Do's and Don'ts in Public Speaking

• Public speaking

  • delivering a speech to engage, inform, persuade or inspire a live audience
  • it's crucial in diverse settings like conferences, meetings or ceremonies
  • Mastering it requires preparation, practice, and confidence to connect effectively with listeners
• Effective public speaking involves clear articulation,

  engaging delivery, and adaptability to audience needs.
• Do prepare thoroughly


  Take the time to research your topic, organize your thoughts, and rehearse your speech multiple times.
• Do know your audience


  Tailor your message to your audience's interests, knowledge level, and expectations to keep them engaged.
• Do maintain eye contact


  Establishing eye contact with your audience helps build rapport and keeps them attentive.
• Do use clear and concise language

  • Avoid jargon and complex language that might confuse your audience.
  • Keep your message simple and easy to understand.
• Do vary your tone and pace


  Use vocal variety to keep your audience engaged.

  Vary your tone, pace, and volume to emphasize key points and maintain interest.
• Do use visual aids effectively


  Utilize visual aids such as slides, images, or props to enhance your presentation, but ensure they support your message and don't

  overshadow it.
• Do engage with your audience

  Encourage interaction through questions, anecdotes, or activities to keep your audience involved and interested in your speech.
• Do manage your body language


  Use confident and open body language to convey your message effectively.

  Avoid distracting mannerisms or gestures.
• Do stay on topic

  Stick to your main points and avoid going off on tangents.

  Keep your speech focused and relevant to your audience.
• Do end with a strong conclusion


  Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway or call to action to reinforce your message.
• Don't Read from Notes or Slides

  Avoid reading your speech word-for-word from notes or slides, as it can come across as disengaged and robotic. Instead, aim for a

  conversational tone and use your notes as reference points.
• Don't overwhelm with information


  Keep your message clear and focused, avoiding information overload.

  Stick to the most important points and avoid going off on tangents.
• Don't rush

  Pace yourself and avoid speaking too quickly.

  Give your audience time to digest what you're saying and allow for moments of silence for emphasis.
• Don't Ignore Body Language

  Pay attention to your body language, avoiding gestures or movements that may distract from your message.
• Don't be Monotonous


  Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to keep your audience engaged.

  A monotonous delivery can quickly bore your audience and cause them to lose interest.
• Don't use jargon or complex language unnecessarily


  Avoid using technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience, unless you're certain they understand it.

  Keep your language simple, clear, and accessible to all.
• Don't Fidget or Distract Yourself


  Minimize nervous habits like fidgeting, pacing, or playing with

  objects, as they can distract both you and your audience.
• Don't lose control of your emotions

  While passion is essential for engaging public speaking, avoid letting strong emotions such as anger, frustration, or anxiety take over.
• Don't neglect rehearsing transitions


  Pay attention to transitions between different sections or points in your speech. Smooth transitions help maintain the flow and coherence of your presentation.
• Don't forget to rehearse and adapt 


  Rehearse your speech thoroughly, but also be prepared to adapt to unexpected circumstances or audience reactions.
• 1. You do not look as nervous as you feel.
  2. You can be nervous and still give a great presentation.
  3. Nervousness is a lot like excitement.
• Practice like crazy

  Your presentation is most likely going to go very well about ninety-five percent of that is all worked out.
• As you are preparing you want to focus everything on your audience

  and your message.


  Anytime we start thinking about how am I coming across? Do I look professional? Do I look nervous? Or are people going to judge me? It's going to lead in the wrong direction. You must totally flip it and think about your audience and you message.
• Visualize yourself doing it well, especially the opening moments that

  first 10 to 20 seconds.


  So, when you're picturing yourself in the room, you're picturing it happening successfully.