Tips for Successful Public Speaking

Would you like to be a better speaker?

Try using the tips below and then plan your visit to our Toastmaster Club to find your voice.

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and conversational language to help you remember what to say.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area, and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine your self speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping - it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don't want you to fail.
8. Don't apologize for any nervousness or problem - the audience probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message, not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters group can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.