Everyone wants to be able to communicate better. Whether it is presenting at work, or just talking with others, we all have the goal of delivering our message well. There are ways you can get better at this, even when it comes to the much-dreaded forms of public speaking, which involve speaking to many people to deliver a message. 

The things you can do to get better at public speaking right now are somewhat simple, yet necessary to get you on the right track: 

Get critical

Criticising other people is within the nature of humans. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you use this to help yourself become a better public speaker. How? First, you need to find a few presentations and talks to watch and listen to. Then, you will start taking critical notes of the delivery of the presenter/public speaker. It doesn’t matter what source of video or talk you resort to. What matters is the way you perceive their delivery. Think about what you liked about it and what you found to be lacking. Maybe it is something about their body language, the way they wave their hands or stutter with their words. The point of all this is to develop a critical eye, which you can then turn towards yourself. The better you are at figuring out what you like and what can be done better, the more in tune you will be with the way your delivery should take place. 

Seek feedback from a friend

When it comes to finding out the mistakes you make in public speaking, it is not always easy to rely on yourself alone. There are things you are most likely doing wrong, but you may not be able to see them. That is why it is important to get some feedback from friends and family members. You can go even further, and tell your friends to be mindful of the way you use non-verbal communication or filler words. Asking for specific feedback will yield much better results overall. 

Try to get over the stress

If you want to get better, you need to learn to view yourself presenting more critically. People are usually extra-conscious when they are watching or listening to themselves. But to become a better public speaker, you need to get over this. When watching yourself, it is important not just to check out the negatives, but also the things you did well. This way you are building up some confidence overtime to foster forward momentum. Watch a video of yourself presenting and focus on one thing you did wrong at a time. 

Make it more personal

Public speaking is much more than just talking to others in public. The reasons you communicate are often deeper and reflect how you feel about yourself. Answer a few questions about yourself can give you a better understanding of where you sit with public speaking. For example, when was the last time you think you did a presentation well, and how did it feel? When are you most passionate about public speaking? 

Allow yourself to be brave

It takes practice to get better. Try to look for opportunities to practice your skills, whether it be at work or perhaps in a less formal environment. The more you practice your public speaking skills, the better you will become. 

Always remember that public speaking is a skill that you can acquire and hone to perfection. It takes a special outlook on things, to make it all work in your favour. 

© Presence Training