More than likely, you do know the material inside and out but are letting your insecurities get the better of you. Audience dynamics — Maybe you already know your audience is hostile to your ideas or proposed actions, or simply hesitant to embrace them.

Maybe you are confident in your material and ability as a speaker, but wonder if differences between you and members of your audience in terms of age, life experience, or professional background will pose a challenge to establishing authority. Identifying potential disconnects before your talk and finding ways to shrink those gaps will lead to a more successful talk and a more confident delivery.

How to develop self-confidence in public speaking takes a multipronged approach — from your eye contact with the audience to your use of humor. Confident speakers focus on clarity and conviction in their delivery and display the right body language.

They also focus on their audience, rather than dwelling on their flaws and potential slip-ups. When we ask participants in our public speaking training sessions what makes them anxious, they often list a litany of fears — making an embarrassing mistake, forgetting a key point, disappointing their boss, or becoming flustered by an unexpected question.

In everyday life, we rarely maintain unbroken eye contact when we look at or engage in conversation with others. It can be a bit direct for most people, if not a little creepy. Still, the more effective speakers strive to maintain eye contact with their audiences for the majority of their talks.

As researchers discovered , lack of eye contact could be a clue that a speaker is unsure of themselves. As you move your eyes around the room, connect briefly with an audience member and then move to another.

Here are some additional tips for establishing eye contact. You want your physical presence to convey that you feel comfortable and in control. It not only affects how your audience sees you but how you feel about yourself.

For instance, one study found that students who sat upright as opposed to slouching not only exuded more confidence to observers but felt more confident about themselves. As a presenter, the simplest way to exude that confidence is to stand upright and avoid slouching.

You should appear relaxed not standing at attention , with your soldiers squared, as you directly face the audience. Learn more about effective body language. Researchers have found that adjustments to your voice — just how high, low, fast, slow, loud, or soft you go — can have an impact on those who are hearing it.

In one study , speakers who were trying to persuade others tended to speak louder and vary their volume. They appeared more confident, making them more persuasive.

Another study revealed that speakers who spoke at a faster clip, with a lower pitch, and ended their sentences declaratively were perceived as more confident. Here are some additional tips on how to speak confidently in public speech.

Everyone likes a good joke, right? But not everyone can tell one. If you plan on using humor in your presentation — and it can be an effective strategy to connect with your audience and put them at ease — just be spare and careful in your delivery.

Remember this: You are not a standup comic but rather a presenter who is looking for places where humor — not jokes — will serve your message. Amusing anecdotes and memorable quips, for instance, delivered confidently are effective. Look to see if you can open or close with a funny story — as opposed to a joke.

Self-effacing humor can work, too. Steer clear of humor that questions your credibility, reveals weaknesses, or downplays the subject of your talk.

One of the greatest ways to bring attention to an unexpected challenge is to bring attention to it. You know your material inside and out, so the exact words are not as important as keeping that connection with the audience. If you happen to flub a line, forget a point, or advance to the wrong slide, you calmly and confidently address it and move on.

Think about questions that colleagues or clients have asked you about your specialty. Check out forums like Quora, which provide an opportunistic insight into what questions are being asked. Consider too that audiences can be different in how they learn.

How can you deliver your message in a way that they can easily understand and run with your ideas and expertise? The investment in time taken to focus on your message — one that will land well with your audience is worth it. You may roll your eyes and think that visualization is bunk.

Elite athletes use it to drive their success. The mind has incredible power. It can even build muscle without lifting weights. By visualizing working out your arms or fingers you can grow muscle.

Not at the rate the actual performance results in but good results for sitting on the couch and imagining. Begin from when you wake up and get ready to getting yourself to the event, meeting the hosts, being introduced, delivering their presentation, and listening to the applause.

All this while bringing up positive emotions and seeing a successful outcome. Do you sabotage yourself thinking your audience has a better grasp of what you plan to share with them?

A feeling of unworthiness a fraud and self doubt although you are more than qualified to speak to the subject. Know this…many of us get bitten by Imposter Syndrome…from one of my heroes, the very accomplished Maya Angelou to the brilliant musician Leonard Cohen.

Can you even begin to imagine that they would doubt themselves? Perfectionism is a driver of Imposter Syndrome and high achievers are often affected because they mix up the success of their achievements with their self-worth.

They have difficulty seeing that not succeeding at something is a stepping stone to learning. Key to learning public speaking confidence is how you get ready.

My clients and students often give me a look of disbelief when I tell them that Steve Jobs would spend months and months preparing for his presentations. Many of the executives I work with who are the face or spokesperson for their organization, invest days and weeks in preparation.

They know the importance of being prepared. Nancy Duarte of Duarte Designs, who works with Silicon Valley giants on their keynote speeches recommends, thirty hours of practicing for a one hour speech.

This does not take into account creating the content or building the slidedeck. For a one-hour speech you can expect to spend 60 hours for the creation side. However, each and every public speaking event is important and requires dedicated planning, preparation, and practice.

Memorizing your presentation or speech is a poor investment of time and can fuel anxiety and have you freezing up like a deer in headlights if you forget a word or where you are in the flow of your presentation.

Learning your key points is a more natural way to deliver a presentation confidently when you internalize the concepts instead of memorizing individual words.

You can tell when a speaker has memorized their presentation. Rituals ground us and help us stay focussed on the task at hand.

They dissipate feelings of anxiousness and can help you deliver your presentation confidently. Take two or three deep breaths. Take the time to do this before you speak. Be mindful of your posture, gestures, and facial expressions when speaking in public—they can make or break your message.

Be open and engaging with your body language to appear more confident and smile often. Eye contact is essential for building trust and connection with your audience.

Look around the room and make sure to meet the eyes of people in the audience. Incorporate a few funny stories or jokes into your presentation to lighten the mood. When you hear laughter from the crowd, it will make you feel more confident and at ease. Anticipate what questions the audience might ask and be ready to answer them.

This will help you feel more prepared and in control. Your preparation will give you mastery of the material, as well as a contingency plan should you stumble or forget something. Believe in yourself, stay positive, and take small steps toward your goals. Remember that most people have the exact same doubts and fears as you do—and usually, no one notices.

Our thoughts about ourselves, especially negative ones, are often much louder than reality. And the fear of public speaking is often worse than the actual experience. New research shows that when you use positive reframing like this, your memories of past experiences become much more motivating and empowering.

Public speaking is a valuable skill and an opportunity for growth, so use your nerves to drive you instead of holding you back. Speaking in public is not my kind of thing, but this article has boosted my confidence, the part that interests me most is embracing ourselves and knowing we can make it even if we stumble.

Fantastic post! Your advice on how to be confident in public speaking was very practical and helpful. I especially appreciated the tips on practicing, visualization, and taking deep breaths before speaking.

Your emphasis on knowing your subject matter and understanding your audience was also very valuable. Thank you for sharing these valuable tips with those looking to improve their public speaking skills. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Simple Steps To Boost Your Confidence When Speaking In Public. Manda Lai · January 20, Why confidence is important when speaking in public Having confidence helps you stay focused and deliver your message with clarity.

Wanna be a confident speaker? Develop an unshakeable view of yourself Having faith in yourself and your abilities will give you the courage to take risks, make mistakes, and put yourself out there. Here are 9 ways to shed insecurity and embrace your most confident self: 1.

Practicing tips:. To appear confident:. For more details, read our 8 Elements of Confident Body Language. Grow your confidence with interactive practice exercises , on skills such as public speaking, impromptu speaking, giving feedback, and more.

It can be difficult to hide your nerves so another way of dealing with this is to emphasise your emotions. The emotion you display will hide your nerves. The first five minutes are vital for engaging the audience and getting them to listen to you.

People will relate to this as we have all experienced mistakes and failures. The more the audience relates to you, the more likely they will remain engaged which will increase your confidence.

Find a member of the audience that is: engaged, nodding or smiling in each section of the room. When you find yourself becoming uncomfortable you can move your eyes to the friendly face in that section. Write down the thoughts you have when you avoid speaking in a meeting or when you reject delivering a presentation.

Challenge these thoughts by looking at evidence of your successful communication and recognise how unrealistic the thoughts can be. This will keep you connected with your speech and will prevent you from being distracted by, for example, an audience member falling asleep or your evaluation of how the presentation is going.

To develop a confident stage persona ask yourself:. More experienced and confident public speakers use humour in their presentations.

The audience will be incredibly engaged if you make them laugh and it lightens the mood which will make you feel more comfortable. But caution must be exercised when using humour because a joke can be misinterpreted and even offend the audience. Mistakes happen all the time but reacting awkwardly can make the audience feel uncomfortable.

Having this back-up can make you feel more secure. Acknowledge these positives and write them down so you can remind yourself in the future and challenge your negative predictions.

Improve your practice. Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses. Explore Courses.

When you internalize the significance of your message, it becomes easier to let go of self-consciousness. Channel your energy into a genuine passion for your topic. Think about why you chose this subject and what it means to you. When genuinely excited about what you're sharing, that enthusiasm becomes infectious and engages your audience.

Sharing personal experiences and stories related to your topic can create a strong bond with your audience.

Authenticity resonates, and when you open up about your experiences, you establish a connection beyond the surface level.

Many great public speakers, like Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King Jr. When genuinely passionate about your topic, your enthusiasm shines through and captivates your audience.

Building a relationship with your audience through interaction might help you stop feeling as though you are speaking to a faceless crowd. Make eye contact, ask questions, or share relatable anecdotes.

You get an opportunity to pause and collect your thoughts during this audience-involved activity. You can connect with your audience more successfully if you make eye contact with them.

It humanizes the experience and makes your speech feel more like a conversation. Scan the room, making brief eye contact with different individuals. Ask questions of your audience that motivate them to consider your subject.

This not only stimulates their minds but also invites them to actively participate in the conversation. Be prepared to wait for responses and be open to a range of answers. When audience members provide an answer or share a perspective, react with enthusiasm or acknowledgment.

This encourages others to participate and fosters a sense of community. This interaction develops one's self-confidence. Perfection is different from the goal of public speaking. Mistakes are inevitable, even for seasoned speakers.

The way you handle mistakes enhances your credibility. If you stumble over a word or lose your train of thought, take a deep breath and continue. Most of the time, the audience won't even notice minor slip-ups. Embrace the mindset that mistakes are a natural part of any live performance.

Even the most accomplished speakers have faced their fair share of slip-ups. Recognizing this reality can alleviate the pressure you might feel and ooze self-confidence to deliver a flawless presentation.

Acknowledge that the audience understands and expects minor hiccups. The authenticity and vulnerability in your response to these moments can endear you to your audience.

Your willingness to embrace imperfection makes you relatable and approachable. Recording your practice sessions or actual presentations can be immensely helpful. Watching the recordings allows you to identify areas for improvement, such as body language, tone of voice, and pacing.

It also helps you track your progress and see how far you've come. Watching yourself on video offers a different perspective than simply being aware of your feelings during a presentation. You can observe your body language, gestures, facial expressions, and overall posture.

Are you standing confidently? Are your gestures congruent with your message? These visual cues play a crucial role in how the audience perceives you. Growth-promoting feedback is an important tool.

After each presentation, seek feedback from confident public speakers, colleagues, specialists , or even the audience. Take note of both constructive and unfavorable criticism, and use it to improve your performance.

Remember that feedback is not a personal attack but a way to enhance your abilities. Request specific feedback rather than generic comments.

For instance, ask about your vocal modulation, body language, clarity of message, or audience engagement. Detailed feedback is more actionable and allows you to focus your efforts effectively.

Express gratitude to those who provide feedback. Their insights are valuable contributions to your growth. Acknowledge their effort and willingness to help you improve. Your body language can convey a sense of confidence and authority.

Stand tall, make purposeful movements, and use gestures to emphasize key points. Avoid crossing your arms, which might operate as a defensive barrier, and maintain eye contact. When you project confidence , your audience is more inclined to believe you and pay attention to your message.

Pay attention to your audience's energy and mirror it to an extent. If the audience is enthusiastic, you can match their energy level.

If they're more reserved, you can adjust accordingly. Focusing on the audience's energy helps establish rapport and connection. A genuine smile establishes rapport with your audience and creates a positive atmosphere. It makes you appear approachable and likable, fostering a sense of connection.

Your voice is a powerful tool in public speaking. Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to keep the audience engaged. Speak clearly and avoid mumbling. Take deliberate pauses to allow your audience to digest the information. Practice modulation and control by reading aloud or reciting tongue twisters.

In everyday life filled with distractions and demands, it's easy for your mind to drift into anxiety-inducing territories when faced with the prospect of public speaking. The fear of the unknown future or the weight of past mistakes can cloud your focus and erode your confidence.

Practicing mindfulness techniques is a powerful approach to remaining grounded in the present moment, easing anxiety, and enhancing your overall presentation. Deep breaths, positive affirmations, and focusing on the audience's reactions can help prevent your mind from wandering into anxiety-inducing territories.

Each step forward in building your confidence is worth celebrating. Acknowledge your achievements, whether successfully delivering a presentation , receiving positive feedback, or simply feeling less anxious. Celebrating milestones reinforces your progress and motivates you to continue improving.

Share your achievements with a trusted friend, family member, or mentor. Their congratulations and encouragement can amplify your sense of accomplishment. As you progress, share your success stories with others facing similar challenges.

Your journey can inspire and motivate those around you. A variety of tactics are needed to overcome the fear of public speaking. Thorough preparation, positive visualization, engaging with the audience, and embracing mistakes are effective techniques.

Gradual exposure to smaller groups and seeking feedback can also help build confidence. Mistakes are a natural part of public speaking. Acknowledge them gracefully instead of dwelling on them, and continue with your presentation. Most audiences are understanding and won't judge you harshly for minor slip-ups.

To improve your gestures, practice standing tall with your shoulders back, making purposeful gestures to emphasize points, and maintaining eye contact with the audience during public speaking events. Avoid nervous habits like pacing or crossing your arms, as these can convey discomfort.

Nervousness is normal. Channel the energy into enthusiasm for your topic. Deep breathing, positive self-talk, and light stretches can help manage nervous energy. A moderate level of nervousness can enhance your performance.

At Connected Speech Pathology, we are dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome challenges related to communication. Our team of experienced speech-language pathologists is committed to helping you build the confidence and skills necessary for effective communication.