Our society relies heavily on communication. Through communication, we form connections, influence decisions, and motivate change. It would be nearly impossible to advance in the working world or in life itself without good communication skills. The art of public speaking is one of the most important and most feared skills. Public speaking is an essential skill to have and to hone in the working world. It impacts simple, everyday interactions among coworkers, supervisors, employees, marketing professionals, clients, etc., and it can significantly affect your career path and success.

If you’re one who’s growing to become a better speaker, be it for your work meetings, seminars, or addressing the public, here are a few pointers to grip you along the process:

Practice:

The adage “practice makes perfect” is true. While perfection should not be the ultimate goal, no doubt practicing and preparing before a presentation can make all the difference. It is important to be well prepared for a presentation to boost your self-confidence and brush away some of your nervousness. Practicing can increase a speaker’s confidence and help produce a better final product.

Manifest a positive outcome:

Visualize yourself delivering the presentation confidently and successfully, as this will reinforce your confidence. Use all your senses to create an image of you being there. Challenge your negative visualizations by drawing attention to your previous experience of successful communication. Substitute your negative visualizations with more realistic and positive ones.

Smile and make eye contact:

Did you ever wonder why some people seem to attract a large audience while others don’t? The reason for this is that great speakers always keep eye contact during their speeches. By doing this, they can convince the audience in a few minutes while others take hours to accomplish the same thing. Therefore, it is important to create positive eye contact that engages the audience and makes them feel involved. And don’t forget to smile when you’re performing. By smiling at your audience and those with you on stage, you can ease tension. In addition, it gives the impression that you’re approachable and sincere.

Don’t start by apologizing:

Making excuses or apologizing before beginning a talk is a common mistake speakers make. Not only does this affect your confidence, but it also tells your audience that you are unprepared. Consequently, they become more likely to tune you out, which will result in you losing the attention you need from them. Even if you start with a disclaimer, the audience will not be sympathetic. Your nervousness will be overlooked when they see your determination to convey your message.

The best way to communicate your ideas and make a point is through public speaking. You can influence the world around you through public speaking. The ability to speak well in public is crucial for your career, your social life, your personal development, and for making a difference in the world. With every spoken word, you become better.