PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILL

PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILL

1. WHAT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING?
Public speaking occurs when you give a speech before a live audience.
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost your selfconfidence , and open up countless opportunities.
3. STRATEGIES FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING
•
Plan appropriately. (information for your topic, detailed outline, idea
organization, mind map, visual aids…)
•

Practice. (regular practice with your friends, classmates or by yourself in
front of a mirror…)

•

Engage with your audience. ( eye contact to see whether the listeners can
keep up with you or your speech or not, asking some leading questions…)

•

Pay attention to body language. (standing up straight, taking deep breaths,
looking people in the eye, and smiling…)

•

Think positively.

•

Cope with your nerves.

•

Watch recordings of your speeches.

4. TOPICS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING
1. The benefits and uses of a tablet PC.
2. The benefits and uses of a smart TV/ smart phone
3. The benefits and uses of a digital camera.
4. A famous festival in Vietnam or in the world
5. A game show on TV
6. A country you know or like best
7. A famous person/celebrity you admire
8. the importance of English


15+ Effective Public Speaking Skills & Techniques to
Master
by Laura Spencer 7 Apr 2018

You may think effective speakers are born that way. You'd be wrong! Public
speaking is a skill that can be learned.
Most effective public speakers have worked hard to master effective speaking
skills and good public speaking techniques. They may spend hours practicing,
working with a coach, or taking speech courses.
With practice you too could become an effective public speaker. (Image
Source: Envato Elements)
The good news is that, with the right public speaking techniques, you can improve
your public speaking skills and become an effective speaker. In this tutorial, we've

listed over 15 different public speaking techniques that can help you learn how to
become an effective speaker.
What Is Public Speaking?
Public speaking occurs when you give a speech before a live audience. It differs
from other types of speaking, such as videos, which may be recorded. It's also
different from online presentations, which are created and then uploaded to the
Internet.
Public speaking has many advantages, including improving your confidence level
and giving you the opportunity to champion a cause you care about. Plus, having
effective public speaking skills can help you find a job. Many jobs, such as an
instructor or sales professional, require you to speak in public. Even when a job
doesn't include public speaking in the job description, employers still value
candidates with effective public speaking skills. In one survey of 600 employers


participants indicated that they felt good communication skills were twice as
important as managerial skills.
At this point you may be asking "what makes a good public speaker?" The answer
might seem easy: A good public speaker makes use of effective public speaking
techniques. What are those effective public speaking techniques? That's what
we're going to talk about in the rest of this tutorial.

Now, let's look at how you can deliver an awesome presentation by using effective
speaking techniques.

15+ Effective Public Speaking Techniques
You can learn to become a more effective speaker by using the right techniques
and practicing your public speaking skills. Here are some techniques to follow:
1. Care About Your Topic
Passion goes a long way when it comes to being an effective speaker. The

audience can tell if you're apathetic. If you don't care, they won't care either. Even
worse, you can come across as a fake.
On the other hand, if you sincerely care about your topic the audience will pick up
on that too. They'll view you as being more authentic and believable. They'll listen
more closely to discover why your subject is so important to you. And they're
more likely to forgive any minor mistakes you might make.
2. Remember Your Speaking Goal
We've all probably listened to at least one speaker who seemed to go on and on
forever about nothing in particular. One reason why this happens is because the
speech isn't focused enough. The speaker is trying to cover too much and ends up
boring their listeners.


Early in the process of developing your speech, identify the reason why you're
speaking. Make it a point to stick to this goal during your presentation. Don't get
sidetracked or off-topic.
3. Support Your Main Points
Every point you make in your speech needs to be supported with either an
example, an illustration, or facts. When you're supporting a point, it's best to be as
specific as you can be.
For example, in a speech about the importance of clean water this statement is
too vague:
"Many people don't have clean water."
Stating this statistic from the U.S. Center for Disease Control is a more effective
way to support your point:
"Worldwide, 780 million people do not have access to an improved water source."
4. Tell a Story
People love a good story. So, if you want to be a more effective speaker, tell a
story.
Storytelling is a great way to make your material more engaging and to relate to

your audience. Make sure your story is relatable and relevant.
If you're speaking is about your business, here are some examples of stories you
may be able to tell:
•

•

A customer story. The story of how your product or services met a need for
a specific customer or solved a problem. Satisfied customers are often
happy to share this.
Your company story. The story of how your company came to be. This can
be especially effective if it's customer-oriented.


•

A product development story. The story of how you came to offer a new
product (or service).

Of course, there are many other types of stories you could tell depending on the
type of speaking you are doing.
5. Use Presentation Tools Wisely
Slide presentations often get a reputation for being dull, but that's because many
speakers are unaware of what their presentation tools can do and don't make the
best use of all the features. To better engage your audience, learn how to use the
more advanced features of your tool.
As an example, here are just a few ways you can use PowerPoint and Google Slides
(with links to related tutorials):

•

Add animations (PowerPoint, Google Slides)
Add video (PowerPoint, Google Slides)

•

Add audio (PowerPoint, Google Slides)

•

Construct a timeline (PowerPoint, Google Slides)

•

And these features are just the tip of the iceberg. To really elevate your public
speaking techniques, you'll want to learn everything your presentation software
tool can do. Our tutorial series on Google Slides andPowerPoint are a good place
to start.
6. Use a Professional Template
While we're talking about presentation tools, let's also talk about presentation
design. Your presentation design affects how your audience perceives you. Even if
you've memorized your speech, give it perfectly, and have the most amazing
topic--your audience might still judge you negatively if your presentation design is
sloppy and unprofessional.


Of course, you could use a standard template (the same ones that everyone uses)
or design your own template (costly and time-consuming). But a better plan is to
use a professionally designed presentation template that you can easily
customize.

The
presentation
templates
from Envato
Elements and GraphicRiver, for example, are proven, easy-to-use, and
professional. And there are hundreds to choose from--so you're bound to find one
that meets your needs.
7. Practice Your Speech
One of the most important public speaking techniques is often one of the most
overlooked--practice. If you expect that you'll be an effective speaker without
practicing your speech, you'd be wrong. One of the quickest ways to avoid public
speaking failure is to try and give a speech you don't really know and haven't
practiced.
The old saying, "practice makes perfect," really is true when it comes to
developing effective speaking skills. The more you practice your speech, the more
familiar it will be to you and the more comfortable you'll be giving it. Plus,
practicing your speech is the only way to discover how long the speech will take
and where you need to pause.
8. Work With a Coach (optional)
If you're really serious about developing effective speaking skills, there's no better
way than working with a speech coach or a speech teacher. A coach or teacher
can teach you the principles of public speaking and point out mistakes in your
public speaking techniques that you wouldn't be aware of otherwise.
While you may be thinking that a speech coach is too pricey (and there are private
coaches who'll teach you public speaking), you may be able to find reasonably
priced public speaking help through one of the following organizations:
•
•

Toastmasters International

Your local community college


•

Public Speaking Meetup

There may even be additional resources close to you.
9. Relax!
It's normal to be nervous about public speaking. The numbers vary, but one study
from The National Center for Biotechnology Information estimates that as many
as 77% of us have a fear of public speaking. It's so common there's an actual
technical term for fear of public speaking--gloss phobia.
I'm not telling you this to make you more anxious, but rather to let you know that
having some anxiety before giving a speech is perfectly normal. Still, you should
try to relax if you can. You'll be more comfortable, and the audience will relate to
you better too.
If there's something that normally calms you down in stressful situations, try using
it right before you're due to speak. Popular calming techniques include:

•

Meditation
Exercise

•

Positive affirmations

•

Aromatherapy

•

Music

•

The following tutorials can also help you fight your fear of public speaking:
10. Don't Worry About Mistakes
One of the reasons so many of us fear public speaking is because we're worried
that we'll make a mistake and embarrass ourselves in front of everyone. If this is
your fear, let it go. Most audiences will understand if you make a mistake. And if
it's a small mistake, the audience may not even notice it.


Of course, practice can dramatically reduce the likelihood of you making a
mistake. The more you practice the better you'll know your speech--and mistakes
will be less likely.
So, what should you do if you do happen to make a mistake? If it's a minor
mistake, don't stop or apologize for your mistake as that only calls attention to it.
Just continue on. If you make a big mistake, try using humor to diffuse the
situation and then continue your speech. Your listeners will be impressed with
how gracefully you handled things.
11. Pace Yourself
When it comes to public speaking, a common newbie error is to speak too quickly.
This is usually caused by a combination of nerves and not realizing how fast you're
actually speaking. But talking too fast makes it harder for your listeners to
understand what you're saying.

Effective public speakers know to pace themselves. They'll speak at a natural pace
and work short, natural pauses into their speech.
It also helps if you remember to breathe during your speech. A surprising number
of people hold their breath without realizing it when they're nervous (I'm one of
them). But holding your breath will only increase your anxiety. So, remember to
breathe deeply during the breaks in your speech. If your speech is a long one,
taking a sip of water during a break can also help.
12. Add Visual Aids
Visual aids can serve as a powerful illustration of your speech. Humans use their
sight more than any other sense. So, if you can make your point by showing it to
your listeners rather than describing it, they are more likely to remember it.
Be careful though. To be effective, your visual aid must be of high-quality and
easily visible to all members of your audience. Avoid incorporating sloppy graphics


into a slide presentation. Likewise, don't hold up a visual aid that's physically too
small for those listening to see.
13. Dress Comfortably, But Professionally
What's the right outfit to wear if you want to be an effective public speaker?
Well, there's no one answer. How you dress depends on who your listeners will
be. But the general principle is that you want to dress professionally to make a
good impression. Make sure to observe good grooming and hygiene rules too.
Many experts feel you should dress according to how your audience dresses. If the
audience is dressed formally, you don't want to show up in shorts and a tee shirt.
Likewise, if the audience is wearing shorts and a tee shirt, don't dress formally.
14. Avoid Awkward Fillers
"Um," "uh," "like." We all slip these filler words into our conversations without
even realizing it. But overuse of these words during a professional speech can
make you sound less than confident. If you can, break the habit of using these
words to become a better public speaker.

Practice can help you eliminate these words from your speech patterns, but you
may be so used to using them that it's hard to notice when you're doing it. This is
where a speech coach, teacher, or friend would come in handy. They could listen
for these words and help you break the habit of using them.
15. Use Gestures (But Don't Overdo)
Natural movement during a speech is a sign of an effective public speaker. Hand
gestures and even taking a few steps across the stage can be good public speaking
techniques as long as they're natural, purposeful, and not overdone.
Movement can make you appear more comfortable and help your audience relate
to you. You've probably seen the stiff speaker who delivers their speech while
standing stock still, hands hanging limply by their side. Which would you rather


listen to? That stiff speaker, or a speaker who punctuates their speech from time
to time with meaningful hand gestures?
16. Allow a Q & A
Question and answer sessions (Q & A) are one of the most underused public
speaking techniques. Many speakers just say what they're going to say and then
sit down. What a waste!
The beauty of Q & A is that you get to hear your listeners' concerns directly and
address them publicly, further strengthening your case.
You can prepare for a Q & A session by creating your own list of questions and
possible objections that audience members may have (with answers). Study the
list carefully so that you're familiar with it. If someone does bring up a point that
you hadn't thought of, don't panic. They don't expect you to know everything. It's
perfectly acceptable to take their contact information and tell them that you'll get
back to them once you've got the answer.
[Before we dive into our discussion of effective public speaking
techniques, download our new eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great
Presentations. It's available for FREE with the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Learn

how to write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation.]


10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills
by MARJORIE NORTH

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about
public speaking—routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common)
fears—can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety
and learn to deliver a memorable speech.
In part one of this series, Mastering the Basics of Communication, I shared
strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, I examined how to apply
these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the
workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public
speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your
performance.
HERE ARE MY 10 TIPS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING:
1. Nervousness Is Normal. Practice and Prepare!
All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and
trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will
perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline
rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best
performance.
The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more.
Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become
comfortable with the material, practice—a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend
to critique your performance.
2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for.
Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your
choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational
statement.
3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.
Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose,
specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s
attention in the first 30 seconds.
4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.
Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and
stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention
of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.
5. Let Your Personality Come Through.
Be yourself, don’t become a talking head—in any type of communication. You will
establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience
will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.
6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.
Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your
audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A
story can provide that.
7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.
Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By
maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and
your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.
8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.
Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not
call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without
distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.
Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”?
Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or
concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement
that your audience is sure to remember.
10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.
Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly.
They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your
audience’s attention.
Practice Does Not Make Perfect
Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect.
However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better
speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to
minimize them.


Better Public Speaking
Becoming a Confident, Compelling Speaker
Whether we're talking in a team meeting or presenting in front of an audience, we
all have to speak in public from time to time.
We can do this well or we can do this badly, and the outcome strongly affects the
way that people think about us. This is why public speaking causes so much
anxiety and concern.
The good news is that, with thorough preparation and practice, you can overcome
your nervousness and perform exceptionally well. This article and video explain
how.
Become a confident and compelling public speaker.
The Importance of Public Speaking
Even if you don't need to make regular presentations in front of a group, there
are plenty of situations where good public speaking skills can help you advance

your career and create opportunities.
For example, you might have to talk about your organization at a conference,
make a speech after accepting an award, or teach a class to new recruits. Speaking
to an audience also includes online presentations or talks; for instance, when
training a virtual team, or when speaking to a group of customers in an online
meeting.
Good public speaking skills are important in other areas of your life, as well. You
might be asked to make a speech at a friend's wedding, give a eulogy for a loved
one, or inspire a group of volunteers at a charity event.


In short, being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost
your self-confidence , and open up countless opportunities.
However, while good skills can open doors, poor ones can close them. For
example, your boss might decide against promoting you after sitting through a
badly-delivered presentation. You might lose a valuable new contract by failing to
connect with a prospect during a sales pitch. Or you could make a poor impression
with your new team, because you trip over your words and don't look people in
the eye.
Make sure that you learn how to speak well!
Strategies for Becoming a Better Speaker
The good news is that speaking in public is a learnable skill. As such, you can use
the following strategies to become a better speaker and presenter.
Plan Appropriately
First, make sure that you plan your communication appropriately. Use tools like
the Rhetorical Triangle , Monroe's Motivated Sequence , and the 7Cs of
Communication to think about how you'll structure what you're going to say.
When you do this, think about how important a book's first paragraph is; if it
doesn't grab you, you're likely going to put it down. The same principle goes for
your speech: from the beginning, you need to intrigue your audience.

For example, you could start with an interesting statistic, headline, or fact that
pertains to what you're talking about and resonates with your audience. You can
also use story telling as a powerful opener; our Expert Interviews with Annette
Simmons and Paul Smith offer some useful tips on doing this.
Planning also helps you to think on your feet . This is especially important for
unpredictable question and answer sessions or last-minute communications.
Tip:
Remember that not all occasions when you need to speak in public will be
scheduled. You can make good impromptu speeches by having ideas and minispeeches pre-prepared. It also helps to have a good, thorough understanding of
what's going on in your organization and industry.


Practice
There's a good reason that we say, "Practice makes perfect!" You simply cannot be
a confident, compelling speaker without practice.
To get practice, seek opportunities to speak in front of others. For
example, Toastmasters is a club geared specifically towards aspiring speakers, and
you can get plenty of practice at Toastmasters sessions. You could also put
yourself in situations that require public speaking, such as by cross-training a
group from another department, or by volunteering to speak at team meetings.
If you're going to be delivering a presentation or prepared speech, create it as
early as possible. The earlier you put it together, the more time you'll have to
practice.
Practice it plenty of times alone, using the resources you'll rely on at the event,
and, as you practice, tweak your words until they flow smoothly and easily.
Then, if appropriate, do a dummy run in front of a small audience: this will help
you calm your jitters and make you feel more comfortable with the material. Your
audience can also give you useful feedback , both on your material and on your
performance.
Engage With Your Audience

When you speak, try to engage your audience. This makes you feel less isolated as
a speaker and keeps everyone involved with your message. If appropriate,
ask leading questions targeted to individuals or groups, and encourage people to
participate and ask questions.
Keep in mind that some words reduce your power as a speaker. For instance, think
about how these sentences sound: "I just want to add that I think we can meet
these goals" or "I just think this plan is a good one." The words "just" and "I think"
limit your authority and conviction. Don't use them.
A similar word is "actually," as in, "Actually, I'd like to add that we were under
budget last quarter." When you use "actually," it conveys a sense of


submissiveness or even surprise. Instead, say what things are. "We were under
budget last quarter" is clear and direct.
Also, pay attention to how you're speaking. If you're nervous, you might talk
quickly. This increases the chances that you'll trip over your words, or say
something you don't mean. Force yourself to slow down by breathing deeply.
Don't be afraid to gather your thoughts; pauses are an important part of
conversation, and they make you sound confident, natural, and authentic.
Finally, avoid reading word-for-word from your notes. Instead, make a list of
important points on cue cards, or, as you get better at public speaking, try to
memorize what you're going to say – you can still refer back to your cue cards
when you need them.
Pay Attention to Body Language
If you're unaware of it, your body language will give your audience constant,
subtle clues about your inner state. If you're nervous, or if you don't believe in
what you're saying, the audience can soon know.
Pay attention to your body language: stand up straight, take deep breaths, look
people in the eye, and smile. Don't lean on one leg or use gestures that feel
unnatural.

Many people prefer to speak behind a podium when giving presentations. While
podiums can be useful for holding notes, they put a barrier between you and the
audience. They can also become a "crutch," giving you a hiding place from the
dozens or hundreds of eyes that are on you.
Instead of standing behind a podium, walk around and use gestures to engage the
audience. This movement and energy will also come through in your voice,
making it more active and passionate.
Think Positively
Positive thinking can make a huge difference to the success of your
communication, because it helps you feel more confident.
Fear makes it all too easy to slip into a cycle of negative self-talk, especially right
before you speak, while self-sabotaging thoughts such as "I'll never be good at


this!" or "I'm going to fall flat on my face!" lower your confidence and increase the
chances that you won't achieve what you're truly capable of.
Use affirmations and visualization to raise your confidence. This is especially
important right before your speech or presentation. Visualize giving a successful
presentation, and imagine how you'll feel once it's over and when you've made a
positive difference for others. Use positive affirmations such as "I'm grateful I have
the opportunity to help my audience" or "I'm going to do well!"
Cope With Nerves
How often have you listened to or watched a speaker who really messed up?
Chances are, the answer is "not very often."
When we have to speak in front of others, we can envision terrible things
happening. We imagine forgetting every point we want to make, passing out from
our nervousness, or doing so horribly that we'll lose our job. But those things
almost never come to pass! We build them up in our minds and end up more
nervous than we need to be.
Many people cite speaking to an audience as their biggest fear, and a fear of

failure is often at the root of this. Public speaking can lead your "fight or flight"
response to kick in: adrenaline courses through your bloodstream, your heart rate
increases, you sweat, and your breath becomes fast and shallow.
Although these symptoms can be annoying or even debilitating, the Inverted-U
Model shows that a certain amount of pressure enhances performance. By
changing your mindset, you can use nervous energy to your advantage.
First, make an effort to stop thinking about yourself, your nervousness, and your
fear. Instead, focus on your audience: what you're saying is "about them."
Remember that you're trying to help or educate them in some way, and your
message is more important than your fear. Concentrate on the audience's wants
and needs, instead of your own.
If time allows, use deep breathing exercises to slow your heart rate and give your
body the oxygen it needs to perform. This is especially important right before you
speak. Take deep breaths from your belly, hold each one for several seconds, and
let it out slowly.
Crowds are more intimidating than individuals, so think of your speech as a
conversation that you're having with one person. Although your audience may be


100 people, focus on one friendly face at a time, and talk to that person as if he or
she is the only one in the room.
Watch Recordings of Your Speeches
Whenever possible, record your presentations and speeches. You can improve
your speaking skills dramatically by watching yourself later, and then working on
improving in areas that didn't go well.
As you watch, notice any verbal stalls, such as "um" or "like." Look at your body
language: are you swaying, leaning on the podium, or leaning heavily on one leg?
Are you looking at the audience? Did you smile? Did you speak clearly at all times?
Pay attention to your gestures. Do they appear natural or forced? Make sure that
people can see them, especially if you're standing behind a podium.

Last, look at how you handled interruptions, such as a sneeze or a question that
you weren't prepared for. Does your face show surprise, hesitation, or annoyance?
If so, practice managing interruptions like these smoothly, so that you're even
better next time.
Key Points
Chances are that you'll sometimes have to speak in public as part of your role.
While this can seem intimidating, the benefits of being able to speak well
outweigh any perceived fears. To become a better speaker, use the following
strategies:
•

Plan appropriately.

•

Practice.

•

Engage with your audience.

•

Pay attention to body language.

•

Think positively.

•

Cope with your nerves.

•

Watch recordings of your speeches.


If you speak well in public, it can help you get a job or promotion, raise awareness
for your team or organization, and educate others. The more you push yourself to
speak in front of others, the better you'll become, and the more confidence you'll
have.
This site teaches you the skills you need for a happy and successful career; and
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