Public Speaking Tips

Throughout my journey in foster care, there were times where I forgot how important using my voice was. With so many factors of my life feeling out of my control, it felt hard to speak up, ask questions, and to feel like my voice actually mattered. I dealt with a lot of anxiety surrounding public speaking which made it hard to advocate for myself. When I thought about public speaking, the first and only thing that really came to mind was presenting in class. I didn’t realize that I could use public speaking tips and apply them to my everyday life. Whether it was during a job interview, working on my confidence when speaking, advocating for myself, speaking up in court or to my caseworkers, learning how to use my voice significantly impacted my life for the better.

Sometimes, public speaking can feel terrifying. You may worry about things like people judging you, misunderstanding your words, or focusing on little mistakes you might make instead of the message you're trying to get across. There was a time in my freshman year of college where I had to give a presentation in my English class. With my hands and voice shaking, the only thing I could focus on was whether or not the other students noticed it. What I didn’t realize is that the nerves I was feeling, didn’t mean that I was performing poorly or that I was making a mistake. My first tip is to remember that the nerves you feel are completely normal. Normalizing it, sometimes takes away that fear of judgement, which allows you to coexist with what you’re feeling while also delivering an impactful message.

Another tip I have when it comes to breaking through some of those nerves, is to prepare. Sometimes, I’d worry that I would stumble on my words or forget something that I wanted to ask during a job interview. What I would do beforehand is prepare my responses and questions. I had a friend do a mock interview with me and used flashcards to ask myself the most common questions that come up during interviews.

My next tip is to practice. According to Toastmasters, practicing public speaking or presenting over time, helps your brain recognize that it’s not dangerous or something to be feared. In turn, that helps lessen the anxiety you may feel when it comes to public speaking. For presentations, I would practice in front of a group of friends until I felt that I could deliver my presentation with confidence. I realized that the more I presented in front of other people, the less scary public speaking felt.

Something I really try to focus on when public speaking is my breath. I try to relax as much as possible whether that’s through taking a second to actually breathe, relax my shoulders, or release the tension in my face. I know it may sound silly, but your ability to check in on yourself while you speak really makes a huge difference when it comes to public speaking. Toastmasters suggest stretching and pausing for a few seconds before you present. This can help your body relax so you can present with confidence.

When I speak in public, I try to think/know about the audience I’m speaking to because normally the message that I’m trying to convey is more about them than myself. I try to remember that one of the major things that I want to do whether it’s presenting in class, court, or an interview, is connect with whoever is listening. Focusing on connection rather than perfection allows me to break down the fear that comes with public speaking because I’m not thinking about being judged or making mistakes, I’m thinking about whether or not the audience is resonating with the words I’m saying.

My biggest tip when it comes to public speaking is to be yourself, be passionate, and enjoy yourself. I know that may sound cliche but I’m serious. Something I've learned throughout the years is that people connect with authenticity. I don’t have to sound perfect, polished, or hide parts of myself for my words to be meaningful. When a presentation or conversation is about something I truly care about, the walls of anxiety break down and I’m actually able to enjoy the experience of public speaking.

A few quick tips:

• Know your material.
• Get rest.
• Arrive on time or early.
• Visualize whatever you’re speaking about/presenting going well.
• Don’t be afraid to pause.
• Wear something appropriate that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
• Try to be positive about the experience.
• Use “you” and “we” to help your audience feel more connected.
• Use Toastmasters  PREP method (Point, Reason, Example, Point) to help you stay on track when speaking.
• Learn from your mistakes.
• Be patient with yourself.

Resources: 

• https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2021/april/scared-of-public-speaking
• https://www.toastmasters.org/about/90th-anniversary/90-tips
• https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-public-speaking-skills/#Here-Are-My-10-Tips-for-Public-Speaking
• https://medium.com/@james_8987/5-public-speaking-tips-i-learned-from-toastmasters-8dd36f728c8c