Public speaking: everyone’s favorite thing to do, right?

Alright, let’s be honest, public speaking is not a walk in the park. Even experienced public speakers sometimes get nervous. Whether it’s speaking in front of an entire audience, a class, or even just during an interview, having to speak in front of people can be a little daunting. When it comes to public speaking, it is important to learn how to control those feelings of anxiety.

Confidence is the key to becoming a strong speaker and interviewer.

Even though I am not a professional speaker, I have improved my public speaking skills by talking with others, presenting and teaching material, and experiencing some embarrassing moments. I once learned from a co-worker that the best thing you can do for yourself is to learn what you can do for others: “Take what you like and leave the rest.” So, here are some of my public speaking tips for you to “take what you like” and learn from my experiences:

1. Practice, practice, practice

Most athletes practice their sport every day, musicians play their instruments to perfect technique, and just like every other skill, public speaking requires practice. Here is my little story about why you need to practice: When I was around 14 or 15 years old, I had to get up and speak in front of a charity alumni sports game. Turns out, the microphone was close enough to hear me double-check my information with someone standing beside me. Long story short, everyone laughed at me and I was super embarrassed. Nevertheless, I survived one of my biggest fears ( being laughed at by a crowd) and learned to always (and I mean ALWAYS) practice what I am going to say BEFORE I say it.

2. Get feedback

There are two ways I like to get feedback when I am public speaking. I like to have my friends listen to me and tell me what sounds good or bad, and I like to record myself. Make sure the friends that you have are helpful, but also honest. Thankfully, I have a very helpful (and sometimes a little too helpful) sister who likes to give me very honest feedback. Another way to get feedback is to record yourself. Recording myself has helped me a lot in the past when I have had to give speeches. The hardest part of recording yourself? You need to sit down and actually watch and critique yourself presenting your speech. While difficult, it is doable and probably one of the most helpful ways to improve your public speaking.

3. Remember to be yourself

No one enjoys listening to a robotic speaker. When you need to present, you don’t need to pretend to be someone you are not. Take a deep breath, ground yourself, and try to relax. Be yourself and be natural. When you present something, remember that it is your time to shine. You might as well be yourself!

4. Practice your power stance

Seriously, this is super helpful if you struggle with confidence. I don’t know the science behind it, but here’s how this works: you pick a pose where you take up space (don’t cross your arms, maybe place your hands on your hips, keep your head held high) and practice it in the mirror when you feel confident. Then, when you feel anxious or nervous before speaking, take a private moment to do your power stance one more time. It will help you feel more confident when you get up to speak.

5. Hold the podium

If you have a podium and you are nervous (and, like me, you tend to not know what to do with your hands), hold onto the sides of the podium. This is a trick I learned at a professionalism training seminar a couple of years ago. It helps to ground you, gives you somewhere to put your hands, and helps you relax.

6. If all else fails, fake it till you make it!

Now, I know you’ve probably heard about a million times the phrase, “Fake it till you make it.” Well, in my experience, this is fairly true. I was once told if you pretend to be confident, you will actually trick yourself into believing it. I have tried this out and it actually does help.

Don’t let your fear of speaking in front of a group cause you to fall into the imposter syndrome mentality. You are meant to be there, and you are a great speaker. Everyone can learn to become a better speaker, all it takes is a little practice, confidence, and maybe a few bumps in the road. Public speaking is something that you can conquer!