How to Speak Confidently in Public

Public speaking is a common fear for many people, whether it's delivering a speech, offering a toast at a friend's wedding, or being called to the front in class. Luckily, there are ways to make the experience of speaking in front of others less intimidating. While you may not fully enjoy the process, these techniques can help you manage anxiety and stand before an audience with greater ease.

Understand your topic thoroughly. Part of becoming a confident and effective speaker involves ensuring that you fully comprehend the material you're presenting. A lack of knowledge will make you anxious and uncertain, and your audience will notice this.

• Preparation is crucial. Take the time to plan your speech so that it feels natural and cohesive. Also, focus on how you deliver the message to enhance your strengths while minimizing any weaknesses.
• Even when public speaking involves answering questions in class, knowing your topic is key. This will help you speak more confidently and make a strong impression on your audience.

Train your body. While public speaking may not be a race, there are numerous ways to ensure your body remains in sync with your speech. This isn’t just about avoiding shifting your weight from one foot to the other while delivering your speech (keep your toes still to prevent this), but it also involves managing your breathing, articulation, and speaking properly.

• Speak from your diaphragm. This technique helps you project your voice more clearly so your audience can hear you without straining or sounding like you're yelling. Practice by standing straight and placing your hand on your stomach. Breathe in, counting to 5, and then exhale for 10. You’ll feel your abdomen relax. Continue breathing and speaking while staying relaxed.
• Adjust your tone. Check if your pitch is too high, too low, or too soft for your audience to hear. Relax, maintain good posture (without slouching), and focus on your breathing to develop a comfortable and pleasant tone.
• Avoid breathing through your throat or chest. Both will increase anxiety and tighten your throat, making your voice sound strained and uncomfortable.

Practice pausing. In casual conversations, people tend to speak quickly, but this won’t help when addressing an audience. Your listeners need to keep pace with your message and have time to process what you’re saying.

• Try to speak more slowly and with more care than in regular conversations. Pause between ideas or after significant points to give your audience time to absorb and reflect on what you’ve shared.
• Work on articulation and pronunciation. Focus on clearly pronouncing sounds like s, x, ch, tr, kh, h, g, r. Make sure you’re aware of how to pronounce every word correctly, and practice difficult ones until they become easier.
• Eliminate filler words like “um” or “like.” These can make you seem uncertain about your message. If you need to gather your thoughts, simply pause—it will make you appear more composed.

Know your speech inside and out. Being familiar with your speech is just as crucial as understanding the topic you’re discussing. There are many ways to deliver a speech, so choose the approach that suits you best.

• Prepare note cards or an outline in advance. If you have a strong memory, you could try memorizing it (but avoid relying on this method if you’re unsure of your memory).
• You don’t need to write down every word on your notes (leave some room for improvisation), though notes like “pause here” or “don’t forget to breathe” can be helpful to ensure you stay on track.

Memorize your speech. While memorizing your entire speech or discussion isn’t strictly necessary, it can be a great way to boost your confidence and make you feel more at ease with your material. Just make sure to allocate enough time for this process.

• Write your speech out several times. This will help you commit it to memory. The more you write, the easier it will be to remember. Once you’ve written it several times, test yourself. If you forget any parts, continue writing those sections until you have them memorized.
• Break your speech into smaller chunks and memorize them individually. It’s easier to remember smaller sections at a time, so focus on key points first, then work through the rest of the speech in smaller parts.
• Use the loci method. Break your speech into distinct sections or points. Visualize an image for each key point (for example, imagine Harry Potter when discussing the influence of J.K. Rowling on children’s literature). Assign a location for each point (e.g., Hogwarts for Rowling, a meadow for Stephenie Meyer, etc.). Then, mentally move through the locations (for example, imagine flying on a broomstick from Hogwarts to the meadow). If any of your key points contain several elements, place them at specific locations around the imagined space (e.g., the popularity of Harry Potter in the Great Hall or the author's aim to redefine the genre in Quidditch).

Understand your audience. It's essential to know who you'll be addressing, as what resonates with one audience may frustrate or bore another. For example, you wouldn’t want to be overly informal in a business presentation, but this could work well with a group of students.

• Humor is an excellent tool for making both you and your audience more at ease. Generally, public speaking events benefit from light humor (though not always!). Starting with a funny (and true) story is a great way to set the mood and make a confident first impression.
• Determine the message you want to convey to your audience. Are you sharing new information? Revisiting something old? Or trying to persuade them to take action? Clarifying this helps you stay focused on the key points you want to emphasize.

Practice. This is crucial if you want your public speaking to go smoothly. Simply understanding your material isn’t enough; you need to keep practicing until it becomes second nature. It’s similar to wearing new shoes—at first, your feet might blister, but eventually, they’ll fit comfortably.

• Visit the location where you’ll be speaking and rehearse there. Familiarity with the environment will boost your confidence.
• Record your practice sessions and review them to identify strengths and weaknesses. While watching yourself on video can be difficult, it’s an invaluable way to recognize behaviors that reveal anxiety (like shifting your weight or running your hands through your hair) and work to reduce or eliminate them.

Choose the right type of speech. There are three main types of speeches: informative, persuasive, and entertaining. While they can overlap, each serves a distinct purpose.

• An informative speech’s primary goal is to present facts, details, and examples. Even if you’re not trying to convince your audience, it still revolves around real data and foundational knowledge.
• A persuasive speech aims to convince the audience of something. You’ll use factual information but also incorporate emotion, logic, and personal experience to sway opinions.
• Entertainment speeches cater to social needs but also incorporate elements of informative speeches (such as wedding toasts or acceptance speeches).

Avoid a lengthy introduction. You’ve likely heard the cliché opening, “When I was asked to give this speech, I wasn’t sure what to say…” Don’t do this! It’s one of the most boring ways to start a speech. It often leads into unnecessary personal anecdotes, which aren’t as compelling as you might think.

• Start your speech by outlining your main idea and the three (or similar) key points that will support and develop it. Your audience will remember the introduction and conclusion more than any other part of your speech.
• Grab your audience’s attention right away by presenting surprising facts or statistics, or by posing a question that challenges their assumptions.

Establish a Clear Structure. To avoid a disjointed speech, you must create a clear framework. You should never overwhelm the audience with too much factual information or the complexity of your ideas.

• Have a Comprehensive Idea. Ask yourself what message you're trying to convey to the audience? What do you want them to take away from your speech? Why should they agree with everything you're saying? For instance, if you're discussing national trends in literature, consider why the audience should care. Don’t just bombard them with raw data without purpose.
• You’ll need a few supporting points to back up your overall idea or thesis. The ideal number is usually three main points. For example: If your central idea is that children’s national literature is becoming increasingly diverse, you might provide one point about new trends, a second point showing the public’s acceptance of this diversity, and a third explaining why this matter is significant.

Use Appropriate Language. Language plays a crucial role in writing and delivering speeches. Avoid pompous or complicated words, because no matter how intelligent your audience is, they will quickly lose interest if you constantly ‘stuff’ a dictionary into their minds.

• Use impactful adverbs and adjectives. You’ll want to make your speech more engaging. For example, instead of saying ‘Children’s literature forms the scope for diverse views,’ you could say, ‘Children’s literature creates a new space for exciting and diverse viewpoints.’
• Incorporate vivid imagery that forces the audience to pay attention. Winston Churchill famously used the phrase ‘Iron Curtain’ to describe the secrecy of the Soviet Union. A powerful image like this will stick in the audience’s minds (similar to how ‘Iron Curtain’ became a well-known term in the U.S.).
• Repetition is a great technique to help the audience remember why your speech matters. Think of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous ‘I have a dream…’ speech. Repeating your core message reinforces it, keeping the audience focused on your central theme.

Simplify Your Message. The audience must be able to easily follow your presentation and retain it once you’re done. This doesn’t just mean using powerful images and surprising data; it also requires keeping things simple and focused on your core message. If you get lost in irrelevant details, you’ll quickly lose your audience.

• Use short phrases and sentences. These can be incredibly effective. For example, the phrase ‘never repeat’ is brief, to the point, and packs a punch.
• You can also use brief and impactful quotes. Many famous individuals have delivered memorable lines using few words. Try to create your own powerful line, or use one from someone else. For instance, Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, ‘Be sincere; be brief; be seated.’

Manage Anxiety. Most people feel a bit nervous before speaking in front of an audience. Hopefully, you’ve prepared thoroughly for your speech and are clear on how to present it. Luckily, there are a few techniques to help manage your nerves.

• Before speaking, try gripping and releasing your hands several times to counter the sympathetic nervous system’s response (adrenaline rush). Take deep, slow breaths for three counts. This will help clear your system and allow you to breathe normally during your speech.
• Stand confidently with a relaxed posture and feet shoulder-width apart. This posture tricks your brain into thinking you’re completely confident, making it easier to speak.

Smile at Your Audience. Flash a smile as your audience enters the room (if you’re already there) or smile as you step up to the podium to greet them. This will make you appear confident and help to ease the atmosphere.

• Smile even if you’re feeling nervous (especially if that’s truly how you feel). This simple action will trick your brain into thinking you’re calm and self-assured.

Perform. Speaking in front of an audience, no matter the occasion, revolves around your performance ability. Your speech can either captivate or bore your audience, depending on how you deliver it. You need to bring personality to the stage and channel it into your delivery.

• Tell Stories. Part of your performance involves presenting your speech or talking as though you’re telling a story. People love stories, and this approach will help them connect with you, even if you’re discussing data-driven topics. Consider your topic as the foundation for your story. Why should the audience care about what you’re presenting? What’s at stake?
• Balance Preparation and Spontaneity. People don’t want to sit through a monotonous recital of information from your notes. Allow room for improvisation and weave in some off-the-cuff anecdotes to keep things interesting.
• Use Hand Gestures to Emphasize Your Points. While you don’t want to overdo it with exaggerated gestures, don’t stand still like a statue either. Use controlled movements to highlight key points as you speak.
• Vary Your Tone. Your audience will tune out after just 10 seconds if you speak in a monotone voice. Show excitement about your topic by altering your tone to reflect different emotions and points of emphasis.

Maintain Your Audience’s Attention. Remember that keeping the audience engaged is in your control, which means you need to keep them focused on your message, regardless of the subject matter. This is more about being an engaging speaker than presenting an inherently interesting topic.

• Make Eye Contact. Mentally divide the room into sections and alternate making eye contact with individuals in different areas.
• Pose Questions to Your Audience. You can ask questions at various points in your speech and invite the audience to respond before providing your own answer. This technique makes them feel involved in your presentation.

Speak Slowly. One thing people often forget when speaking in front of others is to slow down their speech. Your natural conversation pace is likely much faster than what’s needed for a formal speech. If you feel like you're speaking too slowly, you're probably on the right track.

• Drink Water If You’re Talking Too Quickly. This will give your audience time to keep up with you and help you slow down your pace.
• If you have friends or family in the audience, set up a signal so they can alert you when you’re speaking too fast. Occasionally glance at their position to see if you're maintaining the right pace.

End Strong. The audience will remember the opening and closing of your speech, while the middle often fades away. For this reason, you must make sure your conclusion is something they will never forget.

• You must ensure the audience understands why your topic is important and why they need to absorb this information. If possible, end with a call to action. For example, if you're giving a speech on the significance of art classes in schools, you could conclude by urging the audience to take action to address the cuts in art programs.
• Finish with a Story that Reinforces Your Main Point. Again, people love hearing stories. Share a tale that illustrates how the information you’ve presented can make a difference in someone’s life, or how it relates to the audience’s specific concerns (people are generally more invested in issues that are directly relevant to them).

• Listen to and observe skilled speakers, and try to analyze the elements that contribute to their success.
• Do not feel ashamed of your mistakes. Demosthenes, a renowned orator from ancient Athens, overcame his stutter to become a masterful speaker. A great orator can overcome any challenge.
• Try inviting a few people you know to be part of your audience. It’s better if they are people you've previously practiced speaking in front of. They will help you feel more comfortable and familiar.
• When posing questions to your audience to keep their attention, aim to ask something easily answerable, then affirm and expand on their responses by explaining your thoughts and perspective.
• Practice in front of a mirror whenever possible!
• While speaking, remember to make eye contact with everyone in the audience. Avoid shaking your hands, as this can indicate nervousness. You need to deliver an excellent speech, so be well-prepared.

• Monitor the food you consume before speaking in public. Dairy products and sugary foods can cause mucus buildup in your throat, making speaking more difficult. Similarly, avoid strong-smelling foods (such as garlic and fish) to prevent discomfort for your audience.