Practice
There's
a good reason that we say, "Practice makes perfect!" You simply
cannot be a confident, compelling speaker without practice.
To
get practice, seek opportunities to speak in front of others. For example, Toastmasters is a club geared specifically towards
aspiring speakers, and you can get plenty of practice at Toastmasters sessions.
You could also put yourself in situations that require public speaking, such as
by cross-training a group from another department, or by volunteering to speak
at team meetings.
If
you're going to be delivering a presentation or prepared speech, create it as
early as possible. The earlier you put it together, the more time you'll have
to practice.
Practice
it plenty of times alone, using the resources you'll rely on at the event, and,
as you practice, tweak your words until they flow smoothly and easily.
Then,
if appropriate, do a dummy run in front of a small audience: this will help you
calm your jitters and make you feel more comfortable with the material. Your
audience can also give you useful feedback,
both on your material and on your performance.
Engage With Your Audience
When
you speak, try to engage your audience. This makes you feel less isolated as a
speaker and keeps everyone involved with your message. If appropriate, ask leading questions
targeted to individuals or groups, and encourage people to participate and ask
questions.
Keep
in mind that some words reduce your power as a speaker. For instance, think
about how these sentences sound: "I just want to add that I think we can
meet these goals" or "I just think this plan is a good one." The
words "just" and "I think" limit your authority and
conviction. Don't use them.
A
similar word is "actually," as in, "Actually, I'd like to add
that we were under budget last quarter." When you use "actually,"
it conveys a sense of submissiveness or even surprise. Instead, say what things
are. "We were under budget last quarter" is clear and direct.
Also,
pay attention to how you're speaking. If you're nervous, you might talk
quickly. This increases the chances that you'll trip over your words, or say
something you don't mean. Force yourself to slow down by breathing deeply.
Don't be afraid to gather your thoughts; pauses are an important part of
conversation, and they make you sound confident, natural, and authentic.
Finally,
avoid reading word-for-word from your notes. Instead, make a list of important
points on cue cards, or, as you get better at public speaking, try to memorize
what you're going to say – you can still refer back to your cue cards when you
need them.