Public Speaking Tips for Beginners

Public speaking is named the second most common fear in the UK, with nearly one in two people reporting some level of anxiety about it. You are not alone, in fact if you don’t have a fear of speaking in public, then your friend will.

But this is something that can be learnt, you can get rid of your fear of speaking and speak with confidence all the time. Beginners who improve the fastest are rarely the loudest or the most naturally confident in the room. They are the ones who are prepared to take a risk, who can make mistakes and learn from their failures because speaking isn’t something we get right or wrong. Everyone has an opinion, we are able to respond to people in that moment and share what we want to say.

Why Public Speaking Feels So Hard

Most of the issues we have around speaking lives inside your own head, it’s not about the words, it’s not even about the room itself. It’s your thoughts of what you think about speaking. You’ve created a narrative in your head, that mostly is fiction, it’s not real! When you’re speaking in a group requires you to be visible and this leaves you open, you think people are judging you, you think you say everything wrong and you’ll embarass yourself, you think you need to say everything perfectly.

And whilst we are having these inner thoughts inside our head, your body responds as though something genuinely dangerous is happening. Nerves are normal. That does not mean you stop speaking completely or you try to get rid of all your nerves.

Beginners often try to hid their symptoms and force themselves to speak anyway. They don’t focus on how they feel but on the content that the audience needs to hear, or they think they need to hear. Once you understand what you need to be confident with speaking then you’ll feel much better about speaking in general, no matter who you are speaking to.

Public Speaking for Beginners: Where to Start

Speaking in public isn’t really about talent and it about you as a person. There are 3 things you need to remembers about speaking, you, the audience and the topic.

Start with a sense of purpose

A lot people speak and end up waffling and not giving the audience enough to make them go wow that was inspiring and that’s because there is no purpose. Decide how you want your audience to think, feel or do after your talk, then build everything around that single objective.

Knowing who you are

As the speaker you are in control, the more you learn about you, the more you have to connect with the audience. Everything you’ve been through is a story that you can tell and I gurantee another person will be able to relate what you’ve gone through. So do the journalling, go to therapy, be intuitive with yourself and you realise that the way you think is the most powerful way to change your life.

Speak about everything

We only know what we know and we feel comfortable only speaking about topics we know. But find time to practise speaking about everything. You don’t have to know everything, you can learn a lot about these topics from people by listening to them. They are the experts, you are doing the research, then you speak about it afterwards. Practise speaking out loud, read your notes out loud if you have to. Speaking is muscle memory and a physical skill that you have to do.

Speaking Techniques That Work

These are some simple techniques that tend to pay off relatively quickly, even on a first attempt.

Breathe before you begin

When breathing is done properly, it works. You feel calm, you feel confident to stand and speak on stage. But you have to be breathing from your belly. When you’re breathing you compose yourself, you can think clearly before you speak.

Vary your pitch and tone

Nobody likes a montone voice. A quick exercise you can do is get a book and say the sentences by playing around with your voice, say the sentences in a happy tone, an angry tone, a calming tone, a shocked tone of voice. Go from low pitch to high pitch when speaking and vice versa.

Open with a story or a question

A strong opening grabs attention before people have decided to listen. Asking a question, telling a short story or sharing a fact can all be your sentence starters. Then be passionate about what you are saying and do not forget the purpose you set at the start, whether you are there to educate, to instruct, to support people.

Work from an outline, not a script

An outline with your main points keeps you flexible and you don’t need to memorise anything. A full script may create more pressure and it tends to bring out your reading voice. And remember to use your personality, bring out the humour and stories where they fit naturally.

Take your time

Speed through what you want to say is the beginner's biggest mistake. Slowing down gives the audience time to absorb a point and gives you time to think. If you lose your thread, breathe and return to the next item on your outline rather than apologising.

Keep slides minimal

If you are using a presentation slide, use minimal text that’s simple to read and images that can relate to the audience. Avoid long bullet lists and clip art. Slides should support what you say, it’s a visual guide for the audience.

Public Speaking Skills Every Beginner Should Learn

• Audience research, so your content fits the people in front of you
• Having one clear purpose and knowing what you want the audience to do
• Building a strong opening and limiting yourself to three to five points
• Breathing, pausing and connecting before you speak
• Vocal variety in pitch, pace, tone and volume
• Storytelling makes the message relatable
• Working from your main points rather than reading a script
• Keep going if you mess up

What Makes Someone a Good Public Speaker?

Good speakers are clear and have intention. They know their audience and their purpose, they tell stories rather than recite the information and they are passionate about the subject. Their content is rehearsed and spoken out loud before they go up on stage to speak and their voice has variety to keep the audience engaged.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Public Speaking?

It depends how long it takes you to learn. There is no fixed time or amount of hours to become a great public speaker. It’s how you feel after you practise, knowing what you can do and improving it. Progress depends on your starting point, how often you speak, what kind of speaking you do and how much feedback you get. Beginners who practise out loud regularly and seek structured guidance usually notice a difference in their confidence. Confidence with speaking comes hand in hand when they practise speaking in front of people.

Can Anyone Learn to Be a Good Public Speaker?

Yes. No-one is born great at speaking. Speaking is a trainable set of habits around knowing a series of things, how to prepare, how to breathe, how to structure and how to deliver the message. Once you know the techniques, it’s about practising so you feel good about yourself. Start small then you can take it to the big stages.

What Do You Learn On A Public Speaking Course?

Structured public speaking coaching usually covers everything to do with speaking, from you as the speaker, to the audience, to what you want to say. At Speaking Voices we help you go through each part of the public speaking journey so you can feel confident with speaking. Our 1:1 coaching helps you transform the way you think about speaking and you will feel equipped to go into the real world and apply the techniques in any speaking situation. You can check out our speaking services here, if you are already speaking but want to sound more engaging and inspirational, check out Speak In Public, whilst if you want more confidence with speaking, reducting your overthinking, manage your nerves and stop hesitating before you speak, then check out Speak Confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I calm my nerves before speaking?

Start by reminding yourself that nerves are normal. Before you begin, pause, take a breath and connect with the audience before saying anything. Give yourself a safe space to practise in, prepare your points and let the structure carry you rather than trying to control the feeling.

What should a beginner do first?

Speak out loud about different topics, set aside just one minute a day and speak about a topic. It doesn’t have to be anything too complicated. Practising breathing and know when you are breathing when you are speaking out loud.

Should I memorise my speech word for word?

Some people like working from a script because it helps them feel prepared. But some people don’t like using a script because there is too much pressure to memorise the speech word for word. So it’s up to you what feels right to you. Just know that if you use a speech, say the words out loud first before writing the speech down and then it will sound like you and less robotic when you speak it.

What if I lose my place during the talk?

Slow down and take a breath. Most audiences don’t know that you’ve lost your place, because unless you make it a big the deal then the audience will notice the big deal. If you carry on, chances are, the audience won’t notice your slip up.