1. Don’t talk right away.
Sinek says you should never talk as you walk out on stage. “A lot of people start talking right away, and it’s out of nerves,” Sinek says. “That communicates a little bit of insecurity and fear.”
Instead, quietly walk out on stage. Then take a deep breath, find your place, wait a few seconds and begin. “I know it sounds long and tedious and it feels excruciatingly awkward when you do it,” Sinek says, “but it shows the audience you’re totally confident and in charge of the situation.”
Instead, quietly walk out on stage. Then take a deep breath, find your place, wait a few seconds and begin. “I know it sounds long and tedious and it feels excruciatingly awkward when you do it,” Sinek says, “but it shows the audience you’re totally confident and in charge of the situation.”
2. Show up to give, not to take.
Often people give presentations to sell products or ideas, to get people to follow them on social media, buy their books or even just to like them. Sinek calls these kinds of speakers “takers,” and he says audiences can see through these people right away. And, when they do, they disengage.
“We are highly social animals," says Sinek. "Even at a distance on stage, we can tell if you’re a giver or a taker, and people are more likely to trust a giver -- a speaker that gives them value, that teaches them something new, that inspires them -- than a taker.”
“We are highly social animals," says Sinek. "Even at a distance on stage, we can tell if you’re a giver or a taker, and people are more likely to trust a giver -- a speaker that gives them value, that teaches them something new, that inspires them -- than a taker.”
3. Make eye contact with audience members one by one.
Scanning and panning is your worst enemy, says Sinek. “While it looks like you’re looking at everyone, it actually disconnects you from your audience.”
It’s much easier and effective, he says, if you directly look at specific audience members throughout your speech. If you can, give each person that you intently look at an entire sentence or thought, without breaking your gaze. When you finish a sentence, move on to another person and keep connecting with individual people until you’re done speaking.
“It’s like you’re having a conversation with your audience," says Sinek. "You’re not speaking at them, you’re speaking with them."
This tactic not only creates a deeper connection with individuals but the entire audience can feel it.
It’s much easier and effective, he says, if you directly look at specific audience members throughout your speech. If you can, give each person that you intently look at an entire sentence or thought, without breaking your gaze. When you finish a sentence, move on to another person and keep connecting with individual people until you’re done speaking.
“It’s like you’re having a conversation with your audience," says Sinek. "You’re not speaking at them, you’re speaking with them."
This tactic not only creates a deeper connection with individuals but the entire audience can feel it.
4. Speak unusually slowly.
When you get nervous, it’s not just your heart beat that quickens. Your words also tend to speed up. Luckily Sinek says audiences are more patient and forgiving than we know.
“They want you to succeed up there, but the more you rush, the more you turn them off," he says. "If you just go quiet for a moment and take a long, deep breath, they’ll wait for you. It’s kind of amazing.”
Sinek believes it’s impossible to speak too slowly on stage. “It’s incredible that you can stand on stage and speak so slowly that there are several seconds between each of your words and people… will… hang… on… your… every… word. It really works.”
“They want you to succeed up there, but the more you rush, the more you turn them off," he says. "If you just go quiet for a moment and take a long, deep breath, they’ll wait for you. It’s kind of amazing.”
Sinek believes it’s impossible to speak too slowly on stage. “It’s incredible that you can stand on stage and speak so slowly that there are several seconds between each of your words and people… will… hang… on… your… every… word. It really works.”
5. Ignore the naysayers.
Dismiss the people furrowing their brows, crossing their arms or shaking their heads “no.” Instead, focus only on your supporters -- the people who are visibly engaged, enjoying your presentation and nodding “yes.” If you find the audience members who are positively interacting with you, you’ll be much more confident and relaxed than if you try to convince the naysayers.
6. Turn nervousness into excitement.
Sinek learned this trick from watching the Olympics. A few years ago he noticed that reporters interviewing Olympic athletes before and after competing were all asking the same question. "Were you nervous?” And all of the athletes gave the same answer: "No, I was excited." These competitors were taking the body’s signs of nervousness -- clammy hands, pounding heart and tense nerves -- and reinterpreting them as side effects of excitement and exhilaration.
When you’re up on stage you will likely go through the same thing. That’s when Sinek says you should say to yourself out loud, “I’m not nervous, I’m excited!”
“When you do, it really has a miraculous impact in helping you change your attitude to what you’re about to do," Sinek says.
When you’re up on stage you will likely go through the same thing. That’s when Sinek says you should say to yourself out loud, “I’m not nervous, I’m excited!”
“When you do, it really has a miraculous impact in helping you change your attitude to what you’re about to do," Sinek says.
7. Say thank you when you’re done.
Applause is a gift, and when you receive a gift, it’s only right to express how grateful you are for it. This is why Sinek always closes out his presentations with these two simple yet powerful words: thank you.
"They gave you their time, and they’re giving you their applause." Says Sinek. "That’s a gift, and you have to be grateful."
"They gave you their time, and they’re giving you their applause." Says Sinek. "That’s a gift, and you have to be grateful."
100 Top Public Speaking Tips: Master List
If you’re looking for public speaking tips, you’ve come to the right place! And don’t forget to also explore the blog post categories for hundreds more!
Public Speaking Tip 1: Lose that Scorecard in Your Mind
Don’t aspire to public speaking perfection. It’ll trip you up — plus, there’s no such thing! Lose that scorecard.
Public Speaking Tip 2: To Be a Better Public Speaker, Give a Small “Speech” Every Day
The line between public speaking and regular talk is thinner than you think. In fact, you can practice public speaking (and increase your skills) during regular conversations — and no one will ever know! Give your small speech.
Public Speaking Tip 3: Make Public Speaking Practice a Game
Public speaking is part of everyday life — and you can make public speaking practice part of your daily life, by playing this game. Make it a game.
Public Speaking Tip 4: Writing “Rules” Aren’t for Public Speaking
The rules for writing that you may have learned in high school are rarely right for public speaking. Instead, write to speak in a way that reflects your natural conversation style. Lose the rules.
Public Speaking Tip 5: Want to Be a GREAT Public Speaker? Be Yourself!
No one else can tell your story, or speak from your heart. That’s why the most powerful speeches always comes from people who are being themselves. Be you!
Public Speaking Tip 6: Don’t Worry, You WILL Make Mistakes!
Every public speaker makes mistakes! If you hate that reality (and even if you don’t), here are some strategies to quickly recover from the inevitable imperfections. Get ready to recover.
Public Speaking Tip 7: For Kick-Ass Public Speaking, Forget About Words
Words have their place in public speaking, but it’s a much smaller place than most people assume. So instead of worrying about individual word choices, focus on your ideas and your connection with the audience. Forget the words.
Public Speaking Tip 8: Want to Give a Powerful Speech? Start By Telling Yourself the Truth
It isn’t always possible to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” at work. But if you start by being honest with yourself, it’s easier to find a compromise you can live with. Tell yourself the truth.
Public Speaking Tip 9: It’s Just a Feeling, so Embrace the Stress
What, besides experience, is the biggest difference between veteran and newbie public speakers? Both groups experience stress, nerves, even fear; but the veterans aren’t thrown by those feelings — and you don’t have to be, either. Embrace the stress.
Public Speaking Tip 10: For Public Speaking Phobia, Get Help
Is your fear of public speaking a phobia? Or is it in the the mild-to-heavy anxiety range that most of us feel when we make a presentation? Here’s what to do when the fear is more than fear. Got phobia?
Public Speaking Tip 11: Get the Facts Before You Agree to Speak
When someone asks you to give a speech, don’t let your delight (or dismay) distract you from asking some basic questions about your speech, your audience, and the event. Now, before you’ve said yes, is the best time to find out what you’re really getting into! Get the facts.
Public Speaking Tip 12: Listen to Your Audience (Part 1)
Great public speaking isn’t just — or even primarily — about what you say. Your ability to LISTEN is equally important. Here are some tips for listening better to become a better public speaker. Listen better.
Public Speaking Tip 13: Listen to Your Audience (Part 2)
Listening to one person can be hard work — and listening to an AUDIENCE can really seem daunting. But if you stop, look, and focus on their cues, you’ll find that the mood of your audience isn’t all that hard to “hear.” Listen even more!
Public Speaking Tip 14: Remember the Baby!
Adults often approach public speaking with fear, self-doubt, and inhibition, but babies just open their mouths and speak their minds. We could learn plenty from watching them. Learn from babies.
Public Speaking Tip 15: Know When to Lose Your Script
Public speaking situations can change, and when they do, you may find yourself having to choose between adjusting your speech, changing its context, or totally abandoning your script. Adjust your speech!
Public Speaking Tip 16: You Can’t Control an Audience’s Reaction
Wouldn’t it be great if we could speak with such mastery that a positive reaction was guaranteed? Unfortunately, things don’t work that way — people will respond as they see fit, not as we want them to. But the good news is that audiences are generally on the speaker’s side. Give up control.
Public Speaking Tip 17: Savor Each Moment of Your Speech
Don’t be a speaker who runs through his speech as if the hounds of hell were on your heels. Instead, subdue the urge to flight by focusing fully on each section of your presentation. Savor the moment.
Public Speaking Tip 18: Your Accent Doesn’t Matter — Speaking Clearly, Does!
Many people who come to the U.S. from other countries are concerned that their accent makes them hard to understand. But if you organize your thoughts, speak slowly and clearly, and leave pauses so that people can absorb one idea before hearing the next, listeners will almost always understand you. Accents are fine.
Public Speaking Tip 19: Master the Instant Speech (It’s Easy!)
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple and flexible five-sentence format that made every idea sound better? There is; and it’s called the Instant Speech. Make Instant Speeches!
Public Speaking Tip 20: If You Make a Public Speaking Mistake, Don’t Explain
It’s tempting, when you make a public speaking mistake, to try to talk your way out of it. But resist the temptation — because explaining yourself when you’re embarrassed is likely to just make things worse. Don’t explain.
Public Speaking Tip 21: For Great Public Speaking, Go To the Edge of Defeat
Public speaking always offers the choice of whether to present your material in a way that’s predictably safe, a little more flexible, or right at the high-risk edge of defeat. And sometimes, it’s worth taking a risk. Jump!
Public Speaking Tip 22: For Public Speaking Power, Breathe OUT, Not In!
To get your fill of air — a critical element in any public speaking situation — learn to breathe OUT before you breathe in. Here’s how. Breathe out.
Public Speaking Tip 23: For Public Speaking Success, Be Audible
Listening is hard work! But you can make it easier for an audience to understand and remember what you’re saying by being easier to hear. Be audible.
Public Speaking Tip 24: Write an Email that Gets Read
Do your emails get overlooked or ignored? Here’s how to write emails that cut through the inbox clutter and write an email that beckons the reader. Get read.
Public Speaking Tip 25: Make Your Most Important Point Simple and Clear
Your key message is the most important thing you have to say about a given subject. It should be simple, clear, even obvious. Keep it simple.
Public Speaking Tip 26: Uhm, Lose Those, Like, Filler Words, Y’Know?
Uhm, it’s clear that, people who, like, fill up every available space with sounds that, y’know, have no meaning are just sort of forgetting to add the silence. Add silence.
Public Speaking Tip 27: Know Your Dress Codes
Like it or not, we’re all judged on how we look. So when you’re interviewing for a job, or presenting to a business audience, be sure that you know what looks professional to them. Look professional.
Public Speaking Tip 28: Use a Template for Public Speaking
Public speaking templates can save you time, effort, and anxiety, whether you’re making a speech or writing a thank you note. Use templates.
Public Speaking Tip 29: To Connect with Your Audience, Use the “You” Word
Want to connect with and convince your audience? Start by addressing THEIR thoughts, needs, and concerns — and using the word YOU to show that you’re talking to them! Say “YOU“.
Public Speaking Tip 30: Want to Be a Great Public Speaker? It’s Going to Take Time
Becoming a great public speaker is a process; there will always be things you can improve. So don’t think about how long it’s going to take. Instead, jump in. Start the clock!
Public Speaking Tip 31: Want People to Listen? Add Some Drama
If you’ve been practicing the flat, gray speech that’s standard in many businesses and professions, it’s time to stop! Instead, delight yourself and your listeners by adding a touch of drama when you speak. Add drama.
Public Speaking Tip 32: Formulate a “Reject-Me” Public Speaking Image, then Turn It Around
How we look onstage is part of our appeal to an audience. Comedian Dan Greenburg’s advice on how to make an audience reject you will help you do the opposite, and create a comfortable, confident public speaking image. Create your image.
Public Speaking Tip 33: Don’t Panic about Public Speaking Panic
While experienced public speakers have learned to take the occasional bout of panic in stride, occasional public speakers may think that panic says something terrible about them or their skills. (Hint: It doesn’t!) Don’t panic.
Public Speaking Tip 34: Great Public Speakers Don’t Make Their Audiences Work for Information
It takes hard work and thought to tell your audience what they need to know, in a way that’s clear and easily understood. But if you don’t do that work, your audience will have to — and they won’t thank you for making them do it. Do the work!
Public Speaking Tip 35: Treat Your Speech Like a Five-Course Tasting Menu
Would you rather savor five-course tasting menu, or plow your way through a plate of hash? Well, it’s important to savor each “course” of a presentation, too! Savor Your Speech
Public Speaking Tip 36: It Doesn’t Matter How Well You Speak if Nobody Knows What You’re Talking About
We can all go overboard with tech talk when discussing our areas of expertise. So before you jump too deeply into your content, be sure that you’ve answered your audience’s Big Three Questions. Answer your audience’s questions..
Public Speaking Tip 37: At Every Stage of Public Speaking, Put Your Focus On The Right Thing
As a public speaker, you can focus on yourself, your content, or your audience — and putting the right amount of focus in the right place at the right time is important for your success. Focus!
Public Speaking Tip 38: Tell Success Stories, Because If You Don’t Talk About Your Achievements, Who Will?
Lots of people — including the majority of introverts — hate talking about our successes. But success stories don’t have to be obnoxious brags; they can be simple, clear, charming, delightful, and great for our careers! Tell success stories
Public Speaking Tip 39: Don’t Let Career Building Screw Up Your Public Speaking
As a young professional, you’ll feel lots of pressure to develop a bland public speaking style. But that could hold you back as your career develops. Build your public speaking style.
Public Speaking Tip 40: Answer Questions Without Boring Your Listener, or Know When to Stop Talking
To energize your listeners instead of putting them to sleep, use these tips for answering questions at job interviews, networking, pitches, presentations, and meetings. Don’t bore your listeners.
Public Speaking Tip 41: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat Yourself
Were you told in high school English class that you should never repeat yourself? For public speaking, forget that rule and repeat yourself a lot! Repeat yourself.
Public Speaking Tip 42: When People Say Your Speech Was Great, Believe Them!
People often doubt the positive feedback they get when they’ve given a speech. Believe it!
Public Speaking Tip 43: Use Gestures to Accent What You’re Saying
Public Speaking Tip 44: For Small Talk, Networking, and Job Interviews, Be Sure to Hit the Ball Back to Your Partner
Public Speaking Tip 45: Let Your Smile Tell People that You’re Glad to Talk to Them
Public Speaking Tip 46: Always Answer the Question First!
Public Speaking Tip 47: Fear of Public Speaking? Use YOU Language and an Avatar to Distance Yourself from the Feelings
Public speaking is scary. But you can manage fear of public speaking by distancing yourself from your emotions, with these two simple and highly effective techniques. Manage your fear.
Public Speaking Tip 48: For Public Speaking Success, Keep the Glass Half Full of Honey, Not Vinegar
Whenever it’s possible to speak positively and appreciatively about your audience, do it! Criticizing their shortcomings won’t win you any friends; and even if you’re the boss, negative messages don’t generally lead to positive changes. Be positive.
Public Speaking Tip 49: For Public Speaking Success, Don’t Practice in Public (Shed on the Stand)
When you give a speech that you haven’t worked on, you’re subjecting your audience to a practice session. Don’t shed on the stand!
Public Speaking Tip 50: For Sustainable Success, Set a SMART Public Speaking Goal You Can Achieve
Want to become a better public speaker? Have a SMART public speaking goal. Get SMART!
Public Speaking Tip 51: If You’re Reading a Speech, Read with Pride; Don’t Hide!
Today, many public speakers don’t want to read their speeches, and especially not from PAPER. But reading can help you give an even better speech! Read with pride.
Public Speaking Tip 52: Be an Entitled Public Speaker
Many of my public speaking clients don’t feel that they have the right to be heard; but that’s less of a problem for people from the professional class. You can move from intimidated to entitled by borrowing some attitudes from this privileged class. Be entitled!
Public Speaking Tip 53: Learn from Amy Cuddy, and Fake It Till You Become It
Amy Cuddy is a professor at Harvard whose research could change how you feel about public speaking, and yourself! Become your best self.
Public Speaking Tip 54: For Relaxed Public Speaking, Relax Your Throat
Public speaking can stress your voice. Here are some techniques for protecting your pipes, so that you and your voice can both go the distance. Take care of your voice.
Public Speaking Tip 55: If Your Job Involves Serving the Public, Talk WITH Your Customers, Not AT Them (or: A Tale of Two Servers)
Build a relationship with your customers by engaging them, and listening to what they say. Listen to your customers!
Public Speaking Tip 56: When You Disagree with Someone, Rebut Their Ideas, Not Them
When passions run high, it’s easy to slip into attacking your opponent. Instead, keep your tone friendly and light, and rebut their ideas, not their value as a person. Rebut ideas, not people.
Public Speaking Tip 57: How to Develop Executive Presence
It’s not enough to have great skills and a strong work ethic. You also need Executive Presence, the quality that telegraphs your strengths to others. Develop executive presence.
Public Speaking Tip 58: For a Confident and Successful Presentation, Stand, Settle, Smile, Speak
A lot of public speakers are off-balance at the start of their talks. When you take the stage to give a speech, use the Stand, Settle, Smile, Speak method to make sure you start strong. Stand, settle, smile, speak!
Public Speaking Tip 59: At the End of Your Speech, Stick Your Landing
It’s easy to lose energy after giving an entire speech, and let your ending (or your Q&A, or even your main message) dribble off or fade away. Don’t do that! Stick your landing.
Public Speaking Tip 60: When You Practice Public Speaking, Say Inconsequential Things
As a speaker, you want to say things that matter. But when you’re PRACTICING your public speaking skills, it’s just as useful to say inconsequential things. Be inconsequential.
Public Speaking Tip 61: How to Speak Up More in Meetings, Even If You Say Inconsequential Things
In a meeting, don’t wait for the most profound, perfect, or articulate comment to occur to you. Just talk! Speak up.
Public Speaking Tip 62: Talk About Inconsequential Things When You Make Small Talk
It’s hard for many of us to talk about inconsequential, simple, silly, or obvious things. But small topics work best for small talk; here’s why. Keep it small.
Public Speaking Tip 63: Keep Your PowerPoint Short, Sweet, and Simple
PowerPoint is a useful and effective tool, if you keep it short, sweet, and simple. Keep it simple.
Public Speaking Tip 64: Don’t Listen to the Self-Critical Voice in Your Head
Is there a nasty little voice in your head that loves to criticize your public speaking skills? Here’s how to beat the NLV. Don’t listen!
Public Speaking Tip 65: You Know You Should Practice, for Great Public Speaking! But HOW??
If you have trouble practicing a speech or talk, it may be because you don’t know HOW or WHAT to practice. These tips and tricks will help! So practice!
Public Speaking Tip 66: Choose a Networking Strategy that Works for YOU, Whether You’re an Introvert or an Extravert
There isn’t one right approach to networking. The best networking strategies, practices, goals, and actions are the ones that work best for YOU. Go network!
Public Speaking Tip 67: Give Your Smile Muscles a Workout
Nothing helps you connect with an audience like a smile! To be sure your smile is always at the ready, give your smile muscles a workout. Smile!
Public Speaking Tip 68: To Make Your Words More Memorable, Put Pauses In Your Public Speaking
Pauses are one of your most important, dramatic, relaxing, and versatile public speaking tools. Practice using pauses.
Public Speaking Tip 69: Learn to Create a Basic PowerPoint or Keynote Presentation
If you haven’t learned to create basic slides using PowerPoint or Keynote, you’re missing out on a lot of fun and some great public speaking lessons! Make slides
Public Speaking Tip 70: Use Pictures In Your Slides (They’re Worth Way More than 1000 Words!)
Even simple, silly pictures can make your slides engaging, when they’re personal. Use pictures.
Public Speaking Tip 71: To Get POWER from Your PowerPoint…Transition, Click, and Pause
A simple and fun way to add power to your slide decks is by learning how to transition, and taking your audience along with you. Transition.
Public Speaking Tip 72: Small Talk? It’s Not Hard to Master When You Understand It
Small talk isn’t a conversation, it’s the warm-up for a conversation. Here’s how to master it. Make small talk.
Public Speaking Tip 73: Build Your Confidence and Public Speaking Success in 15 Seconds, Twice a Day
What if you could build your public speaking confidence and success with an exercise that took 15 seconds? You would do that, right? Build your confidence!
Public Speaking Tip 74: Millennials (Generation Y), Learn to Speak More Slowly and Use Periods
The speed at which most Millennials (members of Generation Y) speak can leave older listeners in the dust. Here’s how to fix that problem. Slow down!
Public Speaking Tip 75: Learn How to Run an Effective Business Meeting
It’s not hard to run effective business meetings if you follow these tips and plan ahead. Run great meetings.
Public Speaking Tip 76: Public Speakers, Avoid Common PowerPoint Mistakes
It’s easy to avoid common PowerPoint mistakes and make your audience happy. Avoid these mistakes.
Public Speaking Tip 77: Want to Be Relaxed, Consistent, and Effective WHENEVER You Speak in Public? Learn How to Be On!
Good public speakers know how to “be on.” Here’s what that really means. Be on!
Public Speaking Tip 78: To Know Your Audience is to Love Your Audience
If your audience seems very different from you, look deeper. You may have more in common than you think! Learn about your audience.
Public Speaking Tip 79: Petite and Female? Your Size is No Obstacle to Being Heard!
Many petite women, like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have an outsized impact, proving that true power knows no size. Women, power up!
Public Speaking Tip 80: The Right Apology Makes Both People Feel Better (Even If You Don’t Think You’ve Done Wrong!)
We all make mistakes. Fortunately, it’s not hard to give an apology that helps BOTH parties feel better. Apologize.
Public Speaking Tip 81: Close With Your Key Message. And if Your Speech is Followed by Q&A, Do It Twice!
Every time you speak, remember to close with your key message — and if your speech is followed by Q&A, do it twice! Close twice.
Public Speaking Tip 82: Don’t Let the TED Talk Style Intimidate You, or Stand Between You and Making a Good Speech
It takes tremendous effort to create the smooth professionalism of a TED talk, and it’s not fair to expect business speakers to reach the same bar. Give a good enough speech.
Public Speaking Tip 83: Learn To Tell a Good Business Story (Part I)
Learning to tell a good business story isn’t hard, and it’s a a useful skill for growing your career. Learn business storytelling.
Public Speaking Tip 84: Learn to Tell Good Business Stories (Part II)
Good business stories, like good wine, gain richness and depth as you practice and tell them. Tell your business stories now.
Public Speaking Tip 85: Put Down that Editing Pen!
Editing your speech is helpful, up to a point. Then it’s time to stop editing and start practicing. Drop that pen and practice!
Public Speaking Tip 86: Don’t Talk About Your Co-Workers on Facebook
Facebook can make it seem like a conversation is private, but IT’S NOT. So use extra restraint when discussing your colleauges, or better yet, don’t do it! Watch out for Facebook.
Public Speaking Tip 87: Speaking Properly is a Game, Not a Measure Of Your Value As a Person
Speaking properly has nothing to do with being a good, smart, or valuable person. It’s a series of skills you can acquire, and a game you can master. Master the game!
Public Speaking Tip 1: Lose that Scorecard in Your Mind
Don’t aspire to public speaking perfection. It’ll trip you up — plus, there’s no such thing! Lose that scorecard.
Public Speaking Tip 2: To Be a Better Public Speaker, Give a Small “Speech” Every Day
The line between public speaking and regular talk is thinner than you think. In fact, you can practice public speaking (and increase your skills) during regular conversations — and no one will ever know! Give your small speech.
Public Speaking Tip 3: Make Public Speaking Practice a Game
Public speaking is part of everyday life — and you can make public speaking practice part of your daily life, by playing this game. Make it a game.
Public Speaking Tip 4: Writing “Rules” Aren’t for Public Speaking
The rules for writing that you may have learned in high school are rarely right for public speaking. Instead, write to speak in a way that reflects your natural conversation style. Lose the rules.
Public Speaking Tip 5: Want to Be a GREAT Public Speaker? Be Yourself!
No one else can tell your story, or speak from your heart. That’s why the most powerful speeches always comes from people who are being themselves. Be you!
Public Speaking Tip 6: Don’t Worry, You WILL Make Mistakes!
Every public speaker makes mistakes! If you hate that reality (and even if you don’t), here are some strategies to quickly recover from the inevitable imperfections. Get ready to recover.
Public Speaking Tip 7: For Kick-Ass Public Speaking, Forget About Words
Words have their place in public speaking, but it’s a much smaller place than most people assume. So instead of worrying about individual word choices, focus on your ideas and your connection with the audience. Forget the words.
Public Speaking Tip 8: Want to Give a Powerful Speech? Start By Telling Yourself the Truth
It isn’t always possible to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” at work. But if you start by being honest with yourself, it’s easier to find a compromise you can live with. Tell yourself the truth.
Public Speaking Tip 9: It’s Just a Feeling, so Embrace the Stress
What, besides experience, is the biggest difference between veteran and newbie public speakers? Both groups experience stress, nerves, even fear; but the veterans aren’t thrown by those feelings — and you don’t have to be, either. Embrace the stress.
Public Speaking Tip 10: For Public Speaking Phobia, Get Help
Is your fear of public speaking a phobia? Or is it in the the mild-to-heavy anxiety range that most of us feel when we make a presentation? Here’s what to do when the fear is more than fear. Got phobia?
Public Speaking Tip 11: Get the Facts Before You Agree to Speak
When someone asks you to give a speech, don’t let your delight (or dismay) distract you from asking some basic questions about your speech, your audience, and the event. Now, before you’ve said yes, is the best time to find out what you’re really getting into! Get the facts.
Public Speaking Tip 12: Listen to Your Audience (Part 1)
Great public speaking isn’t just — or even primarily — about what you say. Your ability to LISTEN is equally important. Here are some tips for listening better to become a better public speaker. Listen better.
Public Speaking Tip 13: Listen to Your Audience (Part 2)
Listening to one person can be hard work — and listening to an AUDIENCE can really seem daunting. But if you stop, look, and focus on their cues, you’ll find that the mood of your audience isn’t all that hard to “hear.” Listen even more!
Public Speaking Tip 14: Remember the Baby!
Adults often approach public speaking with fear, self-doubt, and inhibition, but babies just open their mouths and speak their minds. We could learn plenty from watching them. Learn from babies.
Public Speaking Tip 15: Know When to Lose Your Script
Public speaking situations can change, and when they do, you may find yourself having to choose between adjusting your speech, changing its context, or totally abandoning your script. Adjust your speech!
Public Speaking Tip 16: You Can’t Control an Audience’s Reaction
Wouldn’t it be great if we could speak with such mastery that a positive reaction was guaranteed? Unfortunately, things don’t work that way — people will respond as they see fit, not as we want them to. But the good news is that audiences are generally on the speaker’s side. Give up control.
Public Speaking Tip 17: Savor Each Moment of Your Speech
Don’t be a speaker who runs through his speech as if the hounds of hell were on your heels. Instead, subdue the urge to flight by focusing fully on each section of your presentation. Savor the moment.
Public Speaking Tip 18: Your Accent Doesn’t Matter — Speaking Clearly, Does!
Many people who come to the U.S. from other countries are concerned that their accent makes them hard to understand. But if you organize your thoughts, speak slowly and clearly, and leave pauses so that people can absorb one idea before hearing the next, listeners will almost always understand you. Accents are fine.
Public Speaking Tip 19: Master the Instant Speech (It’s Easy!)
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple and flexible five-sentence format that made every idea sound better? There is; and it’s called the Instant Speech. Make Instant Speeches!
Public Speaking Tip 20: If You Make a Public Speaking Mistake, Don’t Explain
It’s tempting, when you make a public speaking mistake, to try to talk your way out of it. But resist the temptation — because explaining yourself when you’re embarrassed is likely to just make things worse. Don’t explain.
Public Speaking Tip 21: For Great Public Speaking, Go To the Edge of Defeat
Public speaking always offers the choice of whether to present your material in a way that’s predictably safe, a little more flexible, or right at the high-risk edge of defeat. And sometimes, it’s worth taking a risk. Jump!
Public Speaking Tip 22: For Public Speaking Power, Breathe OUT, Not In!
To get your fill of air — a critical element in any public speaking situation — learn to breathe OUT before you breathe in. Here’s how. Breathe out.
Public Speaking Tip 23: For Public Speaking Success, Be Audible
Listening is hard work! But you can make it easier for an audience to understand and remember what you’re saying by being easier to hear. Be audible.
Public Speaking Tip 24: Write an Email that Gets Read
Do your emails get overlooked or ignored? Here’s how to write emails that cut through the inbox clutter and write an email that beckons the reader. Get read.
Public Speaking Tip 25: Make Your Most Important Point Simple and Clear
Your key message is the most important thing you have to say about a given subject. It should be simple, clear, even obvious. Keep it simple.
Public Speaking Tip 26: Uhm, Lose Those, Like, Filler Words, Y’Know?
Uhm, it’s clear that, people who, like, fill up every available space with sounds that, y’know, have no meaning are just sort of forgetting to add the silence. Add silence.
Public Speaking Tip 27: Know Your Dress Codes
Like it or not, we’re all judged on how we look. So when you’re interviewing for a job, or presenting to a business audience, be sure that you know what looks professional to them. Look professional.
Public Speaking Tip 28: Use a Template for Public Speaking
Public speaking templates can save you time, effort, and anxiety, whether you’re making a speech or writing a thank you note. Use templates.
Public Speaking Tip 29: To Connect with Your Audience, Use the “You” Word
Want to connect with and convince your audience? Start by addressing THEIR thoughts, needs, and concerns — and using the word YOU to show that you’re talking to them! Say “YOU“.
Public Speaking Tip 30: Want to Be a Great Public Speaker? It’s Going to Take Time
Becoming a great public speaker is a process; there will always be things you can improve. So don’t think about how long it’s going to take. Instead, jump in. Start the clock!
Public Speaking Tip 31: Want People to Listen? Add Some Drama
If you’ve been practicing the flat, gray speech that’s standard in many businesses and professions, it’s time to stop! Instead, delight yourself and your listeners by adding a touch of drama when you speak. Add drama.
Public Speaking Tip 32: Formulate a “Reject-Me” Public Speaking Image, then Turn It Around
How we look onstage is part of our appeal to an audience. Comedian Dan Greenburg’s advice on how to make an audience reject you will help you do the opposite, and create a comfortable, confident public speaking image. Create your image.
Public Speaking Tip 33: Don’t Panic about Public Speaking Panic
While experienced public speakers have learned to take the occasional bout of panic in stride, occasional public speakers may think that panic says something terrible about them or their skills. (Hint: It doesn’t!) Don’t panic.
Public Speaking Tip 34: Great Public Speakers Don’t Make Their Audiences Work for Information
It takes hard work and thought to tell your audience what they need to know, in a way that’s clear and easily understood. But if you don’t do that work, your audience will have to — and they won’t thank you for making them do it. Do the work!
Public Speaking Tip 35: Treat Your Speech Like a Five-Course Tasting Menu
Would you rather savor five-course tasting menu, or plow your way through a plate of hash? Well, it’s important to savor each “course” of a presentation, too! Savor Your Speech
Public Speaking Tip 36: It Doesn’t Matter How Well You Speak if Nobody Knows What You’re Talking About
We can all go overboard with tech talk when discussing our areas of expertise. So before you jump too deeply into your content, be sure that you’ve answered your audience’s Big Three Questions. Answer your audience’s questions..
Public Speaking Tip 37: At Every Stage of Public Speaking, Put Your Focus On The Right Thing
As a public speaker, you can focus on yourself, your content, or your audience — and putting the right amount of focus in the right place at the right time is important for your success. Focus!
Public Speaking Tip 38: Tell Success Stories, Because If You Don’t Talk About Your Achievements, Who Will?
Lots of people — including the majority of introverts — hate talking about our successes. But success stories don’t have to be obnoxious brags; they can be simple, clear, charming, delightful, and great for our careers! Tell success stories
Public Speaking Tip 39: Don’t Let Career Building Screw Up Your Public Speaking
As a young professional, you’ll feel lots of pressure to develop a bland public speaking style. But that could hold you back as your career develops. Build your public speaking style.
Public Speaking Tip 40: Answer Questions Without Boring Your Listener, or Know When to Stop Talking
To energize your listeners instead of putting them to sleep, use these tips for answering questions at job interviews, networking, pitches, presentations, and meetings. Don’t bore your listeners.
Public Speaking Tip 41: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat Yourself
Were you told in high school English class that you should never repeat yourself? For public speaking, forget that rule and repeat yourself a lot! Repeat yourself.
Public Speaking Tip 42: When People Say Your Speech Was Great, Believe Them!
People often doubt the positive feedback they get when they’ve given a speech. Believe it!
Public Speaking Tip 43: Use Gestures to Accent What You’re Saying
Public Speaking Tip 44: For Small Talk, Networking, and Job Interviews, Be Sure to Hit the Ball Back to Your Partner
Public Speaking Tip 45: Let Your Smile Tell People that You’re Glad to Talk to Them
Public Speaking Tip 46: Always Answer the Question First!
Public Speaking Tip 47: Fear of Public Speaking? Use YOU Language and an Avatar to Distance Yourself from the Feelings
Public speaking is scary. But you can manage fear of public speaking by distancing yourself from your emotions, with these two simple and highly effective techniques. Manage your fear.
Public Speaking Tip 48: For Public Speaking Success, Keep the Glass Half Full of Honey, Not Vinegar
Whenever it’s possible to speak positively and appreciatively about your audience, do it! Criticizing their shortcomings won’t win you any friends; and even if you’re the boss, negative messages don’t generally lead to positive changes. Be positive.
Public Speaking Tip 49: For Public Speaking Success, Don’t Practice in Public (Shed on the Stand)
When you give a speech that you haven’t worked on, you’re subjecting your audience to a practice session. Don’t shed on the stand!
Public Speaking Tip 50: For Sustainable Success, Set a SMART Public Speaking Goal You Can Achieve
Want to become a better public speaker? Have a SMART public speaking goal. Get SMART!
Public Speaking Tip 51: If You’re Reading a Speech, Read with Pride; Don’t Hide!
Today, many public speakers don’t want to read their speeches, and especially not from PAPER. But reading can help you give an even better speech! Read with pride.
Public Speaking Tip 52: Be an Entitled Public Speaker
Many of my public speaking clients don’t feel that they have the right to be heard; but that’s less of a problem for people from the professional class. You can move from intimidated to entitled by borrowing some attitudes from this privileged class. Be entitled!
Public Speaking Tip 53: Learn from Amy Cuddy, and Fake It Till You Become It
Amy Cuddy is a professor at Harvard whose research could change how you feel about public speaking, and yourself! Become your best self.
Public Speaking Tip 54: For Relaxed Public Speaking, Relax Your Throat
Public speaking can stress your voice. Here are some techniques for protecting your pipes, so that you and your voice can both go the distance. Take care of your voice.
Public Speaking Tip 55: If Your Job Involves Serving the Public, Talk WITH Your Customers, Not AT Them (or: A Tale of Two Servers)
Build a relationship with your customers by engaging them, and listening to what they say. Listen to your customers!
Public Speaking Tip 56: When You Disagree with Someone, Rebut Their Ideas, Not Them
When passions run high, it’s easy to slip into attacking your opponent. Instead, keep your tone friendly and light, and rebut their ideas, not their value as a person. Rebut ideas, not people.
Public Speaking Tip 57: How to Develop Executive Presence
It’s not enough to have great skills and a strong work ethic. You also need Executive Presence, the quality that telegraphs your strengths to others. Develop executive presence.
Public Speaking Tip 58: For a Confident and Successful Presentation, Stand, Settle, Smile, Speak
A lot of public speakers are off-balance at the start of their talks. When you take the stage to give a speech, use the Stand, Settle, Smile, Speak method to make sure you start strong. Stand, settle, smile, speak!
Public Speaking Tip 59: At the End of Your Speech, Stick Your Landing
It’s easy to lose energy after giving an entire speech, and let your ending (or your Q&A, or even your main message) dribble off or fade away. Don’t do that! Stick your landing.
Public Speaking Tip 60: When You Practice Public Speaking, Say Inconsequential Things
As a speaker, you want to say things that matter. But when you’re PRACTICING your public speaking skills, it’s just as useful to say inconsequential things. Be inconsequential.
Public Speaking Tip 61: How to Speak Up More in Meetings, Even If You Say Inconsequential Things
In a meeting, don’t wait for the most profound, perfect, or articulate comment to occur to you. Just talk! Speak up.
Public Speaking Tip 62: Talk About Inconsequential Things When You Make Small Talk
It’s hard for many of us to talk about inconsequential, simple, silly, or obvious things. But small topics work best for small talk; here’s why. Keep it small.
Public Speaking Tip 63: Keep Your PowerPoint Short, Sweet, and Simple
PowerPoint is a useful and effective tool, if you keep it short, sweet, and simple. Keep it simple.
Public Speaking Tip 64: Don’t Listen to the Self-Critical Voice in Your Head
Is there a nasty little voice in your head that loves to criticize your public speaking skills? Here’s how to beat the NLV. Don’t listen!
Public Speaking Tip 65: You Know You Should Practice, for Great Public Speaking! But HOW??
If you have trouble practicing a speech or talk, it may be because you don’t know HOW or WHAT to practice. These tips and tricks will help! So practice!
Public Speaking Tip 66: Choose a Networking Strategy that Works for YOU, Whether You’re an Introvert or an Extravert
There isn’t one right approach to networking. The best networking strategies, practices, goals, and actions are the ones that work best for YOU. Go network!
Public Speaking Tip 67: Give Your Smile Muscles a Workout
Nothing helps you connect with an audience like a smile! To be sure your smile is always at the ready, give your smile muscles a workout. Smile!
Public Speaking Tip 68: To Make Your Words More Memorable, Put Pauses In Your Public Speaking
Pauses are one of your most important, dramatic, relaxing, and versatile public speaking tools. Practice using pauses.
Public Speaking Tip 69: Learn to Create a Basic PowerPoint or Keynote Presentation
If you haven’t learned to create basic slides using PowerPoint or Keynote, you’re missing out on a lot of fun and some great public speaking lessons! Make slides
Public Speaking Tip 70: Use Pictures In Your Slides (They’re Worth Way More than 1000 Words!)
Even simple, silly pictures can make your slides engaging, when they’re personal. Use pictures.
Public Speaking Tip 71: To Get POWER from Your PowerPoint…Transition, Click, and Pause
A simple and fun way to add power to your slide decks is by learning how to transition, and taking your audience along with you. Transition.
Public Speaking Tip 72: Small Talk? It’s Not Hard to Master When You Understand It
Small talk isn’t a conversation, it’s the warm-up for a conversation. Here’s how to master it. Make small talk.
Public Speaking Tip 73: Build Your Confidence and Public Speaking Success in 15 Seconds, Twice a Day
What if you could build your public speaking confidence and success with an exercise that took 15 seconds? You would do that, right? Build your confidence!
Public Speaking Tip 74: Millennials (Generation Y), Learn to Speak More Slowly and Use Periods
The speed at which most Millennials (members of Generation Y) speak can leave older listeners in the dust. Here’s how to fix that problem. Slow down!
Public Speaking Tip 75: Learn How to Run an Effective Business Meeting
It’s not hard to run effective business meetings if you follow these tips and plan ahead. Run great meetings.
Public Speaking Tip 76: Public Speakers, Avoid Common PowerPoint Mistakes
It’s easy to avoid common PowerPoint mistakes and make your audience happy. Avoid these mistakes.
Public Speaking Tip 77: Want to Be Relaxed, Consistent, and Effective WHENEVER You Speak in Public? Learn How to Be On!
Good public speakers know how to “be on.” Here’s what that really means. Be on!
Public Speaking Tip 78: To Know Your Audience is to Love Your Audience
If your audience seems very different from you, look deeper. You may have more in common than you think! Learn about your audience.
Public Speaking Tip 79: Petite and Female? Your Size is No Obstacle to Being Heard!
Many petite women, like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have an outsized impact, proving that true power knows no size. Women, power up!
Public Speaking Tip 80: The Right Apology Makes Both People Feel Better (Even If You Don’t Think You’ve Done Wrong!)
We all make mistakes. Fortunately, it’s not hard to give an apology that helps BOTH parties feel better. Apologize.
Public Speaking Tip 81: Close With Your Key Message. And if Your Speech is Followed by Q&A, Do It Twice!
Every time you speak, remember to close with your key message — and if your speech is followed by Q&A, do it twice! Close twice.
Public Speaking Tip 82: Don’t Let the TED Talk Style Intimidate You, or Stand Between You and Making a Good Speech
It takes tremendous effort to create the smooth professionalism of a TED talk, and it’s not fair to expect business speakers to reach the same bar. Give a good enough speech.
Public Speaking Tip 83: Learn To Tell a Good Business Story (Part I)
Learning to tell a good business story isn’t hard, and it’s a a useful skill for growing your career. Learn business storytelling.
Public Speaking Tip 84: Learn to Tell Good Business Stories (Part II)
Good business stories, like good wine, gain richness and depth as you practice and tell them. Tell your business stories now.
Public Speaking Tip 85: Put Down that Editing Pen!
Editing your speech is helpful, up to a point. Then it’s time to stop editing and start practicing. Drop that pen and practice!
Public Speaking Tip 86: Don’t Talk About Your Co-Workers on Facebook
Facebook can make it seem like a conversation is private, but IT’S NOT. So use extra restraint when discussing your colleauges, or better yet, don’t do it! Watch out for Facebook.
Public Speaking Tip 87: Speaking Properly is a Game, Not a Measure Of Your Value As a Person
Speaking properly has nothing to do with being a good, smart, or valuable person. It’s a series of skills you can acquire, and a game you can master. Master the game!
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