What Are the Top Three Strategies for Improving Public Speaking?
What Are the Top Three Strategies for Improving Public Speaking?
Speak Like You Mean It: Simple Tactics to Transform Your Talks
Public speaking is less about talent and more about strategy. Whether you’re pitching to investors, leading a team meeting, or giving a toast, the ability to command attention and convey ideas clearly is a superpower. In this guide, we explore the top three public speaking strategies that can transform even the most nervous speaker into a confident communicator. These tips are practical, memorable, and built to help you improve right away. If you want to get better at public speaking, these are the tools to start with.
1. Practice with Purpose
You wouldn’t run a marathon without training. Public speaking is no different. The best way to improve is to practice, but not just any practice—deliberate, focused, and feedback-driven.
Here’s how to practice effectively:
- Record yourself: Seeing and hearing your own delivery highlights areas to improve.
- Simulate the environment: Practice in front of a mirror, a friend, or even a small group.
- Time yourself: Stick to limits and develop pacing.
- Get feedback: Ask for specific, constructive notes (e.g., clarity, energy, filler words).
Think of each speaking opportunity as a “rehearsal” for something bigger. With each iteration, your confidence builds, and your performance sharpens.
2. Know Your Audience and Your Message
Speaking isn’t about dumping facts—it’s about making your message resonate. To do that, you need to deeply understand both what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to.
Ask yourself:
- What does this audience care about?
- What do they already know?
- What do I want them to feel, think, or do afterward?
A technical presentation to engineers will sound very different than a motivational talk to high school students. Tailoring your tone, structure, and content helps you build a bridge from your ideas to your audience’s minds.
3. Use Stories and Structure
Facts inform, but stories stick. One of the most effective ways to captivate an audience is through storytelling. Even a short anecdote or real-world example can make your message more relatable and memorable.
Combine stories with structure:
- Start with a strong hook: a story, a question, or a surprising fact
- Use the Rule of Three: people remember information better in triads
- Close with impact: summarize your message and leave a clear takeaway
Real-world example:
When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, he didn’t dive into technical specs. He told a story about the problems we all had with current phones and painted a picture of a simpler, smarter future. That story made the technology unforgettable.
Real-World Transformation: From Nervous to Natural
Take James, a mid-level marketing manager who used to dread presentations. His voice would shake, and he relied heavily on slides. After applying these three strategies over a six-month period, he transformed. He practiced with a coach weekly, rewrote his content to focus on what his audience cared about, and swapped bullet points for short stories. Now, he’s the go-to presenter at quarterly meetings and recently led a successful pitch that landed a major client.
What NOT to Do: Common Speaking Traps
Even seasoned speakers fall into avoidable traps. Steer clear of these common mistakes:
- Overloading with slides: Your slides should support you, not replace you.
- Speaking too fast: It signals nervousness and makes comprehension harder.
- Avoiding eye contact: Connection starts with presence.
- Cramming too much content: Less is more—clarity over complexity.
Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to do. Awareness of these pitfalls helps you stand out for the right reasons.
Summary: Speak with Clarity, Confidence, and Connection
Public speaking doesn’t have to be scary or mysterious. With purposeful practice, a clear understanding of your audience, and the power of stories and structure, you can become a confident, compelling speaker. Try one of these strategies in your next meeting or presentation—and if you want more daily questions to stretch your thinking, subscribe to QuestionClass’s Question-a-Day.
Bookmarked for You
Public speaking is an art and a skill. These three books dive deeper into the psychology, techniques, and performance elements:
Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo – A breakdown of what makes TED talks work, with actionable tips for your own presentations.
The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie – A timeless classic that teaches confidence and clarity.
Steal the Show by Michael Port – A guide to performing in high-stakes situations, from speeches to interviews.
restonStrings to Practice
QuestionStrings are deliberately ordered sequences of questions in which each answer fuels the next, creating a compounding ladder of insight that drives progressively deeper understanding. What to do now (understand your audience and practice):
Audience Alignment String
“Who am I speaking to?” →
“What do they care about?” →
“What’s the core message they need to hear?” →
“What story can bring that message to life?” →
“How can I make it stick?”
Try using this before you prep any presentation—it will make your message more powerful and relevant.
Whether you’re on a stage or leading a Zoom call, great public speaking is a learnable skill. Start small, stay curious, and keep asking the questions that move you forward.
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