Hey there, friend! Welcome! Today we’re discussing how to build confidence for public speaking events. If you’re like me, then public speaking doesn’t always come easy. It has taken me years of practice to feel comfortable talking in front of a crowd. So today, I am going to tell you my top 5 tips for public speaking, easing public speaking anxiety, and building confidence. 

For the tips in this article to work the best, I recommend having your presentation finished at least two weeks in advance. This isn’t to say that you can’t continue making changes, but it helps to have the main points set.

*You can still use these tips though if you have less than two weeks!

1. Finish the Presentation

Personally, I find that a lot of my stress comes from not having a presentation finished. So finishing the presentation is my first tip for public speaking success. After you finish the presentation rough draft, walk away for a few hours and come back to it. You’ll want to read through it again to make sure there are no spelling errors and that your slides are arranged how you want them. 

2. Read Your Presentation Aloud

Second, I want you to read your presentation out loud in your house or in your parked car if you have roommates or just want to be alone. Take the time to edit clunky words or sentences. After you do this, I want you to put it down for a day or two. 

3. Time Your Presentation

After a few days, I want you to time yourself giving the presentation. Set a timer on your phone or computer and make the screen go dark. I want you to read your presentation just like you would for the group you are going to be speaking to. Remember to not speak too fast. You’ll be nervous on the day of your presentation so practice speaking slowly and enunciating your words. 

BONUS TIP: NEVER go over your presentation time limit. It is always better to be under by a few minutes or right on time. 

4. Practice Giving Your Presentation to Someone

After you’ve got the timing down for your presentation, I want you to find someone to give your presentation to. They’ll be your practice audience. This can be in person or on the phone. The more people you can practice on, the better. Your confidence will grow each and every time you give your presentation and if you give it enough times you might even start to memorize your lines. 

Try to practice your presentation in the outfit that you want to wear. This can help you feel more comfortable. Personally, I practiced my presentation in one pair of shoes and realized that I couldn’t stand still and had to change to a different pair of shoes! 

BONUS TIP: If you can memorize parts of your presentation it allows you to make more eye contact with your audience which allows for a deeper connection. 

Concluding Thoughts

After you’ve practiced your presentation, I want you to put it aside for another few days. You just have to believe in yourself and your abilities now. You know your work, you know the research, and you know what kind of people will most likely be in the audience. You will speak what you know to be fact and there’s nothing else you can do. You’re going to do great! I believe in you! 

I hope you found something helpful today! I know public speaking can be difficult, but if you practice these tips and tricks for public speaking then you should grow more and more confident each and every time! For more tips on how to give a great presentation check out this article next: 10 Tips to Nail Your Next Presentation. 

I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂