Power skills | Public speaking
Finding your voice
Public speaking, especially in front of a large audience, can feel daunting and completely off the radar. But taking small steps at a time can help you build up towards those bigger stages
Words Sophie Cross
On a smaller scale, public speaking skills are needed every day in business for meetings, presentations, workshops and webinars. If we break public speaking down into the different skills required for it and how we can grow them, we can work on mastering each individually to make improvement more manageable.
A key part of career development
The dizzyingly fast developments in AI are bringing huge optimisations for the efficiency of business processes, but it’s also leaving us wanting genuine human connection more than ever. This is how we can stand out. One of the most important soft skills for your career continues to be confident and considerate communication. Without it, you will struggle to do well in an interview, be part of a team and contribute value to an organisation. Good written and spoken communication is needed, with thoughtful body language and attentive listening. Being able to speak well in public encompasses all of these.
SKILLS
Eight skills to consider when public speaking
1
Understanding your audience
Know who you are presenting to and take time to research their needs, knowledge level and expectations.
2
Organisation skills
Being organised will help reduce anxiety and ensure you have planned a well-structured talk, conveying all the key messages without any technical issues.
3
Tone, pace and volume
Your words might be just right, but you may struggle to maintain interest in the room if you don’t consider how you deliver them.
4
Body language
Your posture, gestures and movements should reflect confidence and authenticity.
5
Your appearance
Choose an outfit that you feel your best in and you will bring the right energy to the room.
6
Visual aids
Think about whether slides will enhance or detract from your talk. Use them strategically and make them clear and visual, not wordy or busy.
7
Storytelling
Compelling storytelling transforms dry information into memorable content. Weave relevant examples and anecdotes throughout your presentation but ensure it’s not all ‘me, me, me’.
8
Humour
When used appropriately, humour helps create connection. But ensure it's relevant to your topic and suitable for a professional setting.
TOP TIPS
Three alternative ways to work on your public speaking skills
Seek real-world opportunities to take on small speaking roles and gradually increase the audience size and talk length.
1
Approach your local co-working and shared office space
Volunteer to present at a community workspace to give them tips that they can apply to their small businesses.
2
Make short-form videos for social media
You don’t need to wait for anyone else to offer you the opportunity to talk; you can choose for yourself and start talking to a camera. It will feel awkward at first but will quickly become more natural. You can start posting on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram Reels or TikTok.
3
Talk to young people
Offer to talk to students about a career or study path you have taken. If it feels easier, keep the talk short and position it more as a question-and-answer session.
TECHNIQUES
Five techniques to hone your public speaking skills
1
Practise deliberately and regularly
Don’t leave preparation to the last minute and don’t underestimate how long talks can take to prepare, especially if it’s a new one. Take 20 minutes daily to work on it and practise until you feel ready.
2
Master your content
Only talk about topics you know well and know your material inside out, so you only have to focus on the delivery on the day. Create clear, logical structures to ensure you don’t forget the order.
3
Work on your physical presence
Practise your posture and gestures, and make eye contact with the audience. Pause, look up and smile. Enjoy it.
4
Manage your anxiety
Nerves and excitement feel similar, so reframe your nervous energy to excited energy. Arrive early to familiarise yourself with the space.
5
Get constructive feedback
Ask trusted colleagues or friends to give honest feedback on your speaking, and don’t take criticism personally - you can’t get better without it. Watch or listen to yourself back and write down areas of improvement.
RESOURCES
Four resources for honing your skills
Buy the book TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.
Follow Pascalle Bergmans on LinkedIn for inspiration on how to make your mark as a speaker.
Subscribe to Ali Abdaal’s newsletter for his YouTube and productivity tips.
Check out The Keynote Club. It’s mainly for marketers but see what they do and look at their previous talks and resources.
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