According to a survey once conducted by the Wall Street Journal, the biggest fear among American citizens was not fear of clowns, being hit by a car, loneliness, or even death, but public speaking. Can you understand how stressful the experience must be for someone who has a feeling they might have to speak in front of an audience that prefers even DEATH? Stage fright is a reality, whether you’re giving a public speech, participating in a group discussion, or giving a presentation. Not many people have the gift of gab, and in fact, there are visionaries like Elon Musk who still stutter during their presentations, so you can imagine how easy it is for the average person to break a sweat the moment they have to speak. in public. Butterflies in the stomach. Close to a nervous breakdown. The fear of failure. The fear of being laughed at. All these thoughts and feelings surround us like an impenetrable cocoon, sinking our confidence to the lowest point.

However, through constant practice and learning, one can eventually learn how to deliver effective public speaking. Whether your speaking skills are average or below average, here are 7 powerful tips that will help you immensely in improving your public speaking skills:

1. Know your audience

One of the most important parts of public speaking is knowing your audience. Will you be presenting your speech to a novice audience or a very experienced group of people? Will you be speaking to a local group or foreign guests? Prepare your content accordingly so the audience stays engaged and account for cultural and geographic biases. For example, you shouldn’t make cliché Rajnikanth jokes in front of a sympathetic audience of people from Tamil Nadu. A rigid reaction will throw you off track and make the situation uncomfortable for both you and your intended audience.

2. Take deep breaths. Boost your self-confidence with some motivational talks

If you suffer from speaking anxiety, you tend to breathe quickly and shallowly, which only adds to the physical and mental stress once you hit the stage. Learning proper breathing techniques is essential to improve your public speaking skills, with the diaphragmatic breathing exercise being the most recommended by experts. Also, right before your speech, you should take a deep breath because they act as a great stress reliever. Giving yourself a short pep talk is also a wonderful way to calm your nerves. Say things like these to yourself:

“Be yourself”

“Have fun”

“I can do this. I’ve done it before” (if it’s not your first time on stage)

“This is about them, not me”

3. It’s okay to be nervous

It is in human nature to be nervous. Even the most seasoned speakers have revealed that they feel a bit nervous every time they take the stage. One way to reduce nervousness is to talk to a close relative or friend just before you start living. Another effective solution is to start your speech casually and break the ice with a joke. Don’t be intimidated by all the eyes staring back at you. Remember, most of them would give up their kidney rather than be up there in your place.

4. Give mock speeches and ask for honest criticism.

This step should be done at least a couple of weeks before D-Day. Giving mock speeches in front of your family or friends, and if possible, an unknown test audience (if you can handle that) is a very effective way to improve your skills. to speak in public. You’ll become familiar with the experience and be able to get honest feedback about gaps in your speech or body language. This will ensure that the end result is as error free as possible.

5. Keep your speech sharp and direct

Don’t beat around the bush so your audience loses interest and even you lose track of what the speech was about. Make your speech sharp, interesting and to the point. Don’t use too many words. Use audiovisual tools to get the audience more involved. Don’t forget to ask any questions on the subject, which you should know well! You can also do a question and answer session after the speech is over, because that’s usually the case, but

6. Use hand gestures effectively, improve your body language

It is an axiomatic truth that body language is an important part of communication skills. Poor body language—for example, pacing nervously, making excessive hand movements or awkward gestures, having a slouched posture, and so on—significantly affects your public speaking experience. To avoid this, you should practice in front of a mirror, have a friend or family member record your speech during a mock session, and review all the mistakes you’re making. Are you doing too many hand movements? Are you hiding your nervousness by moving too much? Check out a full list of body language tips for public speaking so you don’t end up with a frayed nerve.

7. Don’t worry about the negative evaluation. Keep practicing.

There is rarely anyone who can improvise in their first speech. Not everyone has the eloquence of, say, Barack Obama, or the confidence of Nick Vujicic. Most people fear being negatively evaluated by the audience or not speaking the way they intended to. This can lead to abject anxiety and stress, and could even put you off public speaking forever, never to be embarrassed again. But the only way to move forward is to take it easy and learn from the mistakes you’ve made. Taking the stage repeatedly will ultimately build your confidence and you will eventually become a skilled speaker over time.