Here's how you can develop confidence in public speaking.

The first step to becoming a confident public speaker is to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness helps you use your strengths and work on your weak spots. Secondly, Understand who you’re speaking to so you can tailor your message to their interests and level of understanding.

You can develop confidence in public speaking: A) The more you practice, the more comfortable you become. B) Rehearse your speech multiple times. C) Know Your Material D) Spend a few minutes each day visualizing yourself speaking confidently and successfully. E) Begin by speaking in front of smaller, more familiar groups before gradually increasing the audience size. F) Connect with your audience through eye contact, questions, or interactive elements.

Personally, I have struggled with this for the last decade, public speaking is work that requires practice, preparation, and mindset. I will summarize start by thoroughly preparing your content ahead of your presentation/speech so that knowledgeable and comfortable with your material. Rehearse your speech multiple times, focusing on delivery, pacing, and body language. Gradually expose yourself to speaking opportunities, starting with smaller groups or familiar settings (I make use of community events/fundraising, staff meetings etc ) to build confidence. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to improve and refine your skills over time. This is a work in progress, and I am getting there.

1. Practice, practice and practice… Always break down your speech into manageable parts, practice each part and then create seamless connections to stitch the whole story. 2. Record and watch yourself. 3. Find a coach or a community.

The best way to gain confidence is to work on how to become confident. Preparation is always the Key. Enquiring and knowing well about the audiences, drafting the content accordingly, full command on the content, good rehearsals/practice before delivery, Start with the area or topic where you have the best preparations, always make the communication 2 ways - do dialogue with the participants, keep some food for thought to the participants. These aspects helped me in gaining confidence while public speaking.

I wish there was a secret magical formula to tell you for improving your public speaking skills. But I regret to tell you that its the old advice, practice, practice. Utilising every opportunity you get to speak infront of people to improve your skills. The first time you stand up to speak, your mind usually sits down but with time and practice you become better.

It's straight and simple, command on the topic, and language , preparation and practice. if these steps are followed public speaking will be most enjoyed.

As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect! Make a point to stand and say a word starting from home, workplace and social gatherings. Learn to maintain eye contact when speaking to anyone. Above all, read widely on the topic/area you wish to speak about. You can only talk better about something you understand best!

When practicing take time to breathe and smile as part of your speech. Closing your mouth during a pause prevents the “ums” from coming out as a normal part of your speech.

Imagine a person getting ready without a mirror, he/she may do ok for the most part but will never see the dinner from last night stuck in their teeth until someone points it out. We get comfortable with our flaws and defaults, feedback loop gives us a reflection of how the world sees us, that information can then refine the way we carry our messages so that ohers can benefit the more out of it.

one thing that has really helped me is actively seeking feedback after each presentation, I always make it a point to ask my peers and mentors for specific feedback on my delivery, content, and engagement. This ongoing feedback loop helps me pinpoint areas for improvement and polish my skills over time. I totally disagree with the idea that feedback should only focus on what went wrong. From my own experience, receiving constructive feedback that highlights both strengths and areas for improvement is much more effective. Getting acknowledgment for what you did well can really boost your confidence and help you further develop those strong points.

Actively seek constructive feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors. After each presentation, ask for specific insights on areas such as clarity, engagement, body language, and pacing. Constructive feedback helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, providing valuable guidance to refine your public speaking skills. Embrace this feedback with an open mind and use it to make continuous improvements. Additionally, consider recording your presentations to self-evaluate and notice details you might miss in the moment.

Feedback é de suma importância para o desenvolvimento de nossas competências, dado o fato, que muitas vezes nossas percepções não são o suficiente para nos direcionar no caminho de desenvolvimento. O olhar e opinião de um terceiro, ajudá-los a aprimorar nossas habilidades.

Body language plays a significant role in public speaking as it can enhance your message, convey confidence, and connect you with your audience. Here are key aspects of body language to consider: Posture: Maintain an upright and open posture. Stand tall with your shoulders back, but avoid stiffness. A relaxed posture communicates confidence and openness. Eye Contact: Make regular eye contact with your audience members. This helps establish rapport and shows that you are engaged with them. Scan the room and connect with individuals in different sections. Gestures: Use natural and purposeful gestures to emphasize key points. Gestures should be in sync with your words and help illustrate your message.

If you talk with your hands naturally, then do that during public speaking. Speak to the person at the back of the room. Stand tall with perfect posture.

Your posture, gestures, and eye contact convey confidence to your audience and reinforce your verbal message. Standing tall with open, expressive gestures helps project authority and keeps the audience engaged. Consistent eye contact establishes a connection with listeners, making your delivery more personal and persuasive. Additionally, purposeful movement and facial expressions enhance your narrative, making it more dynamic. By mastering body language, you not only appear more confident but also feel more assured, creating a positive feedback loop that enhances your overall performance.

Use your body language - eye contact, movement, hand gestures, etc. - with intention. They can really help you to emphasize key points in what you say. They can also help you to engage your audience and bring them along with you. Take a deep breath before you begin and let it go, releasing tension along with it. On the subject of breath - don't forget to breathe!

It is also very important to understand what is happening with your body when you get that boost of adrenaline. Many will take this energy as being nervous but it is your body’s way of preparing you to deliver. You are like a racehorse in a starting gate. Your body is waiting for that gate to open so you can run out. I have been doing public speaking for many years and I still get that boost of energy before each one. Harness the energy and turn it into an amazing presentation.

A wise gentleman once said that if you truly have learned the material inside and out, and have practiced the delivery of the presentation thoroughly that you have earned the right to speak about the topic. Know your subject matter and present it boldly.

It's natural that you get nervous before public speaking. First of all, I think it's important that you admit it, and you need to be nervous more or less. I think, from my experience, it greatly helps if I have a solid general structure (framework) of my presentations, from top-level concepts down to each detail. Also, I try to keep 3 main pillars of the topics in one presentation. If you stick to the formula, that helps you focus on what you need to prepare, talk about, and present to your audience.

Practicing your speech in front of friends and family can be very helpful. It gives you a chance to get comfortable with your material and receive feedback in a supportive environment. This practice can boost your confidence and help you identify areas for improvement before speaking to a larger audience. Feedback is important because it helps you understand what you're doing well and what you can improve. It provides different perspectives on your performance, which can highlight strengths you might not notice and areas that need work.

Know your audience. It's not just about confidence; content catered for the target audience is key for public speaking. Understanding why the audience is here and what areas they are eager to hear about is crucial in building a strong foundation. Remember, if you can engage your audience with the right content and subject matter expertise, it’s the level of engagement that will boost your confidence.

Because no one wants to see a bad speaker, almost everyone start with a small audience advantage: They are secretly rooting for you. More than not wanting the awkwardness of watching a poor presentation, they want their time to be well spent. Use that advantage well by not underselling yourself or your work. After the first few minutes, which are often the most stressful for a less experienced speaker, you can start to read the room and adjust to the audience.

Knowing your audience is the foundation of an effective public speaking performance.To effectively engage your audience when public speaking, it's crucial to understand who they are and what they expect from your presentation. Audience-centric approach is the hallmark of an effective public speaker.

Analyzing your audience can make a key contribution in providing an impactful message. Firstly, it’s important to analyze the atmosphere and adapt accordingly. Then provide value based on the needs of your audience. Confident body language coupled with right information is the key to the perfect speech.

Public speaking is often seen as one of the most daunting tasks, frequently topping the list of common fears. The primary hurdle is the anxiety of addressing an unfamiliar audience, but this fear can be overcome with the right mindset and strategies. Remember that the audience is there to listen and learn, not to judge. They are generally curious and eager for new ideas. There will always be a mix of agreement and dissent on your topic. Don’t let negative opinions dishearten you; they reflect individual viewpoints. Lastly, feedback is crucial for growth. While constructive criticism is beneficial, don't let negative feedback undermine your confidence. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a measure of your worth.

As an experienced speaker, my advice is simple. Never read those statements that appear on your presentation slides. Let the audiences read! Look at them and summarise what you can from the slides! This is true well-trained and seasoned public speaking professional. A. Shukor.

Start with a story. It’s one of the most powerful ways to catch your audience’s attention and get over the jitters of the first few moments. And it’s almost always memorable.

I have scrolled through the suggestions and I was surprised that one key factor is missing. Know your topic. Be current, know the trends, share experience, use real world examples, know the competitive landscape, have something to add that differentiates you from speakers in the same topic.

Pretend you're speaking to a friend. Be relatable and convey the topic clearly and confidently. Be aware of how the audience responds and reacts during the speech but don't focus too much on it and stay on topic.

Say something that personalizes the topic. Give examples that people can relate to. By providing lived experiences and humanizing the experience people connect to you as human and thus relax. Pause. Smile. Make eye contact. And breathe. Slow down your speech. Different accents are difficult to understand so speak clearly and articulate each word especially when speaking in a foreign language. Admit to being nervous or flustered. Again it humanizes you. Unless you were born with the gift of the gab prepare for very difficult and controversial topics. Have ready answers. For emotive topics try not to antagonize the audience and it’s okay to say I have to think about that - may I get back to you