It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned public speaker, terrified of speaking publicly, or an introvert. We’re all looking to improve our game in front of an audience for any number of reasons. Improvement requires honesty, attention, focus, and an intrapersonal understanding of ourselves.improve public speaking

When it comes to public speaking there are five areas, we can all improve on, regardless of the level of our public speaking skill or desired setting.

  • Technical skills
  • Practice
  • Yourself
  • Organization
  • Tactics

Technical

What you say and how you say it matters. Proper grammar and word usage are key. While speaking publicly, one of the components which affects your credibility is your spoken grammar.

Despite what people say, it’s not always grammatically correct to say something like “she and I,” or “he and I.” If you use who and whom incorrectly, your credibility will be shot. Follow this simple guideline.

  • Separate out the object or subject of the conversation into components: He, She, I, We, They, Them, etc.
    • We went to the movies… Me and her saw Avenger’s: Infinity war (Incorrect).
      1. She saw Avenger’s: Infinity War
      2. I saw Avenger’s Infinity War
      3. Her saw Avenger’s: Infinity War
      4. Me saw Avenger’s: Infinity War
    • Which two sound correct?
    • A and B are both correct. Therefore, the statement is; She and I saw Avenger’s: Infinity War.
  • Ask yourself which you can replace who or whom
    • Whom should be used when you refer to the object of a verb or preposition.
    • If you can replace the word in question with he or she then you should use
    • If you can replace the word with him or her then use

Yourself

Communication is so much more than just the words that we say. Make sure the message your audience is receiving is actually the message you’re trying to deliver. Communication involves hand gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Your tone of voice can affect what the audience hears, or wants to hear.

Also, public speaking is a diverse arena. You could be delivering a speech to a thousand peers, fifty employees, or your children. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is your personality.

We’re social creatures, but we also evolved from millennia of harsh survival conditions. We’re conditioned to protect ourselves. One of the tactics our more primal minds use is our intuition. Those of us with evolved survival skills can tell when someone is lying to us because our intuition kicks us into survival mode.

In short, we tend not to react well to people faking their personality or pretending to be something they’re not. So, when you take center stage, take it being who you really are. Make sure the setting fits with the needs of your audience, but ensure your delivery is 100% genuine.

Organization

Speak to your audience. Never read to them unless you absolutely have to. Nothing is worse for an audience than a speaker reading in monotone. It’s boring!

Also, for those of us with short attention spans, and who distract easily, organize your speech so that it flows.

When you’re in the organizing part of prepping your speech keep the through-line in mind. This is the connecting theme that ties together all of the elements of your speech.

Tactics

Shamelessly employ tactics. When you start your speech, you have 30 seconds or less to get the full and undivided attention of your audience. If you can successfully achieve that, then you have 7 minutes.

The best speeches are succinct and short, being 7 minutes or less. However, some speeches need to be longer. During longer delivery, every seven minutes, it helps to refresh. Do something to keep their attention.

Use a story or anecdote. Begin with your anecdote or story but allow it to unfold throughout your speech. Don’t give too much away all at once.

Practice

Put in the time rehearsing and practicing, and always remember the old saying, practice make perfect.

But, keep in mind that you can practice something a thousand times before a performance and still get it wrong.

How?

By practicing it incorrectly.

If you practice your speech incorrectly, you will deliver it in bad form. Make sure to outline what you want to say and how you’re going to deliver your message before you take center stage.

Only perfect practice makes perfect.

So, practice your speech in front of a mirror, or better yet, a camera. Take note of any moments of bad posture or hand gestures and fix accordingly. Pay attention to what your body language is saying and organize your speech in the way you want to deliver it.

During the radio golden age, the visual aspects of communication such as body language and facial expressions were buried over the waves. However, tone of voice, and delivery were everything.

Orson Welles delivered his fictional story so masterfully that his War of the Worlds caused widespread panic. People actually believed that Martians had landed and were invading. He deployed several artistic aids, likely practiced and prepared, and delivered with confidence.

Now, one night in history lives in infamy and all that really happened was a radio broadcast by someone with a dynamic delivery.

Judi Moreo is the author of the award-winning book, “You Are More Than Enough: Every Woman’s Guide to Purpose, Passion, and Power.” She is a motivational speaker, self esteem strategist, and customer service trainer. She can be reached at (702) 283-4567 or judi@judimoreo.com.