What do you do if you want to improve your public speaking skills continuously?

In my view having a clear, compelling and authentic style is essential to public speaking. Being clear about your messages and delivering them in a manner consistent with who you are will serve you well. Knowing your subject matter and being able to adapt to the requirements of the specific situation is also essential. Having well crafted stories and anecdotes connects you to the audience of a human and personal level.

Good as the saying goes practice makes man perfect. You’ve got to practice over and over again. So you get better and also build your confidence. For public speaking confidence is key. And you will get to build that through practice.

Improving public speaking skills is a continuous process, and there are several effective strategies you can use to hone your abilities over time. Here’s a structured approach to continuously improve your public speaking skills: - - Frequent practice is key to building confidence and skill in public speaking. - After every speaking engagement, seek feedback from your audience or peers. - Video record your speeches or presentations when possible. Watching yourself can reveal habits you may not be aware of, such as overusing filler words, fidgeting, or poor eye contact. - Participate in public speaking workshops or seminars. These can provide new techniques, insights, and the opportunity to practice in a structured setting.

To become a better public speaker I joined a group of auctioneers in Toledo, Ohio. Most people don’t know but 9/10 auctioneers in the world come from Toledo. I trained to speak unconscionably fast such that auction items were sold before people even understood what they were bidding on. I took my skills on the road with the group as part of a circus sideshow attraction. We sold out big tents in 11 states, and it was all thanks to the communication skills I learned as an auctioneer in training in Toledo, Ohio before perfecting the skills on the circus circuit. This is a true story.

Take an improv class. The best way to gain confidence in your ideas, your voice as a speaker, your ability to connect with your audience, and your ability to be adapt on the fly as needed is through improv classes. A good improv teacher will help you build all those skills in a fun and supportive environment. You’ll end up a better collaborator and a better public speaker.

Read. I cannot stress the importance of reading. Reading improves your language and communication. It brings you new ideas. Reading different authors and different genres results in your understanding of what styles retain attention and what do not. You begin to engage in storytelling tactics as you read books.