10 Tips For Successful Public Speaking (from Toastmasters International)
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:
- Know the room. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
- Know the audience. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
- Know your material. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.
- Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises.
- Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
- Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
- Don’t apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
- Concentrate on the message — not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
- Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
- Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need.
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90 Public Speaking Tips from Toastmasters International
Here is the extract of 90 Public Speaking Tips from Toastmasters International:
1. Know your material.
2. Make it personal.
3. Practice makes permanent.
4. Time yourself.
5. Pace yourself.
6. Arrive early.
7. Relax.
8. Visualize your success.
9. Trust your audience.
10. Don’t apologize.
11. Use humor when things go wrong.
12. Gain experience.
13. Eliminate filler words.
14. Ditch distracting mannerisms.
15. Keep your notes in check.
16. Test your volume.
17. Enter contests.
18. Enjoy yourself.
19. Use visuals.
20. Embrace your unique style.
21. Fuel your mental engine.
22. Burn off anxiety.
23. Be prepared for the worst.
24. Pause.
25. Ask a thought-provoking question.
26. Share a startling fact.
27. Don’t overload your slides.
28. Repeat the audience’s questions.
29. Give your audience an immediate action item.
30. Push the envelope.
31. Seek opportunities everywhere.
32. Be specific.
33. Be the expert.
34. Speak to groups as individuals.
35. Learn about your personal leadership style.
36. Find your strengths.
37. Be passionate.
38. Have a positive attitude.
39. Practice impromptu speaking.
40. Encourage honest evaluation.
41. Use quotes, stories and anecdotes.
42. Use “you” and “we”.
43. Don’t take things personally.
44. Trust your instincts.
45. Distinguish your goals and targets.
46. Learn from your mistakes.
47. Know when to lose your script.
48. Know the dress code.
49. Use slang with caution.
50. Breathe out.
51. Be patient.
52. Treat your speech like fine dining.
53. Start your career off on the right note.
54. Own your worth.
55. When you disagree with someone, rebut their ideas, not them.
56. Stand. Settle. Smile.
57. Speak your needs.
58. Get rest.
59. Avoid negative topics.
60. Smile and introduce yourself.
61. Practice eye contact.
62. Limit caffeine.
63. Don’t hide from your audience.
64. Use color.
65. Don’t alienate your audience.
66. Know your audience.
67. Avoid speaking in monotone.
68. Free your hands.
69. Be succinct.
70. Be open to evaluation.
71. Give evaluations.
72. Use blue note cards.
73. Join the online conversation.
74. Share the wealth.
75. Start your journey.
76. Accept accolades.
77. Step up.
78. Chat with ease.
79. Manage your time.
80. Make them laugh.
81. Speak your case.
82. Keep the peace.
83. PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point).
84. Give a top-notch toast.
85. Tap into the past.
86. Use common language.
87. Don’t get lost in translation.
88. Take jokes for a test drive.
89. Use people’s names.
90. Keep a journal.
Download Other Public Speaking Resources
Public Speaking Singapore Blog
Speak More Confidently – The Toastmasters Way
By 2014-2015 Division U Governor Alvin Ong, DTM
How Toastmasters Change Lives
By DTM Nathaniel Koh, Division S Governor 2006-2007
Project 1 – The Ice Breaker Manual Guide
Project 9 – Persuade with Power Manual Guide
List of Advanced Manuals
Education Progression Diagram for the new TI Education Track & Leadership Track
By DTM Kan Kin Fung, Division U Head Speech Coach 2005-2006
Competent Leadership Tracking Table
Setting Up A Speech Databank (The Real Secret to Creative Speech Ideas!)
By ATMG Ng Seng Chuan
Make Members Matters
By DTM Michael Rodrigues, District 80 Secretary 2004-2005
Know Your Educational Track
By CC/CL Vanessa Yong, Asst. Division Governor Marketing (U3 & U4) 2007-2008
New Competent Leader (CL) Manual Reference File
By DTM Lawrence Quek, Division U Governor 2006-07 and ACS/CL Edward Ma, Division U Governor 2005-06
Toastmasters International Resources
Public Speaking Tips
Video Library
Toastmaster Magazine
Leadership Articles
Club Experience
Education Program
Leadership Central
Toastmasters Podcast
Speech Contest Rulebook
Tools for Toastmasters
Club DCP History
Marshall’s Tools for Toastmasters
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