How to be brilliant at public speaking

There are many books, guidelines and courses about public speaking. But there is no substitute for actually getting out there and doing it. Like most things, you will improve with practice. So take every opportunity to speak, and try to learn something from every speech you write and deliver.

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The following tips pinpoint some of the main areas you need to cover as you plan, prepare and deliver a speech. But it’s not easy, so don’t be discouraged if you stumble a bit along the way – that will only make you seem more human, and the audience will forget your errors much more quickly than you do. Keep trying, and after making speeches for ten years or so, you may become an overnight success. Good luck!

Evaluate your speaking scenario before you begin to plan your speech. Consider the key facts: who, what, when, where, why and how. Who are your audience? Consider whether they are experts, amateurs, or a random group, and whether you need to establish your credentials with them. What is the context in which your speech will be delivered? Consider what topic you will cover, and what your audience will expect to ‘take away’ from your speech. When will you be speaking? Find out if you are the keynote speaker, the only speaker, or one of many. Where are you speaking? Think about the room layout, the acoustics and lighting, any requirement for technical equipment, and whether you need a dress rehearsal at the venue. Why are you speaking? Decide if the purpose of your talk is to entertain, persuade, or inform. How long will you speak for? There is an optimum length for every speech – normally less than you think! Answering these questions will help you to develop a speech that ticks all the right boxes.
Carefully consider the topic of your speech. If you have been asked to talk on a specific topic, a key decision has already been made for you. But if you have freedom on the choice of topic, it’s important to choose a subject that interests you, and about which you have sufficient knowledge to talk confidently, authoritatively and interestingly. You may find it helpful to first consider the context of your speech and the nature of your audience before drawing up a shortlist of potential topics. Then research each one before making your final decision.
Develop a strong central idea, because this is the heart of your speech. If each member of your audience only takes away one key memory after you have completed your speech, what do you want it to be? Normally, the nature of your central idea can only be identified after you have thoroughly explored and researched your chosen topic.
Systematically organise and write your speech. A well-structured speech typically includes three separate sections: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Although this may seem obvious, it’s worth following this tried and tested format. Begin with an interesting, creative introduction. The objective of this should be to gain the attention of your audience, develop a rapport with them, and establish your credibility. The introduction should outline your theme and preview your core ideas. The main body of your speech should expand upon your core ideas.At the end, briefly summarise the core ideas and conclude with a strong and memorable closing statement that encapsulates your central idea.
Rehearse your performance. Even if you’re going to read verbatim from a script it’s well worth doing a live rehearsal of your speech. It can be really helpful if you ask someone you trust not to be sycophantic to give you an honest assessment. If possible, rather than reading directly from a script (which normally results in a rather rigid performance) use notes or an autocue as a prompt. That should help you to speak more naturally, and maintain regular eye contact with your audience. Few people other than professional actors can deliver an entire presentation from memory, so don’t be too ambitious in that respect.
Imagine that you’re a member of your audience. Try to assess the content and delivery of your speech as if you were in the audience. What would you make of it? Would you be bored or enthused? Is it too long? Are there parts that are ambiguous or difficult to understand? Do you wander away from the core theme in places, or start waffling?
Dress to impress. It’s best to dress smartly but conservatively, in a way that doesn’t force your audience to notice what you are wearing. Darker colours normally convey professionalism and authority. Lighter colours establish a friendlier, more relaxed impression. Casual dress should only be considered for a very informal event at which you don’t want to stand apart from your audience.
If appropriate, use visual aids to add impact. Depending on the topic and the audience, a variety of visual aids can potentially be used to add value, impact and emphasis during a speech. Consider a computer-based PowerPoint presentation, slides, video clips, sound effects, models and props. Handouts can be useful if you need to provide additional information, charts, source details, website addresses and so on.
Try to speak slowly (but not excessively slowly), naturally and clearly. If you use jargon, or convoluted phrases and long words that members of your audience might not be familiar with, your audience will not be impressed: they will probably think you are showing off. Jokes are acceptable if you are good at telling them, but use them sparingly, and only in context, perhaps to illustrate a point. And do look towards different members of your audience during your speech: you’ll look like a rabbit caught in headlights if you focus too much on one individual or on a point way off in the distance.
While you are delivering your speech, be dynamic, even to the extent of feeding off your own nervousness. The best speakers engage their audience by being exciting, energetic, stimulating, inspiring, and above all, genuinely enthusiastic about their chosen topic. Gestures, movements and the use of visual aids can all contribute to making your performance more compelling and interesting. But that doesn’t mean you should be excessively theatrical: getting the content, rhythm and flow of your speech right is more important than putting on a dramatic performance. Remember, it’s normal and beneficial to be slightly nervous: complacency and detachment tend to alienate an audience. And at the end, don’t forget to thank your audience.

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