You’re starting a career in public speaking. How can you make sure you get off to the right start?

I was never a confident public speaker, and I never participated in any speaking competitions during my school years. I was quite introverted and shy. So, you might wonder why I decided to pursue public speaking. I used to teach coding to children, and I wanted to have a greater impact on more people. I realized that developing my public speaking skills would help me achieve this goal. Last week, I delivered a live workshop to 720 people for three hours! If you have a clear purpose in mind, then learning public speaking can be a valuable tool for achieving your goals.

I started public speaking when I was 14 years old. And I will have to share with you that the purpose is everything... if you cannot define your purpose and connect emotionally with YOUR WHY, your audience won't either.

To launch a successful public speaking career: 1. Find your niche: Identify passions and become an expert. 2. Craft your message: Develop a signature talk, refine your message, and build a personal brand. 3. Gain experience: Start small, join speaking clubs, and record/review your talks. 4. Network: Connect with organizers, offer pro-bono talks, and gather testimonials. 5. Market yourself: Create a professional online presence and utilize social media. 6. Embrace continuous learning: Stay updated, seek feedback, and be adaptable. Consistency and dedication lead to opportunities.

Define Your Niche: Identify your area of expertise or the topics you are passionate about. Focus on subjects that you know well and can speak about confidently. Craft Compelling Content: Develop engaging and valuable content for your speeches. Research extensively, gather anecdotes, statistics, and real-life examples to make your presentations impactful. Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your speeches regularly. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or present to friends and family to gain confidence and refine your delivery.

Embarking on a public speaking career requires a strong foundation, and clarity of purpose is paramount. Define why you want to engage in public speaking, whether it's to inspire, educate, or advocate. Understand your target audience and tailor your message accordingly. Hone your speaking skills through practice, seek constructive feedback, and continuously refine your approach. By anchoring your public speaking journey with a clear sense of purpose, you not only establish authenticity but also set the stage for impactful and purposeful communication that resonates with your audience.

As a long time speaker I would argue that the most important thing with regards to the audience is Respect! These people are giving away an hour or more from their busy schedule to listen to your speech. You should respect that and in return ensure that you’re A) providing insights that are unique and mostly could not be easily found online B) Read your audience body language and understand if they are tuned to your session or not , if not - adapt accordingly C) gather post session feedback so you do not repeat your mistakes and continuously improve

When you are giving a speech, it is important to remember that you are not just speaking for yourself but for the people who have travelled from different places to hear you. To make your presentation more worthwhile for them, you can research more about your audience. Here are some ways to do that: - Ask the event organizers for information about the attendees. - Use apps like Kahoot or Mentimeter to conduct a live poll and get feedback from the audience. - Take questions from the audience and try to answer them as best you can.

Once you have identified your target audience, conducting thorough research on them becomes the next crucial step. By delving deeper into understanding their needs, interests, demographics, and other relevant factors, you will gain valuable insights that can be used to customize your message specifically for them. This careful approach ensures that your speech resonates with the target audience based on the comprehensive information gathered during your research.

Embarking on a public speaking career requires diligent audience research. Prioritize understanding your audience's demographics, interests, and expectations. Conduct surveys, engage on social media, or gather feedback to tailor your content. This insight helps you connect authentically, ensuring your message resonates with the specific needs and preferences of your audience, setting the stage for a successful start to your public speaking journey.

You must also know your audience, beyond who they are, and understand how they think and the best way they will love to receive your message. Do their situational, psychographic, and demographic analysis. These will help you as a public speaker to know how and when it is right to speak to such an audience.

Practice makes perfect, beyond practicing alone or indoors, it is best to practice in the presence of friends or family who can give genuine feedback on how well you performed and what to improve on. This will also in turn boost your confidence as a speaker, because with them you will learn to make eye contact and the like.

In my experience as a speaker, sharing true life experiences that correlate with the content I've already prepared will be my first hook on the audience. Once I get their full attention that's when to launch into the real content of my speech. Then, I would ensure to end it powerfully in a way they'd forever remember positively.

A perfect place to practice your speaking abilities is on Podcasts! Reach out to a few smaller shows that are in your niche to land a couple of interviews before you hit the big stage !

It can be uncomfortable to listen to yourself speak, but it's one of the most effective ways to improve your communication skills and boost your confidence. I know this from personal experience when I was preparing for my TEDx talk. The day you become comfortable with hearing and seeing yourself speak is the day when you'll see exponential growth in terms of improving your pitch and body language. So, give it a try and get comfortable with the sound of your own voice and seeing yourself speak.

One thing I've found helpful is standing in front of a mirror to practice your speech. That way, you get to see your hand movements, you get to know when you are supposed to smile, shake your head and do other things. Another way is asking for honest opinions either from your Coach, friends or siblings.

It is of utmost importance to have the appropriate materials for constructing your speech content. These materials can come in the form of slides, printed handouts, or even links. However, these materials must be articulated and free from any ambiguity. Even as an experienced Toastmaster, I always make sure to check my technical equipment well in advance of my speech to prevent any unpleasant surprises.

To ensure a strong start in your public speaking career, meticulous preparation of materials is essential. Begin by outlining a clear and compelling message, and structuring your content logically. Craft engaging visuals to complement your speech, using slides or other aids. Ensure that your materials are relevant, concise, and aligned with your audience's interests. Practice extensively to familiarize yourself with the content and enhance delivery. Thorough preparation not only instills confidence but also facilitates effective communication, setting the foundation for a successful public speaking debut.

In preparing your materials, remember that your slides do not replace the need to be familiar with the subject you are presenting on. Know your presentation like the back of your hand. Technical glitches still happen. Also, your slides should only contain highlights, else you'll find your audience reading the slides instead of listening to you. Expounding on the highlights in your slides positions you as knowledgeable on that subject and makes the audience listen and take notes.

In my experience, effective time management is more about quality than quantity. It's crucial to prioritize tasks and focus on what genuinely adds value to your work or personal life. For instance, I once had a project with numerous competing deadlines. By identifying the most critical tasks and setting realistic deadlines for each, I was able to manage my time more efficiently. Additionally, I've found that minimizing distractions, such as unnecessary meetings or social media, can significantly increase productivity. Another key aspect is the importance of breaks. Regular short breaks, like a quick walk or a few minutes of meditation, can refresh the mind and enhance focus.

I would say that you only have material in addition to your speech if it would add definitive value. Slides can be distracting and can actually detract from your speech. Only include them if they're really necessary and if they will add to your audience's experience of your speech. Most of the best speeches that I have attended, did not have any audiovisual aids or materials.

Effectively managing nerves is crucial for successful public speaking. Begin by reframing anxiety as excitement, channeling that energy positively. Practice deep breathing to calm your nerves and focus your mind. Visualize a positive outcome and remind yourself of your expertise. Embrace a confident posture to convey assurance. Familiarize yourself with the venue to get a lay of the land and reduce the unknown. Lastly, accept that some nervousness is natural and can enhance performance. By adopting these strategies, you can transform nervous energy into a powerful asset for engaging and impactful public speaking.

It's okay to be nervous, just dont pay too much attention to it. Many great speakers are nervous too, so there's nothing wrong with you if you find yourself nervous. Remind yourself that - you carry value, which is why those people showed up to listen to you - you owe it to them to deliver on their confidence in you. - you've got this!

One of my first talks was on energy harvesting my nerves were busy. I decided to talk about a soldier on Saipan with piezoelectric material in his heals developing charge with every step as he carried the heavy 50 caliber machine gun on his shoulders. Thinking and picturing dad and what he said, helped carry me through my talk effortlessly.

Managing your nerves is imperative to a great speech. Yes, you will be nervous about doing it, but how we manage it is what's important. The key to managing your nerves is your preparation of the speech. After this, I feel like a humourous break the ice start is great at managing your nerves. Remember, the audience is there to be amazed and want to listen to you. They don't want you to fail so remember that and let it give you confidence to succeed.

Even to this day, I am nervous talking, which is due to being Neurodivergent and having RSD is a part of it - but I refocus and give myself a pep talk - as I know that I am good in this! Though there are many techniques out there, I think this is always something personal, for some one works and for others something else. So it is good to practice different ones till you find the one that works for you - but do not forget if you are passionate about what you do, no matter what, you will be the best and greatest on that stage!

Feedback! Feedback! Feedback! Receiving feedback is crucial to determine whether your message is effectively conveyed through public speaking. To gather feedback, I conduct two surveys - one with the attendees and another with the organizers and volunteers. Both provide me with distinct perspectives and help me improve my skills in the long run. You can create your feedback system and improve overtime.

TEN PRACTICAL RULES THAT ‘MADE ME FLY’ ON STAGE I transformed into a keynote speaker on design thinking innovation, performing all of the world. That’s why I like to share with you ten practical rules to become a great keynote speaker too: 1. Understand your audience by knowing what’s keeping them awake at night. 2. Tell stories. 3. Use gestures purposefully. 4. Entertain and use humour to break the ice. 5. Vary tone, pace and volume. 6. Be genuine and share personal anecdotes to humanise your presentation. 7. Be passionate. 8. Exaggerate as a real actor would do. 9. Dress up, fitting your subject and personality to create more impact. 10. Talk to one person (in mind). Lots of success! #keynote #keynotespeaker #speaker #topspeaker

Evaluating your performance is crucial for growth in public speaking. Record your presentations to review later, focusing on areas like body language, tone, and engagement. Seek constructive feedback from peers or mentors to gain diverse perspectives. Assess audience reactions and adapt accordingly. Set specific goals for improvement, such as enhancing vocal variety or refining transitions. Continuously analyze what worked well and what can be improved, cultivating a cycle of improvement. By consistently evaluating your performance, you refine your skills, boost your confidence, and pave the way for a successful career in public speaking.

It's one thing we don't like to do. Watch a video of ourselves back or getting constructive feedback. But, it is what we need to properly evaluate our performance. Never be disheartened by constructive feedback as you want to be the best and we can only be the best when we evaluate our performance and improve.

Approach networking groups, non-for profits and conferences who are looking for “free speakers” - and leverage these opportunities. 3 ways to do this are: 1. Ask for a testimonial (to warrant one, make sure it is an excellent presentation) 2. Hire a photographer to take professional photos, and share these on social media 3. Invite a person you would like to do business with - and offer them a seat as your guest. It’s a fabulous opportunity for people to watch you speak. When we start out it’s expected that we will speak for free - and speaking for free means that in the future we can speak for a fee :)

???Starting Small for Big Public Launch?? Embarking on a public speaking career? Begin by addressing small groups or engaging in low-risk exposure platforms like Toastmasters, local speaking associations, Pecha Kucha events, or even karaoke. This gradual approach helps you build confidence and overcome common challenges like technical glitches or unexpected hiccups when speaking. Starting small also allows you to practice in a supportive environment, honing your skills before transitioning to larger stages where success has a more significant impact on your career. Build your foundation steadily to ensure a strong start! The public stage can be intimidating and rightfully so! There's a much lower tolerance for failures than in private jobs!

- Train, Train, Train - Prepare your speech in front of a mirror - Record your speech in order to review your voice and tone - Always see the Audience and make eye contact - Never give your back to the audience - Walk the stage - Don’t have papers, pens or other things in your hands that can distract the audience - If a question is not very clear do a gentle re-ask - Make the audience feels comfortable and involved - Have a clear purpose and/or objective in your presentation/public speak - Do a self-evaluation - Have an audience evaluation too - Enjoy what you are doing and learn

Know why you want to pursue a career in public speaking. When you know your why, you will figure out and do the how. No matter what. Practical strategies and tactics are the easy part. The harder part is overcoming the anxiety of public speaking. Despite knowing all the stress management techniques, when push comes to shove, we often still feel the sensations in our bodies - pounding heart, knots in the stomach, ringing in our ears, and sweaty palms. That's because your brain is telling your body to protect itself, you're about to do something 'dangerous'. To permanently disconnect this old story, acknowledge it - it's helped you come this far in life. Then tell a different story that helps rather than hinders what you want to achieve.

Stick around afterwards! Meet and say hello to every person that wants to chat with you. You will better understand how you resonated with the audience if you can meet some people. Plus it will give you confidence for the next time! The high of giving a talk is amazing in the moment, but if you have little to no feedback you can suffer an emotional hangover let down, which often is quite unwarranted and typically just made up in your head. Seek out feedback and ask directly for it!