What do you do if your public speaking skills aren't captivating and inspiring your audience?

Know Your Audience: Understand who your audience is and what they care about. Tailor your message to resonate with their interests, needs, and concerns. Use language, examples, and stories that are relevant and relatable to your audience. Clarify Your Message: Define a clear and compelling message that you want to convey to your audience. Structure your speech or presentation around a central theme or idea, and ensure that your message is concise, focused, and easy to understand. Practice Regularly: Practice your public speaking skills regularly to build confidence and proficiency. Rehearse your speeches or presentations aloud, preferably in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend or colleague who can provide feedback.

Recording yourself is a very simple, but extremely helpful, strategy for self-evaluation. You get to pick up on: - your facial expressions and non-verbal cues - your actual messaging (how does it sound, is it confusing, do *you* sound like you know what you're talking about or are you reading off the slides) - your speech (are you monotone, do you have natural fluctuations in your voice, do you speak too slow each time you're thinking) Each of these points will help you improve your presentation in massive ways.

I remember the first time I realized my public speaking wasn't hitting the mark. I was on stage, and all I saw were bored faces. Right then, I decided to shake things up. I started with stories. The next talk, I opened with a mishap I had on my way to the event. The crowd cracked smiles, some even chuckled. It felt good—like we were all in it together. I also began tailoring my content. Before a presentation, I'd throw a quick poll on social media to gauge interest. At one event, I change my usual tech-heavy jargon for more relatable insights because that's what my audience wanted. Most importantly, I started involving my audience. A quick Q&A segment, or inviting them to share their experiences, turned my monologues into dialogues.

To captivate your audience, you must engage them from the start. This means crafting an opening that grabs attention and establishes a connection. Use storytelling, ask rhetorical questions, or present a startling fact—anything that makes the audience sit up and take notice. Throughout your speech, maintain this engagement by varying your tone, using gestures, and making eye contact. Remember, engagement is a two-way street; observe your audience's reactions and adapt accordingly.

Creo que lo más importante es perder el miedo y generar confianza. La confianza en uno mismo yel transmitir las cosas con pasión otorgan ese plus a cualquier comunicación . La convicción en lo que decimos y nuestro lenguaje no verbal son aleados estratégicos para cautivar e interesar a nuestra audiencia . Creo que es importante recordar que no es solo que lo decimos sino su forma.

Confidence is the cornerstone of effective public speaking. If you lack confidence, it will show, and your audience will sense it. To build confidence, practice your speech multiple times until you know it inside out. Familiarity with your material reduces anxiety and allows you to focus on delivery. Additionally, work on your posture and breathing techniques; these can have a significant impact on how confident you appear and feel.

Regular practice is essential for improving any skill, especially public speaking. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or even in front of a camera. Pay attention to not just what you say but how you say it. Work on eliminating filler words like "um" and "uh," which can distract from your message. With consistent practice, you'll become more comfortable with public speaking, and your ability to inspire and captivate will naturally improve.

Reach out to 2-3 attendees after your speech to ask for their feedback in writing. Be specific about the type of feedback you're seeking. Questions to ask include: 1. What was the key takeaway from my comments? 2. How did my speech make you feel (what emotions did it evoke, if any)? 3. What would you advise me to do more of, less of or continue to do? This includes both verbal and nonverbal areas of my presentation ability. 4. What comments or data did I not highlight that you think is pertinent to this topic and audience? 5. Did your expectation for my comments match my presentation? If so/not, how? By seeking to understand with open ended questions, you'll learn more from others that can enrich your topic.