What do people report as their biggest fear?
It’s not death…
Public speaking. (Seriously, look up the research.)
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Let me show you how.
Public speaking is a top skill in business and life. 7 Cheat Codes to Master It
Here it is 7 Cheat Codes to Sharpen Your Public Speaking Skills:
1. Record yourself speaking
Top athletes study game film. They review plays carefully and look for mistakes to improve.
Do the same. Record the execution process.
● Things to pay special attention to are as follows:
● Where you are looking
● What your hands do
● Speaking speed
● Complementary words
2. Let silence do the work
There is nothing more powerful than pausing at the right time…
Highlight your strengths. Then give your audience space to fully absorb it.
Count to 5 in your head.
It may feel like an eternity to you, but it is such a refreshing moment for the audience.
3. Focus your attention on a specific person
The most skillful speakers make meaningful eye contact.
Look at your audience and make short points.
Then move your gaze to the next audience member and pass on yet another audience member.
one. One point. That’s the rule.
4. Don’t memorize it like a script.
There is nothing worse than reading a script word for word.
Instead, write down an outline of each paragraph to refresh your memory.
● Opening line
● Transition
● Finishing line
The remaining parts will be filled in much more naturally.
5. Build your story into a story
The best public speakers don’t give speeches. They tell a story.
Kindra Hall wrote Stories that Stick and outlined the perfect structure to captivate your audience.
● General (standard)
● Explosion (big change)
● New normal (adjustment/learning)
Conflict is key to sustaining a story.
6. Add a little humor
Nothing refocuses an audience like a well-known joke.
Humor builds bonds. belonging.
What’s the secret?
Have fun with yourself. Choose what makes you human (something others can relate to).
7. Take advantage of every opportunity in your daily life to talk to strangers.
● Tell the barista more than just your order.
● Spend a few minutes with the doorman.
● Start a conversation with someone at the gym.
The more comfortable you are talking to strangers, the more natural it will feel to lead a meeting, perform a wedding, or present on stage.
quick summary:
- Record what you say
- Let silence do the work
- Focus your attention on a specific person.
- Don’t memorize it like a script.
- Build your story into a story
- Inject a little humor.
- Take advantage of every opportunity to talk to strangers in your daily life
You got this.
Which of these tips did you like the most?