How can you build confidence for public speaking with simple daily habits?

This is coming from someone who has only started public speaking in the last 6 years. I NEVER thought I'd do it! The reason I was brave enough to do it... Was because I was brave enough to show up on videos first. Built an audience online. I was consistent with my videos too. So now there is a big audience watching me already! What's the difference face to face? If you talk to the camera, especially about topics to help others along the way, that will build your confidence to speak at events! Mad but true!

Building confidence is not something which happens instantly but is built through continual practice and resilience. Therefore, you could make public speaking a part of your daily routine, by talking about a different topic of your choice or impromptu speaking exercises to become more self-assured and confident. It also helps to develop your public speaking skills. Through regular practice, you could set yourself specific goals to work on different skills including pacing, tone and vocal delivery.

I become distracted while practising infront of a mirror. It's a genuine concern for a lot of people. Even Zoom recognizes this and hence gives users an option to switch off their view in the window. Thus i have changed that strategy, and now I record myself while looking into the back camera of my mobile. I have found it extremely helpful because of following reasons: 1) No longer distracted by seeing myself in mirror 2) Can rewind / forward, focus on lines that i wish to review 3) see my whole body language while speaking 4) These days a lot of speeches are either delivered online or are later uploaded. Recording the practice session helps in adapting to the online platform, where our audience increases multliple times.

Manifestation is a very strong tool in the arsenal of human beings. When you imagine yourself standing at the podium and delivering your speech, you are automatically training yourself for that big moment. Hence when you have to finally deliver the speech, your sub-conscious self already is ready to help you come out as the best public speaking version of yourself. Close your eyes, look at a wall, or look in a far distance away and start having these positive visualisations.

You can ask for feedback from your audience through a survey, digitally through an app, using a qr code, emailed survey, or even a printed survey. Get feedback from peers. This can be amazing information because they will help you perfect what is needed on stage. Always take feedback graciously. It is information. It isn't an attack on your or your expertise, it is the perception of the other person. It is good to know how other people see and hear the information you share. This will help you adjust to include more people and impact more lives.

I am a standup comedian and I have to be on stage every day. Sometimes with the same content and many times with a different one from the previous nights. In my experience, one tool that has really helped me in reducing stage anxiety and preparing myself better for the performance is long breathing before the performance / practice. Take 7 long breathes - breathe in from the nose and breathe out from the mouth. This helps in following ways : 1) Helps oxygenate your body so it becomes more active 2) reduces the thumping of the heart 3) avoids the lump in the throat which can sometimes derail you from emphasising on some special points in your speech

If you want to improve at anything, you need to practise. The "Rule of 100," is a powerful concept that will significantly up your public speaking game and anything else you are interested in being good at. Its tells is, if you spend just 18 minutes per day, practicing something, anything for a solid 100 days, you will be better than 95% of humans on the planet at that thing. 18 minutes per day is less than it takes to eat lunch. If you want to be a great speaker, understand the arc of storytelling and practice every day. ??Speak at work: Ask to hold a meeting or give a presentation. ??Speak at home: Practise, practise, practise until it become muscle memory. ??Speaking clubs: Toastmasters, after dinner speaking clubs... Practise..!

A fun daily activity is to find a list of daily prompts or questions and then record yourself (Zoom, Quick Time, or even your phone) answering these questions while avoiding filler words and long pauses but keeping good eye contact. Keep track of these recordings, and then after 30 days, look back at your first recording and recognize and celebrate the improvements. You can do a 30-day or 90-day challenge and celebrate your improvement.