Q&A for How to Speak Confidently in Public

This can be because we often practice the beginning of our speeches the most, and we have practiced the middle the least. You have to know your stories and your points so well, that your brain will automatically go to the next point. Remind yourself to be present and not try to jump ahead to what you are going to say next. Stay connected to what you are saying in the moment.

To make your speech both emotional and fun, tell stories. Share your failures, not your successes.

Remember that you care about your audience so much, that you want them to have this gift. It's not about you. It can help with nerves because we are all, by nature, givers.

Do not look directly at the people. They may distract you. Look at a point right above their heada and concentrate on the subject you are talking about.

You need to take deep breaths, and remember that most people hate speaking in front of others. Remember that your peers are just people who feel exactly like you do! Relax around them, and speak naturally, loudly, and clearly. This will make you seem more confident. Also, remember that even if a few people make fun of you, everybody else is listening. Speak to the people who listen and forget about the people who don't. If people start laughing, laugh with them! They are more than likely not laughing at you, and even then, laughing at yourself is proven to give you more confidence.

Ask a question about the topic. If the topic is environmental protection, you could start with, "Why does environmental protection matter?"

Lubricate your throat well beforehand, and pretend like your crush is not there.

Introduce yourself and your topic, start with a question to engage your audience and make them think, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and exude confidence.

A good tip for writing speeches is to tell the people what you are going to tell them in short point form, then tell them properly as the speech contents. Finally, summarize what you have told them. Then they are sure to have understood what you are trying to tell them.

Believe in your capacity to improve. You don't need to believe you can become the next JFK or MLK but you do need to believe in your capacity to improve your skills. People generally do better if they have a growth mindset (you see yourself as a work in progress) versus a fixed mindset (you believe your capacities are fixed).

Don't let it make your speech bad or stop when you mess up.

Take deep breaths and think of your crush like any other person that you wouldn't get nervous around. Don't worry about messing up or impressing the person, just relax and be yourself!

I experience the same thing. Take your time talking and pretend that they aren't even there. Take deep breaths and realize that they are people too.

Most people don't want to hear a life story. Just say, "Hi, my name is ____ and I am _____." Tell them why you are speaking to them and maybe why you are qualified to.

You could just be honest with them and say, "I'm sorry, but I'm actually not sure about that. Could I get your contact information so I can follow up with you once I get the answer?" That gives you time to do some research on their question and send your answer to them later.

Other than speech therapy, just take your time and think about what you are going to say. If you speak slower, it is actually easier for people to understand you, even with a stutter. Also, think before you speak. Think about how you say each word, and make sure you don't psyche yourself out. Calm down and breathe. If you still have a stutter, it's okay! Plenty of people speak with a stutter and can still be taken seriously when they have something important and educated to say. Speak with purpose and people will listen.

Take deep breaths, and take a couple seconds to gather up your thoughts. If that doesn't work, just talk about your topic.

Practice improvising. This way you won't be completely blank if you forget something. There are lots of ways to go about this. Look up improv games and see if you can practice with some friends or family members. Take a look at the article on How to Be Good at Improvisation .

First of all, try to release your jitters before the speech by moving around a little. Are you speaking behind a podium? If so, you can grip it or try to hide your hands behind it.

Make your voice louder, more confident, and more direct. Open your lips wider when you're forming your words. By doing these few small things, your voice should come out sounding much more assertive and strong.