Public Speaking Techniques

Confession: I'm a nervous public speaker… (yet I’ll make $1M+ from keynotes this year). Here are 9 strategies that turned my deepest fear into a powerful strength: PHASE 1: PREP WORK Strategy 1: Study the Best. We have the world's best speakers at our fingertips. Use them. Find 3-5 speakers you admire. Watch their talks on YouTube at 0.75x speed. Take notes on their structure and pacing, voice modulation, movement and gestures, audience engagement. Strategy 2: Create Clear Structure. Great speakers don't deliver speeches, they tell stories. Map your journey explicitly: opening hook, 3 key points, memorable close. Tell the audience where you're taking them. Strategy 3: Build Your "Lego Blocks." Don't memorize your entire speech. That's a trap. Instead, perfect these moments: your opening 30 seconds, key transitions, punchlines and closers. Practice in segments, not sequences. When things go sideways (they will), you'll adapt instead of freeze. Weird trick: Practice once while walking or jogging. It simulates the heart rate spike you'll feel on stage. PHASE 2: PRE-STAGE Strategy 4: Address the Spotlight. The Spotlight Effect: We think everyone's watching our every move. They're not. Use the "So What?" approach: Name your worst fear, ask "So what if it happens?", realize it's never that bad. You'll stumble? So what. Life goes on. Your family still loves you. Strategy 5: Get Into Character. Create your speaker persona. Ask yourself: What traits do they have? How do they move? What's their energy? Flip the switch. Become that character. It's not fake, it's your best self. Strategy 6: Eliminate Stress. The "Physiological Sigh" kills anxiety fast: Double-inhale through your nose, long exhale through your mouth, repeat 2-3 times. Science-backed. Immediate impact. PHASE 3: DELIVERY Strategy 7: Cut the Tension. Last week, they asked what song I wanted to enter to. I said "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys. They thought I was joking. I wasn't. "It's my 1-year-old's favorite song. Figured he'd be more excited to watch if Dad entered to his jam." Instant laughter. Tension gone. Audience on my side. Find your tension breaker. Use it early. Strategy 8: Play the Lava Game. Your pockets and torso are lava. Don't touch them. This forces you to gesture broadly, open your body, project confidence. Big gestures early build momentum. Strategy 9: Move Purposefully. Don't pace like you're nervous. Move like you own the room. Slow. Deliberate. Purposeful. Use movement to create dramatic pauses. Let your words land. Start with one speech, one strategy: Pick your next presentation—could be a team meeting, a toast, whatever. Choose ONE strategy from this list. Master it. Then add another. Public speaking is a muscle. These strategies are your workout plan. The more you practice, the stronger you get. Remember: Everyone gets nervous. The difference is having a system. Now you have one. Use it. Practice it. Watch yourself transform.

I've dedicated over 2,000 hours in the past three years to coaching professionals, helping them become more authentic, engaging and persuasive communicators. The ability to command an audience’s attention to tell an effective narrative is crucial for influencing others. With Kaiser Permanente, I recently delivered a two-day intensive public speaking course advising clinicians and hospital leadership on becoming more confident speakers. Here are some best practices that separate good speakers from masterful ones. These tips will be beneficial for: (1) Preparing for your upcoming speaking engagement or presentation. (2) Leading critical internal meetings where persuasion is key. (3) Any situation where you need to effectively convey a story to your audience. Best practices:  (1) 🖼 Use words that evoke vivid imagery in the minds of your audience, no corporate buzzword bingo! (2) 🔬 Pay close attention to audience reactions (or lack thereof) in real-time. If you notice eyes glazing over and no “nodding along” where it should be obvious, you haven’t landed your message. Vary your tone, cadence, and volume or simply repeat your message to make it stick. (3) 👋 If using hand gestures, ensure they are deliberate, crisp and clearly visible to the camera to avoid distracting your audience (otherwise all they'll see is you shrugging your shoulders!) (4) 🎙 Adjust your distance from the microphone to ensure clear, undistorted audio at an appropriate volume (don't yell!) and so you can effectively play with vocal range  (5) 👀 Avoid looking at yourself on the screen; it will derail your delivery. Instead, rotate through the 'gallery view' to see all attendees and vibe off audience energy (6) 📒 Familiarize yourself with your material to speak naturally. But if using notes, place them at eye level so it’s not obvious you’re looking down to refer to them What advice from your virtual speaking experiences resonates with you? I'd love to hear your top tips! #publicspeakingtips #executivecoaching #communicationskills

Public speaking is the 2nd most common fear in the world... Only behind death. Think about that. People would rather face snakes, sharks, and even their own mortality before getting on stage in front of a crowd. And yet… public speaking is one of THE most valuable skills you can develop for your career, your confidence, and your ability to inspire others. Here are 4 tips I use to simplify public speaking: 1️⃣ Prep with bullets, not a script - Start by outlining 3-5 main points you must cover. Think of them as road signs guiding you through the talk. - Under each point, jot down 2–3 supporting bullets (a story, a stat, or an example). - Rehearse flowing between the bullets... not word for word, but concept to concept. - Practice enough times so you can explain each point naturally, even if phrased differently every time. 👉 The goal isn’t perfect recall... it’s confidence in your structure so you can speak with flexibility, not rigidity. 2️⃣ Record → Review → Refine - Open Zoom, start a solo meeting, and hit record. - Deliver a 3-5 minute version of your talk. - Watch it back with a pen in hand. Circle filler words like "um" and "like." Note your pacing... are you rushing? Are you monotone? 👉 Treat it like watching game film... you’re not critiquing you, you’re refining your performance. 3️⃣ Progressive exposure (small room → bigger room) Step 1: Share your talk with one trusted friend. Step 2: Deliver the same talk to 3–5 colleagues. Step 3: Volunteer to lead a short update in a team meeting. Step 4: Say yes to a small group presentation. Each step deliberately stretches your comfort zone, but in a controlled way. By the time you’re on a stage, your brain has learned: “I’ve done this before.” 4️⃣ Pull your audience in Public speaking isn’t just giving a speech. It’s building a conversation. A few ways to do it: - Ask simple questions: “How many of you have felt ___ before?” A show of hands immediately creates engagement. - Use audience examples: Call out a relevant situation they know well... “For the marketers in the room, you’ll recognize this pattern…” - Tell a story, then pause: Give them space to reflect. Silence is powerful... it lets the audience lean in. - Acknowledge their reactions: Smile when they laugh, nod when they respond. It reminds them you’re there with them, not just speaking at them. 👉 Connection turns a one-way presentation into an experience people remember. 💡 Bonus Tip: Join Toastmasters International. It’s a nationally renowned public speaking program with local chapters in every city. I was a member for 4 years, and it completely changed me... from someone terrified of a crowd… to one who is confident on that stage. Public speaking isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. And the crazy part? The very thing you fear could become the skill that unlocks your biggest opportunities. 🔥 Your turn... what’s the single tactic that’s helped you most in overcoming the fear of public speaking?

I've coached ~70 speakers in 2025. (Mostly in tech.) Here are the 6 most common delivery mistakes I see. MISTAKE 1. Adopting an oddly formal tone Most speakers I coach are great conversationalists. • Smart • Energetic • Funny But as soon as we work on delivery they become... • Stilted • Dry • Formal Here's the thing: Most talks at conferences are so awkward that just being conversational will be very compelling. → Pretend you're talking with friends over coffee. → People will treat you like you're Tony Robbins. MISTAKE 2. Just reading your bullet points Good speakers develop talks with a simple outline. No manuscript. Just bullets. But their first inclination is often to read the bullets. That won't work. If you just read the bullets, the talk will last about 2 minutes. Here's the easiest way to learn to riff on your outline: → Set up each bullet by first stating the status quo. → Then explain your idea in contrast to it. Create tension before each point. Then unpack the idea to resolve the tension. MISTAKE 3. Sloppy transitions This may seem obvious but... You know your outline. The audience does not. Slooooow down in the transitions. → Each of your points is like a platform. → The transitions are like bridges between them. → Make sure people get across the bridges safely. MISTAKE 4. Under-explaining the key ideas You’ve thought about your topic for 40+ hours. Your audience has thought about the topic... 0 hours. Most speakers forget this and breeze through points without ever really explaining what they mean. → You're not dumbing it down when you explain. → You're just breaking it down. MISTAKE 5. Smiling too much One of the most common (and worst) public speaking tips is to smile as much as you can. I'm constantly telling clients: "Stop smiling so much." → A perma-smile feels fake & creepy in conversation. → A perma-smile feels fake & creepy on stage. (If you want to fact-check me, go watch any talk from the world’s most famous CEOs. None of them smile constantly.) MISTAKE 6. Thinking of your talk like a performance Most new speakers think of their talk as a performance. They go theater / speech class / valedictorian mode. This is a recipe for stage fright (and for acting odd). Instead, don’t think performance. Think service. "I'm here to help these folks in their day-to-day work." → You don’t need them to like you or applaud. → You need to help them win. And if you do, they’ll applaud anyway. This sets you up for more confidence and less anxiety. Go get 'em. ____ P.S. My signature talk cohort is returning in October! It’s a 4-week sprint to nail your next big talk. DM me for details!

Most people think the hard part of public speaking is getting on stage. It’s not. The hard part is what happens before you get there: the second-guessing the “what if I bomb?” spiral the obsessing over whether your content is good enough. Yes, rehearsal matters. Craft matters. Clarity matters. But here’s the truth most people miss: Audiences don’t show up for your polish. They show up for you. Your experience. Your perspective. Your story. They want the framework. They also want the person who learned it the hard way. The paradox of great speaking is The more you practice, the more freedom you earn. When you’re not glued to notes or slides, you can: • actually look at people (not your deck) • adjust your energy in real time • pause long enough for things to land • let laughter happen instead of rushing past it • riff without losing the room • be present instead of “performing” That’s when a room shifts from good content to “I needed this.” Practice is necessary. Perfection is not. Here are 5 things that make a talk land (even if you’re not “ready” yet) Steal these: 1. Anchor on one real moment. Not your highlight reel. Find that story that made it click — the mistake, the turning point, the lesson. For me, it was the moment I chased my future husband off an NYC subway train. That’s what people remember. 2. Build it like a playlist Think about the emotional journey you’re taking your audience on. Give them: Light → deep → light → deep → uplift All hype = exhausting. All heavy = draining. Contrast keeps people engaged. 3. Practice until you can see them. Your goal isn’t memorization.It’s freedom. When you’re not glued to notes, you can actually connect with your audience, and focus on them 80% of the time. 4. Pause like you mean it. Pauses aren’t awkward. They’re powerful. That’s where concepts land, and where trust is built. 5. Make it interactive early — like a conversation. Ask for reactions. Ask for a show of hands. Ask for real examples. Listeners multitask. Participants engage. And this isn’t just a “speaker” thing. This is a career skill. Some of the most important rooms you’ll ever be in aren’t conference halls — they’re team meetings, project kickoffs, and moments where you need people to buy in. That’s where stories do the heavy lifting. They create clarity. They reduce friction. They help people move. I started using these skills at Google long before I ever thought about becoming a speaker. Not to perform — to lead. You don’t need a stage to make an impact. You just need the courage to be clear and real. If speaking is something on your 2026 list — even quietly — I’d point you to the best “start here” resource I’ve seen for women: Speak on Stage Bootcamp from Mic Drop Workshop. It helps you turn what you already know into a clear talk — and teaches you how to pitch it so you actually get booked. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gZhXD_B4

Public speaking comes up a lot in my conversations - so I wrote down the tips that have helped me the most. Some of what I know came from being a Radio-TV major and Psych minor. Most of it came from standing at the front of many rooms as early as elementary school, watching audiences closely, and learning the hard way what works. ⚡️ Practice like it matters (because it does). You have to practice the material - you can’t just wing it, champ. Write the talking points and actually practice saying them out loud, so your edits improve the flow of what you have to say. I’ll practice 10–15 times depending on the content, the stakes and the variables. Tip: Learn how much practice you need to feel confident at the podium. ⚡️ Read and respond to the room. 50% of the speaking success equation is listening and responding to what you observe, as you speak. Notice when people lean in - or begin to drift. Observe body language. Remember that a lost room can usually be brought back. Tip: Deliver the content AND stay in lock step with your audience. ⚡️ Be ready to pivot. Know your material so thoroughly that you’re well positioned to let parts of it go for the sake of (1) getting to the point, (2) keeping your audience engaged and/or (3) mindfully managing time. Tip: Being pivot-ready means you won’t stumble if/when the moment calls for a change of plan. ⚡️ Find your rhythm. Because I once dreamed of delivering the news, I studied broadcasters like Wendy Chioji, Pam Oliver, Tom Brokaw, Oprah, etc. All unique in their styles - their pauses, points of emphasis, and presence. The speakers we love to listen to have a cadence that feels natural and true. Tip: Borrow techniques from speakers you admire, while keeping your voice authentic to you. ⚡️ Know your point - and get to it. Audiences decide quickly whether to tune in or tune out. And transparently, many of us are desperate for reasons to tune in. Be clear and unwavering in emphasizing your key takeaways. Tip: Don’t bury the lead. Use your time to tell a story that actually lands. <> When you’ve done your homework - and the moment arrives to speak - take a deep breath. 😮💨 Remember that you have a voice worth listening to and that your voice belongs in the room. If you have a tip that’s served you well, would love to hear them in the comments!

I used to think public speaking was scary. Now I teach it. 25 shifts to STAND OUT in your public speaking game: I’ve seen people spend weeks (even months) perfecting a presentation ...and still be completely forgotten. I’ve also seen others prepare for a 10-15 hours & leave a real impact. The difference isn't experience or talent. It's a set of invisible shifts in how they thought, structured & delivered their message. 25 shifts that separate memorable speakers from forgettable one: 1. I want to be on stage → I want to make a difference 2. I want to impress the audience → it's not about me 3. I must be perfect → be clear, relatable and of value 4. What if I made a mistake or used fillers → I’m a human 5. What if I blanked out → improvise with plan B. 6. Nerves = threat → nerves = I’m a human 7. Nerves = something’s wrong with me → this matters & I care 8. They are judging me → some will. Most want value 9. I’m not a born speaker → no one is (it’s a learnable skill) 10. Someone else' ideas → what you’ve earned the right to talk about? 11. Complex ideas to sound smart → clear ideas relevant to audience 12. Trendy/ shallow insights → lived experience you can talk over coffee 13. 9+ ideas with abstract lingo → 2-3 ideas max with clear language 14. Long explanations + no structure → easy to follow clear structure 15. Advanced vocab to sound smart → common vocab to sound clear 16. Just theory, no examples → stories, real-life examples, clear steps 17. Industry Jargon, abstract lingo → clear lingo, memorable analogies 18. Text heavy slide deck → minimalistic in text (slides are visual aid) 19. Scripted & memorized → unscripted and conversational delivery 20. Defensive in Q&A → opportunity to clarify things, not attack on you 21. Complex figures, flowcharts causing eye strain → simple illustrations 22. Constant slide juggling → minimum ~2 minutes per slide 23. Fake & forced energy, passion → genuine passion, authentic vibe 24. Looking on floor, ceiling, slides, walls → maintain eye contact 25. Overly formal tone → be human first, humble & relatable (not a bot) And remember... this isn't about fixing public speaking on surface level. Or about becoming a “natural” speaker. It’s about making a few critical shifts that compound every time you speak. Hope it helps :) 💾 Save it & revisit it before next presentation, meeting. ♻️ Share with your network if it resonated. ➕ Follow Waqas, P. for more on public speaking confidence & clarity.

Public Speaking 101– Mastering the Art of Engagement. Over the past 10 years, I have given hundreds of speeches in rooms of a dozen people to thousands. Want to know a secret? I use the same 5 principles every time to captivate an audience. Ready to level up your public speaking game? Let’s dive in. Principle #1: Strong Opener How it works: - Begin with a quote - Tell a story - Ask the audience to imagine something This simple strategy allows you to grab the audience's attention from the get-go. You only get one chance to make a first impression— make it count! Principle #2: Utilizing the Head, Heart, & Hands Model How it works: - Engage "head learners" with data and statistics - Speak to "heart learners" with stories and emotion - Capture "hand learners" through specific actions or tools Pro tip: Don't bombard people with ten quotes from your hero or cater to just one type of learner (unless your audience leans one way over another). Balance is key. Principle #3: Use an outline for your speech How it works: - I always start with an intro, hook & credibility statement - Then I have "the body" of the speech as points 1, 2 & 3 - I end with a summary of the points, a final story, and a clear call to action Trust me— this structure keeps you organized and the audience engaged. Principle #4: Transitions are your secret weapon Ever notice how easy it is for your audience to get lost? How to guide them: - Give them a roadmap at the beginning of your speech after your intro & hook - Tell them explicitly where you are in your speech at each point - Recap each point before you go to the next one Implementing this strategy is a game-changer that helps your audience stay on track. Principle #5: Memorize the intro and closing How it works: - Memorize the intro so you can capture the audience with your full attention v. looking at notes - Use notes through the middle section of your speech to keep yourself on track - Memorize your conclusion so you can be fully engaged with your audience as you close out. This simple approach gives the speech a more polished feel. That's it! To recap: Here are the 5 principles to elevate your public speaking 1. Strong opener 2. Utilize the “Head, Heart, & Hands” Learning Model 3. Craft a clear outline 4. Master transitions 5. Memorize your intro & closing What’s your go-to tip for delivering a memorable speech? Anything you would add to my list?

The silence felt deafening. There I was, 1.5 minutes into a 4-minute speech about myself, and my mind went completely blank. Twenty pairs of eyes stared at me, waiting. My heart raced, palms grew sweaty, and my carefully prepared points vanished. That moment of freezing became my turning point. This isn't just my story. Across boardrooms and Zoom calls, I've watched brilliant professionals struggle to articulate their ideas. The challenge isn't knowledge – these are experts in their fields. The real barriers are stage fright, muddled thoughts, and poor structure. Through trial and error, I've developed a system that works. Here's my toolkit: 1. The 2-4-2 Structure: - First 2 minutes: Share a personal story - Middle 4 minutes: Core message (max 3 points) - Final 2 minutes: Clear call to action 2. Pre-Talk Ritual: - Arrive early - Write opening line on a card - Chat with a few audience members 3. Emergency Recovery: - Keep water nearby - Have transition phrases ready - Focus on one friendly face My golden rules: - Never memorize full sentences (except opening) - Keep personal stories ready - When stuck, engage the audience That nervous speaker still lives inside me. But now, instead of letting that memory hold me back, it pushes me forward. Remember: Public speaking isn't about perfection – it's about connection. Start with what works for you and build from there. #publicspeaking #careerhack

Let’s debunk some common public speaking tips: 👀 Look above people’s heads or at their foreheads? No. Real connection happens when you actually see your audience. 🎭 Don’t move too much? Stand behind a podium? Nope. Purposeful movement and gestures bring energy and help you connect. 📊 Your presentation is all about your detailed PowerPoint? Sounds kind of boring. Slides are tools, not crutches, and they split focus when they’re busy. Your audience will respond to and engage with you, and they probably don’t want to read a novel on the screen. These days, whether you’re on stage, in a boardroom, pitching an idea, or even on video, people want authenticity. They want REAL. They want to feel like you’re talking to them, not at them. So here’s my advice: When delivering a video presentation to a large audience (where “reading the room” isn’t possible because there are too many faces in little boxes or many are off-camera), look directly into the lens so your viewers feel seen. In a room, make eye contact with individuals — yes, even the less-than-receptive ones. A second or two of genuine eye contact can draw people in and transform the way your message is received. Purposeful movement and intentional connection create energy and trust, making your presentation feel real and engaging. Connecting with people in the audience – even briefly – can make a big difference. And be careful in a smaller space, such as a conference room. In those settings, it’s important to connect with key decision makers, but don’t overlook the others at the table. Everyone in the room brings value, and making even brief eye contact with each person helps foster inclusion and engagement, ensuring your message resonates with the entire group. What public speaking “tips” have you let go of recently? #PublicSpeaking #PresentationSkills #Leadership