This document provides 15 tips for effective public speaking. It advises speakers to know their audience well and use their strengths. Speakers should maintain control by having clear objectives and key points to convey. They should get the audience's attention quickly and state points clearly with examples and repetition. Stories and examples should be used to engage the audience visually and emotionally. Proper vocal projection, eye contact, and filler word elimination are also recommended, along with repeating key points and calibrating style to the audience through practice.

1. Public Speaking Tips
1. Know the audience well. Learn how much they already know about the topic and their
level of interest. Why should they be interested in what you say?
2. Know yourself well and use your strengths. You are selling yourself first in any
presentation.
3. Maintain Control during a presentation by knowing in advance:
• What is the primary outcome you want from the presentation?
• What are the 2 to 4 key point you want the audience to remember?
• What is the impact you want to have on the audience?
• What affect (feeling) do you want the audience to leave with?
• What do you want them to do next?
4. Get the audience’s attention quickly by using humor, a compelling story, your own
experience related to the topic, or referring to your credibility on the topic.
5. State the key points clearly, with examples, and repeat as often as necessary to
maintain control, and to help the audience make sense of your content.
6. Use stories and fresh examples to help the audience see, hear, taste, smell, and touch
your key points.
7. Project your voice to be heard by all present. Speak to the back of the room.
8. Look at the audience and make eye contact. Make it seem like a conversation with the
audience rather than talking at them. Don’t look at neutral space too much.
9. Eliminate non-word fillers such as: um, uh, ah, mmm, etc… Instead, slow down,
pause, look thoughtful….then when you get clear in your head, proceed.
10. Repeat your key points at the end to support the affect and impact you want to have.
11. Track your voice, body, feelings, content, impact throughout presentation.
12. Calibrate your use of humor and expertise on a topic to match the audience.
13. Only refer to handouts when your presentation’s success requires attention to specific
content or details.
14. Know your content so well enough that you could still make a successful presentation if
you lost your notes. Practice, Practice, Practice!!
15. Rehearse with a video recorder. Watch and hear yourself, then make adjustments to
make the presentation stronger, more interesting and engaging. Time yourself.
Rob Neal Consulting