Since we began training, it has been over a decade. It has been an amazing journey for us both. My uncle used to refer to me as an engineer in the wrong field.

Today we will be talking about public speaking. Did you know that nearly 80% of the world’s population are afraid of public speaking? The United States has one of the most famous statistics: More people fear public speaking than they fear death. It’s amazing!

People today will think that we are natural public speakers if they see us at a seminar, conference, workshop, or training. Truth be told, we weren’t natural.

Actually, Ed Rempel Reviews can still recall the first official presentation I made in Bangi. It was nerve-wracking because I couldn’t even go to work that day. We decided to take the day off in order to go to the venue. This is vital. I did a mental rehearsal of my presentation. It seemed easy to me, as I had done it one-on-one before and have seen others do it many times. It was a mistake!

I was so cold that night that I almost froze. It was so painful that I couldn’t move. It was almost as if my entire body was experiencing shock. The rostrum seemed more alive. Imagine my surprise when my coach interrupted the presentation mid-sentence and asked me why. I confessed to him that I was anxious and scared.

That was many, many, years ago. You can do anything if you are willing to try. You can learn success and public speaking can be a skill you can master. It is important to have the right attitude.

These 20 tips can help you improve your public speaking skills.

1 Watch the Experts

Watching great speakers is the best way to learn good speaking techniques. This would have been difficult ten years ago. However, you can find excellent examples online.

2 Get to Know Your Material

Do enough research before you deliver your speech. It is important to remember an important fact.

3 Take Nots

Even though you don’t want to read the entire speech from a script, it will be helpful to write down a short outline.

4 Rehearse In Private

Practice is key to delivering a powerful speech. Practice your speech until you are able to say it aloud in your sleep. Practice it in front a mirror.

5 Rehearse to a Small Audience

After you have practiced your speech, present it to a small audience. Ask for feedback after you have finished. This feedback can be used to improve your presentation.

6 Understand Your Audience

You should tailor your speech to your audience. You will need to explain the meanings of terms that they don’t know.

7 Get to Know Your Surroundings

Visit the location where you are going to be giving your speech before you start. You might consider doing a practice run at the location.

8 How to Dress Properly

You may need to dress casually or formal depending on the audience. Layers are a good idea to be prepared for all temperatures.

9 Relax

Nearly everyone is nervous about speaking. You can calm your nerves by taking a break before you start speaking and by channeling your nervous energy into excitement.

10 Begin with an Interesting Question or Fact

The average audience gives the speaker 20 seconds to grab their attention. Engage your audience quickly by asking a question or revealing a startling fact.

11 Recognize That Your Audience is On Your Side

Rarely do audience members want speakers to fail. The audience will most likely want you to succeed. Who wants to listen to a boring presentation?

12 Use Gestures

Use hand gestures without fear. Gestures will enhance your speech as long as they are natural and you do so naturally.

13 Use Visual Aids

Visual aids can be used to keep visual learners engaged, from simple diagrams on chalkboard to Power Point presentations that are highly technical to complex gestures.

14 Don’t Over-Use Visuals

Visuals can be very helpful, but too many of a good thing could lead to problems. Visuals should be used sparingly and with care. (Yes, spectacular slide show transitions can distract and annoy your audience.

15 Talk With Conviction and Confidence

You must first believe in yourself if you want to convince your audience. Don’t give a presentation if you don’t believe it yourself.

16 Don’t Talk To Your Notes

Many first-time speakers fall prey to the temptation to stick to their notes. Instead, surprise your audience by being different!

17 Pauses in Your Speech

Don’t be afraid to include silence in your speech. This will keep your audience focused and awake, even if it is a little quiet.

18 Use Humour to engage and relate with your audience

While too many jokes can be distracting, a humorous anecdote can add humor to your speech and engage your audience.

19 Don’t Apologize For Nervousness

Some speakers feel the need to apologize for their nervousness to their audience. This is a mistake! This will not only detract your persuasiveness but also make it difficult for your audience to understand your message.

20 Create a Good Ending

Instead of muttering, “Well, that’s it…,” as you step back, think about a strong ending. A call to action is the ideal ending. In a speech about blogging, I might say, “Now, start your blog!”