Public Speaking Tips

Body Language: You don’t want to be seated or be standing for the entire duration of the speech. Move around the room, or at least make sure you have appropriate hand gestures and facial expressions.

Believe what you are saying: If you don’t, your audience might not either.

Don’t read from your notes: It’s acceptable to glance at your notes periodically, but don’t recite directly from them.

If you make a mistake, no big deal: Move on from it, correct yourself. Don’t apologize, keep going.

Make eye contact: Don’t keep your head down or stare into space. Hold your gaze at certain individuals, and the audience overall. This makes them feel involved.

Add humor when you can, if appropriate: I can’t say that I know anyone who likes to sit through a long, boring presentation.

If you need a practice audience that doesn’t consist of your friends and family members, consider joining Toastmasters, which is a weekly meet-up of professionals who want to practice public speaking, and use each other as an audience.