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The same things that made us dread speech class in school still make many of us dread public speaking in the real world. Although the often-quoted 1973 study in which Americans were polled said they feared speaking in front of people more than death has been revised to put , speaking is still a close runner-up. Yet, excellent public speaking skills are key to almost any profession. How can you overcome your fear?

Overcoming the fear with tips for public speaking

We’ve all heard the basics tips for public speaking: speak clearly, speak loudly, speak like you know what you’re talking about. For most people, being a good speaker doesn’t come naturally. It takes time, practice and a lot of discomfort while learning.  Specific skills are the key to effective speaking and what it takes to nail the next speech or presentation. 

Whether it's leading a company-wide presentation, giving a sales pitch or speaking up in a meeting, anyone can overcome their fear of speaking and deliver a polished presentation. 

Three tips for public speaking

Here are three primary principles to follow to become a better speaker.

1. Know the audience

The first of the tips for public speaking is about the audience. A speaker can’t connect with an audience if they don’t know who they are speaking to. They can't meet the audience's needs if they don’t know their needs.

For a speech or company-wide presentation, speakers can gain insights by learning audience priorities and their gripes. Look at company satisfaction results from employee surveys like Glint or Morale. For internal or external corporate presentations, read anonymous reviews of the company on sites like Glassdoor. Then weave in employee sentiments, quotes, content or subject matter to keep what you’re speaking on relevant and interesting.

If asked to deliver an inspirational or motivational speech, one of the smartest tips for public speaking is to work with the event contact to understand the audience. How old are they? Select stories and illustrations that land well. What do they need? How can the message reinforce the theme of the event?

Having a handle on the audience will also help engage them in the presentation. Ask the audience questions — rhetorical or to be answered out loud. Make the audience active participants thinking alongside the speech or presentation, instead of falling asleep.

Remember, everything is about the audience, not the speaker. This will help navigate some of the obstacles inherent to speaking in front of others. 

2. Know the message

It’s important to know the topic and material. Effective public speakers don’t just get up on the platform and freelance their content. They live and breathe their message.

Of all the tips for public speaking, this one is important even when “just” piping up in a meeting. Do things like researching data points or articles on the meeting topic, and email it to meeting participants a day before the meeting. This will prepare everyone to get involved, which is ideal for staff collaboration.

Clarity is also key. It’s much more difficult to give a clear, concise presentation than it is to ramble. The audience will appreciate the work a speaker puts in to craft a clear message. The speaker may be the subject matter expert and know almost everything about the topic, but the audience can’t absorb it all. Edit your knowledge base down to three main points in a presentation.

3. Know the obstacles

Fear of public speaking is real. This can be from fear of the unknown. Speakers don’t know what the audience might do or say, and they can’t control the result.

These public speaking tips can help overcome the obstacles inherent to any kind of public presentation:

• Have confidence in the message and preparation: A speaker is there to give something to the audience. Give authentically from the heart and from a base of values. It’s important to stand on that, regardless of the audience response.
• Disconnect from what people think: As we get older, we learn not to worry so much about what people think, but what about younger speakers? Be intentional about practicing a mental disconnect from needing to be liked by everyone. This can be especially hard because most people are pre-wired to want to people-please. Disconnecting from that compulsion takes intentional effort.
• Imagine success: One of the best tips for public speaking is to visualize success before the speech.

Tips for public speaking that reinforce a message

They say content is king. But good props, easy body language and other message-reinforcing strategies can take a message over the top when public speaking.

• Humor, illustrations and stories: The most memorable presentations are often infused with humor. Humor and storytelling bring relief and a release of the stress that people may have during a presentation. A speaker doesn't have to be inherently funny. They can let other people be funny for them by sharing cartoons or quotations. 
• Metrics: Reinforce a story with a quick dive into metrics. Not only will this build credibility for the skeptics in the audience, but it can also offer actionable context, especially in corporate settings. An example is might be a statistic about how many American workers have left their jobs during the “Great Resignation,” followed by questions that prompt the audience personally, such as: What does this mean to you in your department? What are you doing to retain employees?
• Visual aids and props:�� recommends using colorful and unique props, while making sure they don’t detract from the presentation. Think diagrams, physical objects, photographs or PowerPoint slides. But don't fill up PowerPoint slides with words in a long paragraph and then read it to the audience. It insults their intelligence and is boring. Be brief — just a quote or data point or two at a time on each slide.
• Body language: Effective body language through eye contact, effective gestures and movement on the stage takes practice. Be mindful about gestures and expressions. Toastmasters suggests avoiding awkward mannerisms, such as stuffing hands into pockets.

In the end, not everyone gives a speech to packed houses with thousands in rapt attendance. It might be a presentation to 10 or 20. Either way, these strategies and tips for public speaking can position a speaker to delight and inform an audiences, no matter the size.

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