10 Ways To Improve Your Speaking

1. Know Your Why Having a clearly defined “Why” will make sharing your message easier. I think a lot of people don’t spend enough time fully understanding “Why” they are speaking in the first place. Settling in on that core reason will go a long way when it comes to continuing when things are slow going. There is no way around it, you have to know your “Why.”

2. Define Your Message Once you know your “Why” your message needs to be shaped around that message. Know the main points of your message. Makes sure that they are relevant to your audience. Your message needs to be defined so well that it’s repeatable. Once heard your message should be one that is 0axkwd in such a way that others can share the core principles of it easily.

3. Connect With Your Audience The easiest way to connect with a human is to be one. The easiest way to connect with your audience is to make your presentation relatable. Talk about common occurrences that are top of mind and relative to what they are currently dealing with. Make them feel like they know you or at least where you are coming from so that the information that you are presenting can be well received.

4. Position Yourself As The Expert When talking on a subject it’s best to know as much if not more than your audience. Do your homework and get your fact together. Nothing feels worse than being checked or corrected on information that clearly is not spot on. You have to make sure that for that 45 minutes to an hour that you are the most knowledgeable person talking about the subject matter.

5. Practice The only way you are going to get better at Speaking is that you have to practice. In our mind our presentation is perfect, but once we get on stage it’s a different story. As a Speaker, you have to speak on a regular base because it gives you opportunities to develop your speaking style while seeing what works and what does not. Again, you HAVE TO practice.

6. Become a Better Listener Why would listening be on a list about ways to become a better speaker? Because the best speakers are the best listeners. You had to be an active listener so that you can understand what’s needed for your presentation. Steven Covey said, “Seek first to understand before you seek to be understood.” You have to make sure that your message speaks to the needs of the people who brought you in and the people that you are speaking to. Listening is the most effective way to do that.

7. Share Something Personal I know that a lot of people would caution about sharing personal information during a presentation but there is no greater way to connect to your audience. They need to know that you are a human as they are. On stage, a lot of us look like Super Heroes but they have to know that we are just as human as they are. Sharing something personal reminds them that you are them. But you have to be cautious about what you share and how much. It also has to be appropriate for the audience and the subject at hand.

8. Check Your Motives If you have yet to understand your “Why” you will never be the best speaker that you can be. Yours motivates for speaking have to align with your core values. They have to be checked on a regular base. The reason why this is important is that so many things will become a factor as you move forward. So many changes for you to lose sight of the reason you started in the first place. Constantly checking that reason is vital to your continuing success. You have to fully understand your “Why.”

9. Deliver With Confidence In order to be a better speaker, you have to deliver with confidence. When you truly are convinced that you have what your audience needs, you can deliver. You can do it without fail or hesitation. From your vocal tone to your stage presence, you will have the audience sitting up and taking notice of who you are and what you are presenting. They will value your words, they will quote your saying and they will recommend you to others when they see you deliver with confidence.

10. Practice No, you are not seeing double. If you went back to number 5 and look to see if this was already on the list then you’ll notice that it’s on there twice. The only way that you are truly going to master your speaking style is to practice. And I’m not talking about alone in your bathroom or even in your car, you are going to have to get on stage and practice. With family, with friends even with strangers, you are going to have to get used to talking. Speakers speak. And the old adage is still true, “Practice makes Perfect!”

~Cicone Prince