How do you update your speaking skills?

1 Assess your strengths and weaknesses

The first step to updating your speaking skills is to evaluate your current performance and identify your areas of improvement. You can do this by recording yourself, asking for feedback, or hiring a coach. Be honest and objective about what you do well and what you need to work on. For example, do you have a clear message, a captivating voice, a confident body language, and a strong connection with your audience? Or do you struggle with filler words, monotone delivery, nervous gestures, or lack of interaction? Once you have a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, you can set specific and realistic goals to improve your speaking skills.

2 Learn from the best

One of the best ways to update your speaking skills is to learn from the best speakers in your field and beyond. You can watch TED talks, podcasts, webinars, or live events and observe how they craft their stories, use their voice, gesture, and facial expressions, and engage their audience. You can also read books, blogs, or articles by expert speakers and learn from their tips, insights, and experiences. You don't have to copy their style, but you can get inspired by their techniques and adapt them to your own personality and message.

3 Practice regularly

Updating your speaking skills requires consistent and deliberate practice. You can't expect to improve your skills if you only speak once in a while or rely on your natural talent. You need to practice your speech, your delivery, and your interaction skills as often as possible. You can practice in front of a mirror, a camera, a friend, or a small group. You can also join a Toastmasters club, a speaking course, or a mastermind group and get constructive feedback and support from other speakers. The more you practice, the more confident and comfortable you will become as a speaker.

4 Experiment with new formats and tools

Another way to update your speaking skills is to experiment with new formats and tools that can enhance your presentation and make it more engaging and relevant. For example, you can try different types of speeches, such as keynote, workshop, panel, or Q&A. You can also use different tools, such as slides, videos, polls, quizzes, or chatbots, to add variety and interactivity to your speech. You don't have to use every format or tool available, but you can test what works best for you and your audience.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

Finally, updating your speaking skills is an ongoing process that requires feedback and improvement. You can't rely on your own perception or satisfaction to measure your progress. You need to seek feedback from your audience, your peers, your clients, or your coach and use it to improve your skills. You can also measure your impact by tracking your results, such as bookings, referrals, testimonials, or ratings. You should always aim to learn from your mistakes, celebrate your achievements, and challenge yourself to grow as a speaker.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?