When someone asks you to give a speech, what is your initial reaction? If you’re like most people, it’s pure terror! But this is quite unfortunate. Public speaking does not necessarily mean speaking in front of a large audience. There are millions of people around the world who do not aspire to greatness on the podium. Instead, as office managers or team leaders, they must speak to a small group of people. But even that small task can send shivers down the spine of most group leaders. But the good news is that anyone, with a little preparation and motivation, can become a good speaker. Truly, if you want to succeed as an effective public speaker, you will need to learn and adopt certain public speaking strategies. Here are some public speaking tips to help you shine on the podium.

1) Pick the right topic.You should choose a topic that you are familiar with and have strong feelings about. It is really disastrous to talk about something that is not in your domain and you are very likely to make a fool of yourself if you do. However, if you’re on familiar ground, you’ll feel comfortable and confident talking about your topic.

2) Organize your points carefully and logically. Your talk should have a beginning: a brief introduction of what you are going to say; a medium where you elaborate your theme; and an ending that sums up what you just said.

3) Rehearse your speech in private. Once you’ve planned your presentation, it’s time to practice your presentation. Better if you do it alone. Remember, you are not starting a discussion here. You will have to speak to yourself and logically present what you would like to say. Therefore, you would do well to practice in front of the mirror like a seasoned actor. Be positive and try to “see” and “hear” the positive feedback you will get when you have it under your control.

4) Do not resort to elaborate notes. No prewritten speech can sound spontaneous. You’re damned if you do that. At best, you can make short notes, consisting of just a few words, that will guide you to your destination.

5) Be nice to your audience. Don’t be formal and stuffy. Begin your talk by keeping a simple conversational style. use humor as much as you can, but only in the right places. And please, avoid outdated and tired jokes, which will simply add to the boredom.

6) Bring your speech to a climactic end. Your final words should be carefully crafted so that they continue to ring in your listeners’ ears even after you’re done. Encourage them, exhort them to a course of action, and leave them wanting more. In other words, finish with a bang. .

The old adage “Practice makes perfect” also applies to public speaking. In fact, the more you practice, the better you get. So whenever you get a chance to speak, don’t panic. You will gradually build your self-confidence and public speaking skills if you put your mind to it. Surely, if you follow my public speaking tips sincerely, you will definitely become a good public speaker.