How to Improve Public Speaking: 9 Tricks That Work

My first “real” public speaking experience was in high school. It was for a speech class, and I had to present on… I don’t even remember. Probably something incredibly boring. What I do remember is my entire body feeling like a giant, vibrating tuning fork. My hands were clammy, my voice sounded like a dying frog, and I’m pretty sure I accidentally spit a little when I said “syllabus.” The terror was real, people. Absolute, unadulterated terror. I distinctly remember thinking, “Is this what dying feels like?” You ever feel like that? Like your heart is trying to escape your rib cage and run for the hills? Because, let me tell you, I was ready to bolt.

For years, that was my relationship with anything involving a microphone or more than three sets of eyeballs staring at me. Pure dread. It was like that time in 8th grade when I wore two different shoes to school. Not on purpose. It was a Monday. And I just wanted to disappear. But then, life. Adulting. Jobs that required me to talk to people. Sometimes, many people. So, over the years, through trial, error, and more than a few embarrassing flubs (like the time I totally lost my train of thought and just… started humming to myself for a solid 10 seconds), I’ve actually figured out some things on how to improve public speaking. And no, it’s not about becoming a TED Talk superstar overnight. It’s about getting through it without collapsing into a puddle of anxiety. Mostly.

Trick #1: Embrace the Shakes (Seriously, They’re Normal!)

Okay, first things first. You’re gonna be nervous. Your hands might shake. Your voice might tremble. You might feel a little lightheaded. Guess what? That is completely normal. Every single person who has ever stood in front of an audience, from seasoned pros to that one kid who had to read their book report in elementary school, has felt some version of this.

• It’s Just Adrenaline: Your body thinks you’re about to fight a saber-toothed tiger, so it’s pumping you full of fight-or-flight juice. Acknowledge it. “Oh, hey adrenaline, you’re here again. Cool. We’re just talking about widgets, not running from predators, but thanks for the boost.”
• Reframe It: Instead of “I’m terrified,” try “I’m energized!” (I know, it sounds cheesy, but sometimes just tricking your brain works.) That nervous energy? It can actually make you more dynamic if you channel it. Think of it as a little spark, not a full-blown fire alarm.

Trick #2: Know Your Stuff (But Don’t Memorize Every Single Word!)

This is probably the biggest game-changer. If you know what you’re talking about, you automatically feel more confident. It’s like showing up to a test and realizing you actually studied the right material. Pure bliss.

• Deep Dive, Then Distill: Research your topic inside and out. Understand it from multiple angles. Anticipate questions. But then, do not write out your entire speech and try to memorize it. You’ll sound robotic, and if you forget one word, your brain will totally crash. It’s like trying to remember a really long phone number you just read once.
• Keywords and Bullet Points: For me, a good outline with keywords and short phrases is gold. I write down the main points I want to hit, maybe a compelling statistic, or a funny anecdote. This allows me to be flexible, make eye contact, and sound natural. It’s conversational, not performative. It’s a core public speaking tip that saves your sanity.

Trick #3: Practice (Like a Crazy Person, in Weird Places)

Yeah, yeah, “practice makes perfect.” We’ve all heard it. But I’m not talking about standing in front of a mirror (though that works for some). I’m talking about real-world practice.

• To Your Pet: Seriously. My dog, Bartholomew, has heard more business proposals and philosophical rants than any human being. He doesn’t judge. He just wags his tail (or sighs dramatically, depending on my topic). This is great for getting comfortable hearing your own voice.
• In the Shower/Car: No audience, no pressure. Just you, your thoughts, and maybe some terrible singing. The car is especially good because you can gesture wildly without looking insane.
• Record Yourself: Ugh, I know. It’s painful. You’ll cringe. You’ll hate your voice. But it’s invaluable for spotting those “umms” and “uhhs,” or weird mannerisms. I once recorded myself and realized I was doing this bizarre shoulder shimmy every time I transitioned to a new point. Never again! This is a brutal but effective presentation skills booster.
• The “Friend” Test: If you’re really brave, practice in front of a trusted friend or family member. Ask for honest feedback. “Did I make sense?” “Did I ramble?” “Did I look like I was having a seizure?”

Trick #4: Connect with Your Audience (Even If They Look Bored)

This is where you stop thinking about you and start thinking about them. Your audience is (hopefully) there to learn something, be entertained, or at least not fall asleep.

• Eye Contact (But Not the Creepy Kind): Don’t stare intensely at one person. Pick a few friendly faces around the room and make eye contact with them for a few seconds, then move to another. It makes you look engaged, and it makes the audience feel seen. If you’re in a big room, just pick different sections of the audience.
• Be Conversational: Imagine you’re talking to one person, your best friend. Use contractions. Ask rhetorical questions. Share a relatable anecdote. This is how you conquer stage fright by making it less of a performance and more of a chat.
• Read the Room: Are people nodding? Frowning? Staring at their phones? Adjust. If they look confused, rephrase. If they look bored, maybe tell a quick, relevant story or change your tone.

Trick #5: Use Your Body (Don’t Be a Statue!)

People often freeze up when speaking. Don’t be afraid to move! Your body language speaks volumes.

• Move With Purpose: Don’t just pace aimlessly. Walk to emphasize a point. Step forward when you want to make a connection. Use gestures that feel natural to you. My hands are pretty expressive, so I let them do their thing.
• Power Posing (Before You Go On): This is a bit of a popular psychology thing, but it kind of works. Stand in a “power pose” (like Wonder Woman, hands on hips) for a couple of minutes before you speak. It supposedly boosts your confidence. Worth a shot, right? What have you got to lose? (Other than maybe looking a little silly for two minutes.) [Outbound Link 1: A link to Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on Power Posing – it’s a classic and super inspiring.]
• Don’t Fidget: This is the hard part. Tapping your foot, fiddling with a pen, playing with your hair – it’s distracting. If you’re prone to fidgeting, hold a clicker or something small that allows for purposeful movement (like gesturing) but prevents nervous habits.

Trick #6: The Power of the Pause (Let It Breathe!)

Silence is golden, my friend. Seriously. We tend to rush when we’re nervous because we want to get it over with. But pauses are powerful.

• For Emphasis: Pause before or after a key point. It lets your words sink in. It adds drama. Public Speaking
• To Breathe: Literally. Take a breath. It calms your nerves and ensures you don’t run out of air mid-sentence.
• To Think: If you lose your train of thought, a pause is infinitely better than an “ummm” or “uhhh.” Just take a beat. Look at your notes. Your audience won’t even notice. Or if they do, they’ll just think you’re being thoughtful. You’ll project confident speaking.

Trick #7: Tell Stories (People Remember Stories, Not Stats)

Facts and figures are important, but people connect with stories. Think about it: you remember that one crazy anecdote I told you earlier more than you remember the exact number of pages in my college research paper.

• Relatability is Key: Share a personal anecdote (even a slightly embarrassing one, like my two different shoes!). Tell a story about a client, a historical event, or even something you saw on the news.
• Keep it Brief and Relevant: Don’t go off on a 10-minute tangent about your cousin’s wedding unless it directly relates to your point.
• Emotion Sells: Stories evoke emotion. And emotion makes your audience listen, remember, and care. This is a huge piece of effective communication skills. 10 Online Certifications That Actually Pay Off

Trick #8: Handle Q&A Like a Boss (Even When You Don’t Know the Answer)

The Q&A can be terrifying. What if someone asks something you don’t know? What if they try to trip you up? Deep breaths.

• Anticipate: Think about likely questions beforehand. Write down answers to the obvious ones.
• Repeat the Question: This buys you time to think, ensures everyone heard the question, and shows you’re listening.
• It’s Okay Not to Know: Seriously. “That’s a great question, and to be honest, I don’t have the definitive answer right now, but I’d be happy to look into it for you.” Or, “That’s beyond the scope of this particular presentation, but an interesting point to consider.” Don’t make stuff up! People can tell.
• Be Concise: Don’t launch into another mini-speech. Answer the question, then move on.

Trick #9: The Post-Speech Debrief (Don’t Skip It!)

Once it’s over, you’ll probably want to collapse. And you should! But later, take a few minutes to think about it.

• What Went Well? Seriously, give yourself credit. What did you do well? Did you manage your nerves? Did you connect with the audience?
• What Could Be Better? Be honest, but not self-critical. Did you fidget? Did you ramble? Did you rush? Note it down.
• Learn and Grow: Every single speaking engagement, good or bad, is a learning opportunity. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. That’s how you really overcome public speaking anxiety. My college professor, a notoriously tough grader, once told me, “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being better.” And that stuck with me.

Look, public speaking is rarely anyone’s favorite thing to do. It’s like going to the dentist – you know it’s necessary, and you’ll feel better afterward, but the lead-up is just… oof. But by trying out these messy, real-person tricks, I promise you, you’ll start to feel more in control. You’ll go from feeling like that shaking tuning fork to more of a… well, maybe a slightly buzzing tuning fork. But a confident one. You got this. Now go forth and conquer that stage (or boardroom, or classroom)!

Outbound Links (Suggestions):

1. Pop Culture Reference/Funny Source: A link to a popular “fail” compilation video on YouTube (like bloopers from live TV or hilarious speaking mishaps) with a disclaimer that it’s for comedic relief, reminding people that mistakes happen!
2. Funny/Relatable Blog: A link to a personal blog post from someone sharing their own awkward public speaking stories and how they learned from them. Could be a humorous take on communication challenges.