and talk to people who listen.
Engage and Connect with Your Audience
Looking People in the Eye
Looking people in the eye plays a big role in how well you interact and connect with your audience. It helps you build a bond and show you mean what you say and that you’re sure of yourself.
A seasoned speaker tries to look at different parts of the crowd during their talk. This makes everyone feel like you’re talking to them.
Moving Your Hands and Body
Moving your hands and body can help get your point across. Using your hands can make your key ideas stand out and add some life to your talk, which helps people remember what you said.
But it’s key to use these moves in a way that feels natural. If you do too much, it can be a distraction and take your audience’s attention away from what you’re trying to say.
Getting the Audience Involved
Getting the audience involved is a good way to keep them interested and make your talk more lively. You can do this by asking them questions, cracking a joke now and then, getting them to do a quick activity, or asking what they think during your presentation.
For example, you could start by asking something simple like, “Have you ever felt scared talking in front of a lot of people?” This can quickly grab their attention and get them thinking about their own experiences because it’s relatable.
These kinds of interactions don’t just keep people paying attention; they also give you instant feedback as the speaker by gauging the audience’s response to your questions, humour, and so on.
Dealing with Mistakes and Feedback
Accepting Mistakes
Talking in front of people puts speakers in a spot where they feel exposed. Each time they stand up to speak, they get one shot to nail it perfectly. But let’s face it, slip-ups happen in any kind of speech.
It’s important to reiterate that a blank mind, stumbling over your words, or if the speech doesn’t go according to plan like how you pictured it, it’s totally fine. Like anyone with a high level of public speaking skills, they have all gone through mistakes, trial and error, and learned from them.
The best thing during the moment is to keep your cool and go on with your talk. You could also side-track from your topic and return to it at a later point if needed. Most of the time, the crowd gets it and has your back.
If you practice a lot, even the most nervous speakers can become sure of themselves and handle mistakes like a pro.
Taking in Feedback
Feedback plays a key role for anyone who speaks in public. It’s crucial to get input from different people like those in the crowd, other speakers, and experts before, while, or after you give a talk.
This might mean showing your speech plan to a friend you trust for early ideas or checking how the audience reacts during your talk. Even if it’s hard to hear, it’s a learning opportunity and should be seen as a chance to get better, even when it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Continuous improvement always
Getting better at public speaking isn’t just about listening to others. It’s also about watching yourself. When you record your talks and watch them later, as pointed out earlier in this guide, you can spot mistakes you keep making. For example, you might say “um” too much. This helps you see what you need to work on.
Subsequently, you could also observe and improve your body language and eye contact. This makes you connect better with your audience.
It’s good to push yourself by joining speaking clubs or events. This can help you become more effective and confident when you talk in front of people. We could always learn new things!
Top 3 public speaking books I’d recommend.
Speaking well is a skill, but developing depth and substance in your delivery can take months if not, years of dedicated practice. Over time, I’ve built a strong foundation in public speaking, and I owe much of my success to reading these three transformative books.
1. Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
Think about the best TED talks you’ve ever seen—they don’t just teach you something; they make you feel something. This book breaks down exactly how those speakers do it. Gallo shows you how to craft stories that stick with people, speak with passion, and connect emotionally with your audience. If you’re tired of giving talks that feel surface and forgettable, you can learn to create speeches that truly resonate, by reading this book.
2. The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
Carnegie’s advice is timeless for a reason — because it works. If you’ve ever struggled with nerves or wondered how to make people actually listen when you talk, this book gives you the practical methods to turn those nerves into success. Carnegie walks you through the essentials of speech structure, audience engagement, and delivering your message with confidence.
3. Steal the Show by Michael Port
Let’s be real; public speaking is a performance, and if you want to truly stand out, you need to deliver like one. Michael Port’s approach is different because he teaches you to think like an actor. His book helps you own the stage, control your nerves, and engage your audience from start to finish. If you’ve ever felt stiff or robotic in your delivery, learning how to build stage presence and interact with your audience can elevate your authenticity and authority when you speak.
Conclusion
We looked at a lot of stuff, from getting ready to learn from our mistakes. We talked about ways to relax, picture success, and connect with the crowd. These are all tools that can help anyone who wants to speak better in public.
When you prepare well and use these tricks, you can feel more sure of yourself. This makes your talks work better and helps you feel stronger too. It’s not just about being good at speaking – it’s about feeling good while you do it. Remember, practice makes perfect so keep trying these ideas out. The more you use them the easier it’ll get. And don’t worry if you mess up sometimes – that’s how you learn and grow. In the end, it’s all about feeling comfortable and confident when you’re up there talking to people.
Getting good at speaking in public isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. You need to practice a lot, think about how you did, and change things up. As you listen to what people say and keep trying to get better, you’ll find you can do more than just talk on stage – you can get people excited and make them feel connected to you.
Don’t forget public speaking isn’t just about saying words. It’s about making changes happen and getting people to take action on your messaging.
So, enjoy the process, and use every chance you get to speak as a way to get even better at talking with confidence.
FAQs
What are some ways to feel more sure of yourself when speaking to a crowd?
To get better at public speaking, you need to practice a ton. Don’t just read your speech; work on everything, like how you move between topics and use pictures or slides. Stand up and give your talk like you’re in front of people. Watch how you stand and move your hands. It’s also super helpful to practice in front of friends and get their thoughts on how you did.
What are the five key elements of confident public speaking?
The five key elements of confident public speaking, often referred to as the 5 P’s, are pitch, pace, pause, projection, and passion. By incorporating these elements, you can improve your delivery and engage your audience more effectively. Experiment with these techniques, practice consistently and observe how your audience reacts to refine your skills.
