1. Develop a deep voice Listen to a news anchor and practice speaking in the same way.

A deeper voice
carries more authority. Find some exercises to lower the pitch of your voice. A quick solution: take three
of four deep breathes before standing to speak. It will relax your vocal cords and your voice will be
deeper.
2. Slow down We tend to speak quickly when we are nervous. If you speak too quickly, people will see
you as nervous and perhaps even unsure of the topic. Find a comfortable pace and practice. Be careful
that youre not too slow.
3. Give your voice some life Ben Stein gave us the definitive monotone presentation style in Ferris
Buellers Day Off. You want to avoid that example. Speak louder and softer; speak higher and lower;
speed up and slow down. None of these need to be carried to extremes, but variety helps you hold the
listeners attention.
4. Speak clearly, dont mumble. When speaking in public, you need to exaggerate the way you enunciate
words. What sounds clear to your ears, is muddy 30 feet into the room.
5. Use appropriate volume Match your volume to the setting. You will need less volume when speaking
to a small group in a boardroom and more volume when speaking to a large group in an auditorium.
6. Pronounce your words correctly If you arent sure how to say a word, dont use it. Be especially
careful with proper nouns. Youll turn off the audience quickly if you mispronounce the name of their
town in your introduction.
7. Use the correct words Theres nothing that destroys your credibility as a speaker like a misused
vocabulary. If youre unsure of the meaning of a word, look it up. If you cant look it up, leave it out.
8. Look at people Ive seen speakers stare at their notes, at the back wall, at the floor, anywhere but at
those sitting in the room. Make eye contact with your listeners. Dont stare at one person, but let your
eyes work the room. Make eye contact for one point, then move on to another person for the next point.
Youll look like youre trying to connect with the audience.
9. Gesture with your arms, your face and perhaps your whole body. Unlock your iron grip on the lectern
and move your hands and arms to emphasize what youre saying. Let your face get into the speech:
smile, frown, open your eyes wide. Youll do a better job of communicating your passion for the topic.
10. Step away from the lectern or, if youre well prepared and dont need notes, get rid of it altogether.
The lectern can be a large barrier between you and your audience. If you need it for your notes, step
from side to side periodically. (Not so much that the listeners get sea sick.) The best presentation you
can give is the one you know so well, you dont need any props to hold you up. Its just you and the
audience.

11. How to Improve Your Public Speaking: 27 Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials
12. Would you rather die than give a eulogy? You're not alone. Public speaking is rated as the number one
fear by over 40 percent of people in the world. Calm your nerves and capture the attention of your
audience by following these effective tips and tricks.
13. 1. Know your audience and occasion: Long before you set foot on the stage, lay the groundwork for
your speech. The first step is to learn something about the audience that you will face. Prepare an

address that is understood and appreciated by those

listening. Consider the occasion:
should you be casual or serious?
14. 2. Choose the right topic: Pick something you are comfortable with. If you have to speak on an
unfamiliar subject, do your homework and research it thoroughly. You'll want to be informed and able
to answer questions from the audience.
15. 3. Dont memorize: Being familiar with your speech is a necessity, but memorizing or reading from
written material is not. Its easy to lose your place and very difficult to get back on track after a lapse.
Instead, concentrate on modulating your tone and voice to the response of your audience.

16. 4. Personalize your speech: Pepper your material with small personal anecdotes or other stories that
will hold the attention of the audience. Everyone loves a good story. Most people will relate and respond
better to your speech when you combine the facts with a collection of interesting tales and examples.
17. 5. Practice 'til youre perfect: Practice at home in front of a mirror. Record and time yourself: do

whatever it takes to become comfortable with what you have to say. Fine-tune your
mannerisms and body language. Repeated trials will help make you less nervous on stage.
18. 6. Stick to time limits: Nothing is worse than having to stop your speech short. Make allowances for
occurrences such as audience interaction or technical difficulties. If you find yourself running late, know
beforehand what you can afford to omit. In case you run short, be prepared with additional material that
goes with the flow of your speech.
19. 7. Relax before you get on stage: Its easier said than done, but make an attempt to relax before your
speech. Practice breathing techniques and think positive thoughts.
20. 8. Rely on mnemonics: Instead of keeping your whole speech on the podium with you, make a list of
points that will remind you of each subject that you plan to cover. Your list should consist of one or twoword phrases that jog your memory for each part of your speech. This method is more visually appealing
than rifling through sheets of paper.
21. 9. Make a strong start: Start off on the right foot with your very first words and youll find that its
easy to hold on to your audiences attention for the rest of the speech. Raise your listeners curiosity,
provoke their interests, even be a little controversial. Do whatever it takes to grab their attention from
the beginning.
22. 10. Watch your body language: Its what you dont say that tells the most about you. The way you
stand and what you do with your hands can give away more than you care to reveal. Nervousness is

easily read if you fidget or avoid eye contact.

23. 11. Maintain eye contact: Look at your audience, not through or beyond them when you talk. If youre
nervous, focus on a friendly face for a while. Move on to others once youre comfortable. Remember
that all eyes are on you, so return that contact with as many people as you can.
24. 12. Pace yourself: Speak slowly and steadily so that you are understood. When speech is hurried, there
is a tendency to scramble words and overlap one with the next. Speed does not bode well here: your
audience will sense that youre nervous and trying to get the speech over with.
25. 13. Interact with the audience: The best way to get your audience involved in your speech is to
interact with them. Ask them questions and invite them to ask some of you. Make them feel theyre a
part of your address.
26. 14. Be prepared for the audience: An interactive audience is great, but be prepared for what they will
ask of you. Anticipate common questions and have answers ready. If youre caught off guard, try to
answer confidently with the best of your ability. Its not wise to bluff, however. Know when to refer to
someone with more knowledge than yourself.
15. Dont lecture: Talk, dont instruct. Use language that the audience will understand instead of trying
to sound important with jargon and fancy words.
27. 16. Dont waste time arguing: If theres a troublemaker in the crowd whos bent on arguing with you,
dont get sucked in. Arguing with one individual to make a point is a waste of time. The others in the
audience will become restless and your speech will lose its effectiveness. Ask the troublemaker for a
discussion after the speech is over.
28. 17. Use peripherals effectively: PowerPoint presentations and other visual effects should augment your
words, not overpower them. A speech that relies completely on visual aids turns attention away from the

speaker and reduces the impact of the spoken word. Use them for technical details or things you cannot
explain easily with words.
29. 18. Keep it short: You want your speech to wow your audience, not have them checking the time.
Gauge their reaction: if theyre restless, wind it up.
30. 19. Dont apologize for mistakes: Its alright to slip up or mispronounce a few words. Pick up
promptly after such lapses and continue with your speech without further distracting the audience. A
quick sorry or "excuse me" will suffice.
31. 20. A few moments of silence is not a crime: You dont have to fill every second with words. Its
acceptable to pause and gather your thoughts or sip water before you resume speaking.
32. 21. Dont shout: Make sure that you are audible to the farthest person in the room, but don't hurt your
audience's ears. If its a large hall, youre sure to be provided with a microphone. Speak softly and
clearly, taking into account the echo characteristics of the hall. If possible, test your voice before your
audience gets in so you can see how it carries.
33. 22. Work on your tone and delivery: The key to a powerful speech lies in the modulation of your
voice. Know when to raise and lower your tone as well as which words to stress. Your energy is
infectious and your audience will react to it. Use the tone of your voice to grab their attention and hold
it.
34. 23. Regain attention midway: Murmurs in the audience and members talking amongst themselves are
signs that your speech is lagging. Be flexible enough to throw in an attention-grabbing story or joke.
35. 24. Focus on your positives: Dont attempt to be a master at public speaking. Concentrate on your
strengths and divert attention away from your negatives. If comedy is your strong point, play it up. If
body language is your weakness, stay behind the podium and use the power of your voice to captivate
your audience.
36. 25. Finish well: Work on a good closing; a perfect finish should not be abrupt or leave the audience
wondering if theres more to come. Try to end on a high note so that the crowd will remember you long
after the room is empty.
37. 26. Look good: Dressing well gives you an added dose of confidence. When you know you look good,

you feel as if you can take on the world. You dont have to wear expensive clothes or a
designer outfit; its enough to dress neatly and feel comfortable.
38. 27. Get more exposure: The best way to get over your fear of public speaking is to get more exposure.
Every mistake makes you realize your weak points and helps you avoid them for next time. Remember,
practice makes perfect.