Public speaking is something that everyone will encounter at some point in their life. Perhaps it's through giving a presentation at work, maybe a speech at a wedding [1], or even a simple toast at a best mate's birthday bash. For some people, the very thought of speaking in front of a group can make palms go sweaty and turn legs to jelly. It's understandable, of course — it can feel exposing to have all eyes on you, and it brings with it its own set of fears. Am I talking too fast? Are they bored of listening to me? Can they tell that I am terrified? (spoiler alert: even the most seemingly confident people [2] have these thoughts!)
But there are ways of making public speaking a lot less daunting. If you're someone who doesn't feel comfortable speaking in front of others, these simple tips and tricks will help you feel at ease in front of a crowd.
Know Your Material
When it comes to being a confident speaker, thorough preparation is half of the battle. You can't just get by on a smile — you need to know what you are actually talking about! Do your research, study ahead, take notes, and make sure you know your subject inside and out. There's no such thing as too much preparation.
You'll find that the more secure you are with the content of your speech, the more confident and flexible you will be when you actually deliver it.
Practise In Front of a Trusted Friend or Colleague
Set aside time to run through your entire speech or presentation through with someone you feel at ease with. This will give you a chance to get more comfortable with your material and gain constructive feedback from someone you trust.
Adopt Positive Body Language
You'll find it much easier to speak with confidence when you open your body: think broad shoulders, unfolded arms, and a friendly disposition. Don't cross your arms or slouch. Your audience will want to listen to you because your relaxed body language [3] will put them at ease.
Practise Positive Visualisation
If you have a tendency to think the worst, make a deliberate effort to switch your mindset and make yourself think about everything that could go well instead. It won't be easy, but envision speaking confidently and your audience being receptive. This will help you view your speech as something to look forward to rather than a hurdle to overcome.
Embrace Your Nerves
Nerves come with the territory of stepping outside of your comfort zone. Their presence is proof that you care and want to do well. So don't try to fight them — just accept their existence.
If you are a nervous person in general, you might find our 21-day anxiety challenge may help you take control [4]. Even if you don't have time to follow the entire plan, try some of the simpler tips before your big speech.
Own the Space
Think of the room in which you're giving your talk, speech, or presentation as a safe space. If you make a mistake, don't be embarrassed or try to cover it up. Take a deep breath, gain your composure — maybe even acknowledge it with a little joke to lighten the mood — and carry on like it's no big deal. (Because it really isn't.)
Breathe
When we speak in front of people, sometimes we get so caught up with ourselves, or we're in such a hurry to get it over with, that we forget to control our breathing.
There are lots of different breathing techniques [5] that can help both before and during your speech. Former opera singer Allison Shapira wrote in the Harvard Business Review that breathing is key to persuasive public speaking [6] and recommends breathing deeply, then speaking "on the breath", using a deep outward breath to support your words.
Try a Tongue-Twister
Sometimes, we have a tendency to speak faster or trip over our words when we are nervous, so make sure you warm up before you speak in public. Tongue-twisters are great for enunciation and relaxing tension in your face. Plus, let's be honest: they are really fun to do.
Get started with a (deceptively) simple one: repeatedly say 'red lorry yellow lorry' as fast as you can . . . not so easy, is it? If you need more inspiration, ask a Siri or Alexa-enabled device to tell you a tongue-twister.
Make Eye Contact
Speaking in public isn't about being the centre of attention; it's about making a connection.
Instead of looking at your notes (or even worse, down at your shoes), look at the people you are talking to. It will make them feel included, and then they will genuinely want to listen to what you have to say. This can be difficult if you feel nervous, but try your best to find a smiling face in the crowd.
Show Up as Your Authentic Self
It doesn't matter if you are naturally more reserved or if you are someone who relishes the spotlight: you can be a confident speaker without sacrificing your personality.
Don't believe me? Search around for different styles of delivery. TED talks [7] are brilliant for this. Plus, there's also the odd celebrity speech that can be inspiring: check out JK Rowling's commencement speech at Harvard University [8]. Not only is the content captivating but her calm, quiet confidence gets rid of any assumptions that you need to be loud or outrageous in order to be heard.