Public Speaking Tips for Your Next Presentation

Why Are Public Speaking Skills Important?

Public speaking skills can help you:

• Explain complex information
• Present ideas persuasively
• Lead meetings
• Build professional credibility
• Communicate with customers
• Train employees
• Represent an organization
• Participate in interviews
• Support career advancement
• Strengthen leadership skills

These skills can be useful in almost every profession, even when public presentations are not part of your daily responsibilities.

Public Speaking Tips for Your Next Presentation

1. Understand Your Audience

Learn who will attend and what they expect from the presentation.

Consider:

• Their knowledge of the subject
• Their professional background
• The questions they may have
• The problems they want to solve
• Their reason for attending
• The action you want them to take

Understanding the audience helps you select relevant examples and determine how much background information to provide.

2. Define Your Main Message

Identify the most important idea you want the audience to remember.

Try expressing it in one sentence. If you cannot summarize the message clearly, the presentation may contain too many competing ideas.

Use this message to decide which information to include and which details to remove.

3. Create a Clear Structure

Organize your presentation into three basic sections:

• Introduction
• Main content
• Conclusion

The introduction explains the topic and why it matters. The main section presents evidence, examples or recommendations. The conclusion reinforces the central message and explains the next step.

4. Start With a Strong Opening

The opening should give the audience a reason to pay attention.

You might begin with:

• A relevant question
• A surprising fact
• A brief story
• A customer problem
• A practical scenario
• A clear statement of purpose

Avoid spending too much time introducing yourself before explaining the value of the presentation.

5. Keep Your Content Focused

Remove information that does not directly support the main message.

A focused presentation is generally easier to understand than one that attempts to cover every available detail. Additional information can be placed in an appendix or follow-up document.

6. Use Simple Language

Use familiar words and explain technical terms when necessary. Short sentences can make your ideas easier to follow when heard aloud.

If your audience includes specialists, technical language may be appropriate. Continue to organize it clearly and define any terms that could cause confusion.

7. Use Slides as Visual Support

Slides should reinforce what you say rather than function as a complete written report.

Effective slides may include:

• Short headings
• Key statistics
• Charts
• Diagrams
• Images
• Brief quotations
• Essential conclusions

Avoid filling each slide with paragraphs that you then read aloud.

8. Practice Out Loud

Silent review cannot show how the presentation will sound.

Practicing aloud can help you:

• Identify awkward sentences
• Improve transitions
• Estimate presentation length
• Notice repeated information
• Adjust your pace
• Become familiar with the content

Practice several times instead of trying to memorize every word in one session.

9. Time Your Presentation

Confirm how much time you have and leave space for questions.

If the presentation must last 20 minutes, consider preparing approximately 15 to 17 minutes of planned content. This provides flexibility for transitions, technical delays and audience interaction.

10. Record a Practice Session

Use a phone or computer to record yourself.

Review:

• Speaking speed
• Volume
• Posture
• Repeated filler words
• Facial expressions
• Eye contact
• Slide transitions
• Unnecessary movement

Focus on a few improvements at a time rather than criticizing every detail.

11. Prepare Notes Instead of a Script

Brief notes can help you remember the presentation structure without encouraging you to read every sentence.

Include:

• Main points
• Important numbers
• Names
• Transitions
• Examples
• Closing statement

If exact wording is legally or technically important, keep that section available for reference.

12. Arrive or Join Early

For an in-person presentation, arrive early enough to inspect the room and equipment. For a virtual presentation, join the meeting before the scheduled start.

Check:

• Display equipment
• Microphone
• Internet connection
• Lighting
• Presentation file
• Videos
• Remote control
• Screen sharing
• Backup access

13. Use a Confident Posture

Stand or sit upright with a relaxed position. Keep your hands available for natural gestures.

Avoid turning toward the screen for long periods. When possible, face the audience and use a presenter display to view your notes.

14. Make Appropriate Eye Contact

Eye contact can create a stronger connection with the audience.

In a large room, look toward different sections instead of focusing on only one person. During a virtual presentation, look toward the camera at important moments.

15. Control Your Speaking Pace

Speaking too quickly can make information difficult to follow. Speaking too slowly can reduce energy.

Pause after:

• Important conclusions
• Questions
• Complex explanations
• Slide transitions
• Significant statistics

A brief pause can feel longer to the speaker than it does to the audience.

16. Vary Your Voice

Changing your volume, pace and emphasis can make a presentation more engaging.

Use vocal emphasis to highlight important ideas, but avoid sounding exaggerated or unnatural.

17. Use Natural Gestures

Gestures can reinforce meaning and make your delivery appear more natural.

Avoid repeating the same movement, hiding your hands continuously or playing with objects that may distract the audience.

18. Tell Relevant Stories

A brief story can help the audience understand how an idea applies in practice.

Effective stories usually include:

• A clear situation
• A problem
• An action
• A result
• A connection to the presentation topic

Keep stories concise and protect confidential information.

19. Involve the Audience

Depending on the setting, you can encourage participation through:

• Questions
• Polls
• Short exercises
• Discussion prompts
• Demonstrations
• Requests for examples

Explain clearly when and how you want participants to respond.

20. Prepare for Questions

List the questions the audience may ask and prepare concise answers.

If you do not know an answer, say so honestly. Offer to confirm the information after the presentation rather than guessing.

21. Manage Nervousness

Feeling nervous before a presentation is common.

Helpful techniques include:

• Practicing thoroughly
• Arriving early
• Taking slow breaths
• Drinking water
• Reviewing the opening
• Reframing nervousness as energy
• Focusing on helping the audience

If public-speaking anxiety is persistent or significantly affects daily life, consider seeking support from a qualified professional.

22. Avoid Apologizing Unnecessarily

Do not begin by apologizing for being nervous or inexperienced. The audience may not have noticed.

If a genuine problem occurs, acknowledge it briefly, explain the solution and continue.

23. Handle Mistakes Calmly

If you miss a point, pronounce a word incorrectly or advance to the wrong slide, pause and correct it.

Most minor mistakes do not require a detailed explanation. Continuing calmly helps maintain the audience’s focus.

24. End With a Clear Conclusion

Summarize the most important points and restate the main message.

Depending on the purpose, your ending may include:

• A recommendation
• A decision request
• A call to action
• A next step
• A memorable conclusion
• An invitation for questions

Avoid ending abruptly with only “That’s all.”

25. Request Feedback

After the presentation, ask a colleague or manager for specific feedback.

Questions might include:

• Was the structure easy to follow?
• Which section was most useful?
• Did any point feel unclear?
• Was the pace appropriate?
• Were the slides readable?
• What could improve the next presentation?

How To Prepare on the Day of a Presentation

Before presenting:

• Review the opening and closing.
• Confirm the time limit.
• Test the equipment.
• Keep water nearby.
• Silence unnecessary notifications.
• Close unrelated applications.
• Bring a backup copy.
• Check the room or camera background.
• Take several slow breaths.
• Speak with a few audience members if appropriate.

Common Public Speaking Mistakes

Reading Every Slide

The audience can usually read faster than a presenter can speak. Use the slide to support your explanation.

Including Too Much Information

Prioritize the ideas the audience needs to understand or act upon.

Speaking Without Practice

Even an experienced speaker can lose track of time or discover unclear transitions.

Using Unreadable Visuals

Charts, tables and text need to remain visible from the back of the room or on a small screen.

Ignoring the Audience

Monitor the audience’s reactions and clarify information when people appear confused.

Using Too Many Filler Words

Occasional filler words are normal. Frequent use may distract listeners, so practice replacing them with brief pauses.

Prepare and Practice Presentations With Dokie

Dokie can help professionals turn notes, reports and ideas into a structured presentation with a clear beginning, main argument and conclusion. It creates business-ready slide layouts that users can edit and export as an editable PowerPoint file.

Users can also use the generated slide structure to rehearse their delivery, refine transitions and identify the most important points to emphasize. Presenters should verify all figures and claims before sharing the final deck.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I become better at public speaking?

Practice regularly, organize your message clearly, record yourself and request specific feedback.

How do I stop speaking too quickly?

Mark pauses in your notes, breathe between sections and practice with a timer.

Should I memorize my presentation?

Memorizing every sentence can sound unnatural. Learn the structure and main ideas while using brief notes for important details.

How many words should be on a slide?

There is no universal limit. Include only the text required to support your message and keep it readable.

What should I do if I forget what to say?

Pause, review your notes or summarize the last point before moving to the next section.

How can I make a virtual presentation engaging?

Use clear visuals, look toward the camera, invite participation and keep individual sections concise.

What should I do if I cannot answer a question?

Acknowledge that you need to confirm the information and explain how you will follow up.

How can I practice without an audience?

Record yourself, present to a camera or rehearse in front of one trusted person.