Looking to Improve your Public Speaking Skills? We Got You!

Let’s face it–public speaking isn’t easy. It can be scary feeling judged or unprepared when everyone’s eyes are on you. Are you looking to improve your public speaking skills? Check out our latest blog highlighting the best public speaking tips and tricks.

Reduce the Filler Words

We might not register that we’re doing it, but oftentimes, we fill our sentences with “um”s, “like”s, “y’know”s, etc. Get in the habit of catching yourself whenever you use one of these filler words. It can come off as unprofessional, even when our brain is merely catching up on thoughts. 

To reduce these filler words, have your sentences concretely planned. You will know exactly which sentence comes after what sentence, so there is no need for an “um”. While presenting, be extra careful when picking your words. If you need to mentally catch up and prepare your next sentence, take a sip of water! Move to a different spot. Find a new way to recollect your thoughts instead of choosing a filler word. 

Film Yourself Practicing

Here’s a tip! Recording yourself practicing can help you notice things you do when presenting. Sometimes, we are so much in our heads that we don’t realize we play with our hair, shift a lot, etc. Watching yourself present can be a learning experience. You can also present in front of a friend and your friend can give you tips based off of what they observed. It also mentally prepares you for presenting in front of an audience. 

Stand with Confidence

There’s a thing we refer to regarding public speaking, and it is called the potty dance. It involves shifting from side to side due to nerves, but it resembles someone needing to use the restroom. Do not do this! Instead, stand with feet shoulder-width apart and unlocked knees (tip for you–locking your knees can lead to loss in blood circulation and can cause one to pass out. Stay light on your knees!). 

Standing with confidence can also come off as prepared or experienced, so don’t forget to have good posture!

Make Eye Contact

Eye contact… It can be scary for some! However, making eye contact with someone during a presentation keeps them engaged. Every once in a while, scan the room to showcase your connection with the audience. 

Practice is KEY!

It might seem silly to have this as a tip to being a strong public speaker, but never undermine the importance of practicing. Drill down your sentences so you are as prepared as possible!

We hope these tips and tricks will help you feel more confident when public speaking. You got this, Seawolves!!!