Top 10 Tips: Public Speaking
- Nancy Maher
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
I still get VERY nervous when speaking in public.
But it doesn't stop me.
As a leader, it's a skill you need to learn.
🎤 The Good News - it's a learnable skill.
"Most people’s dream is not to be nervous about public speaking" - Viv Gostrop, How to Own the Room
So, if you're curious 🧐 about getting started with public speaking 101 OR want to find ways to evolve your approach, here are my top 10 tips: public speaking. These help me overcome my fear of public speaking.
Contents
1. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Public Speaking Gremlins
My first corporate job as a software engineer thrust me into the spotlight in month one, presenting my product at a conference. Apparently, as well as writing code, I had to nail public speaking.
😳 I was mortified.
Presenting at school was nonexistent, and my handful of university presentations included a wobbly voice, shaky hands, and the hope that I would never have to do it again. Holy crap!
My public speaking training amounted to comparing myself to others who looked at home in the spotlight, which brought new levels of dry mouth and cracked voice.
The first step – calming those anxiety gremlins – came with help from the book Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. I acknowledged that it was OK to feel fear. The fact that I got myself out there and expanded my comfort zone by “doing it anyway” meant that I was successful. The more I presented, the more familiar it became.
I still feel nervous today, but I know the world does not stop spinning because I tripped over my words in a presentation.
This experience taught me that public speaking and anxiety go hand in hand, but with the right public speaking tips, you can manage public speaking fear and turn it into a strength – especially in leadership roles where your voice can inspire teams and drive impact.
Self-Reflection: Your Public Speaking Self‑Audit
Self-reflection is the foundation for genuine progress in public speaking.
Taking a few minutes to ask yourself these questions helps you clarify your own motivation, track your skills, and spot new opportunities to practise.
You can also use these prompts after each speaking experience to help deepen self-awareness and guide your ongoing personal growth.
✅ How much do you like public speaking? (0 = I detest it, 10 = I adore it)
✅ How do you rate your public speaking skills? (0 = Not Great, 10 = Awesome)
✅ How much do you want to improve? (For example, from a 3 to a 5)
✅ Why do you want to improve your public speaking skills?
✅ How often do you do public speaking?
✅ What opportunities do you have to practice public speaking?
✅ Who can give you feedback on your public speaking?
Top 10 Public Speaking Tips
These public speaking tips are drawn from real experiences that helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. This is practical public speaking advice for anyone starting or looking to improve their presentation style and approach.
Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
I wish someone had sat me down and explained this to me early in my career.
There is not one way to present. Just look at a few TED Talks and see how different people are.
If your presentation gremlins are giving you a hard time, telling you you're inadequate compared to others… take note.
These are your inner critics.
👉 Check out Positive Intelligence to identify and then work on calming those inner critics. Replace your inner critics with your kinder sages who whisper words of support. The fact that you are public speaking (or even thinking about public speaking) is incredible.
This step is key in public speaking 101: quiet the noise, practice, and lean into your authentic style. The more real you are, the more likely an audience will connect with you.
Create Stories
People love stories with beginnings, middles, and endings.
Having a way for the audience to connect with your story emotionally is powerful.
Take your audience on a journey and think about what the three core messages are.
Zoom in on conclusions so core messages can be reinforced, and that the audience knows the presentation is concluding.
For example, "And now I want to leave you with these takeaways…".
Rehearse...a Lot!
Practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.
OK, when you start, then this is critical.
The more seasoned you get, the less you need to rehearse.
However, at the beginning, it can help calm the nerves to know your material inside and out and rehearse it multiple times out loud. If presenting online, then practice with your material online. If presenting to a room, practice standing up and talking aloud.
Record yourself speaking and find the spots where you wobble.
Notice where you stumble over your words and modify or remove them. Practice in front of a trusted colleague and let them know what you want feedback on. Pick wisely – not everyone knows how to give feedback. Make it clear what you want feedback on and how you prefer to receive it. Practice openings and endings so opening words flow even with the adrenaline rush.
Rehearsals are essential to reducing anxiety when public speaking, and help build confidence in public speaking.
Create Connection
Connection is what turns a speech into a shared experience rather than a performance.
When people feel like you are speaking with them rather than at them, they lean in, remember more, and are far more likely to act on your message.
This can be hard to do with your head down reading a script (that's how I started), so if you are new to presenting, you can just work up to this.
❌ Don't present with your back to your audience while looking at slides. Look out at the audience and find some supportive faces.
❌ Don't take it personally if someone is disengaged; they might be having a bad day.
👍 Build up your comfort levels little by little.
One preparation tip I use is loving-kindness meditations. Seeing the humanity in front of you can be a helpful way to calm the nerves. The audience are humans with all the messiness of life going on. They are not there to punish or judge you.
Be Aware of Your Anxiety
How you arrive (if you arrive), your expression, your stance and whether you look at the audience will signal whether you want to be there.
Notice what you do. Where is your anxiety coming from?
Think about how you can build up outward and inward confidence.
This is still a work in progress for me. But addressing public speaking and anxiety head-on is vital public speaking 101, as it transforms fear into fuel for authentic delivery.
👉 Check out Speaking Up Without Freaking Out by Matt Abrahams.
Master Your Voice
Your voice is an instrument. The way you use this can transform your impact.
Do you deliver talks as fast as possible so you can run off the stage?
Or do you lose your thoughts partway through because you need to be faster?
Have you considered the musicality or pitch of your voice or the power of silence?
I've noticed that my pace depends on my nerves and my audience.
I have never worked with a voice coach; I am typically too focused on what I am saying to think about how I am saying it. However, it is worth checking out the Ted Talk "How To Speak so That People Want To Listen" by Julian Treasure, who highlights the toolbox we can all play with.
Check Your Timing
Practice with a timer.
If you have an allocated time slot, practice making your presentation fit within that slot. Give yourself enough time to breathe, and allow for technical hiccups.
I plan my talks with some time to spare. When nerves get the better of me, I babble.
So, use a stopwatch to time your talks when rehearsing. When you present to an audience, have a friend who can quietly signal the time left in a way that does not disrupt your flow, for example, by holding up a hand to stay 10 mins or 5 mins.
Ground Yourself
Develop a grounding toolkit.
When you are freaking out, just as it's your turn to speak, go to that toolkit.
I focus on my feet on the ground. I feel their weight and their contact with the ground. Sometimes I have to hold something in my hand or lean on a podium. Others prefer to move around. Find what works for you to calm the nerves.
Also, if you are anxious and share that vulnerability with your audience, this tends to move the dial on kindness and support!
Grounding techniques are a go-to for managing public speaking and anxiety, helping you calm your nervous system.
Laugh at Your Imperfections
Humour and vulnerability are a winning combination.
I generally have a little slip-up. I expect it. I call it out.
Audiences connect with vulnerability. So, if you trip up or lose your train of thought, making light of it can get a giggle and make them root for you more. Humour lightens the load of public speaking fear and makes your message more relatable.
Find Opportunities to Speak
Find opportunities to speak out in the wild.
This might be toasting a friend at a party or volunteering to do a short work presentation.
Signal your intention so that opportunities come up.
For example, you could participate in an interactive workshop, join Toastmasters, or join a group on a subject you care about and seek opportunities there. And if you're ready for more structure, consider a course on public speaking to accelerate your growth.
Public Speaking Resources
Here are a bunch of resources... but if I had to pick one, it would be How to Own the Room by Viv Groskop. ❤️
Plus, she has a fabulous podcast too.
📚 Public Speaking Book Recommendations
Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, and Inspire Your Audience by Amanda Hennessey
How To Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking by Viv Groskop
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway: How To Be More Confident by Susan Jeffers
Public Speaking How To Speak Effectively Without Fear by Derek Borthwick
🎧 Public Speaking Ted Talks
TED’s Secret to Great Public Speaking by Chris Anderson
How To Speak so That People Want To Listen by Julian Treasure
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are by Amy Cuddy
📝 Public Speaking Resources
In Summary
Public speaking doesn't have to be a source of dread – it's a powerful tool for sharing your story, inspiring others, and a key leadership skill. By starting with self-reflection, applying these public speaking tips, and leaning into opportunities to practice, you'll build the confidence to own any room, just as Viv Groskop encourages.
Remember, every public speaker began somewhere; your voice matters, so keep showing up and shining.
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