Practice makes perfect when it comes to public speaking

You could go back through Castanet’s database and read every column I’ve ever written on public speaking, but at the end of the day, if you don’t actually practice public speaking skills, you’re not going to improve.

In this month’s column (and in the accompanying video), I provide you with three exercises you can build into your daily routine, which will help you become a stronger and more confident public speaker.

Practice thinking quickly on your feet

One of the most difficult aspects of public speaking is having to think quickly while standing in front of an audience. For example, you can spend months preparing a presentation for your colleagues, but you can’t completely predict the questions they may ask you following your speech.

Toastmasters International clubs handle this challenge by including a meeting section called “Table Topics.” At each meeting, a table topics “master” asks various club members random questions, such as: What is your favourite candy bar and why? When asked a question, the attendee walks to the front of the room and delivers a response, with the goal of speaking anywhere between one and two minutes. This exercise helps members build confidence and find ways to respond quickly to questions they can’t prepare for.

This practice doesn’t have to be limited to weekly Toastmasters meetings, it’s something you can practice every day. If you have a family member or friend who you see on a regular basis, request that they ask you a random question every day and practice delivering a response as if you were responding in front of a crowd.

If you don’t have a family member or friend who can help you with this, you could ask ChatGPT to provide you with a random question and practice on your own. Or, if you’re using an iPhone, consider downloading the app “Speeko,” which has a random prompt generator and will provide AI-backed commentary on the pacing and delivery of your response.

Grow your vocabulary

Two of the traps speakers sometimes fall into is using the same descriptive words continuously throughout their speeches, or using vague words (such as “good”), when more descriptive words could enhance their speech (such as “phenomenal,” “fantastic” or “exceptional”).

My second daily speaking exercise is for you to use Merriam-Webster’s online Word of the Day tool: merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day

I challenge you to use this tool to discover a new word every single day, and then strive to use that word at least once in conversations as you go about your day. By growing your lexicon, you will be able to use more accurate words in your speech and you’ll come across as more intelligent to your audience.

Like table topics, Toastmasters has grasped the importance of word choice in speeches, and most clubs feature a “Grammarian” who provides a Word of the Day for each meeting, and delivers a report highlighting the great vocabulary that was used throughout the meeting.

Always have a speech on the go

My final daily exercise suggestion is to always have a speech in progress.

At first this might seem a bit odd, especially if you don’t have any upcoming events where you’re expected to speak. But think about future opportunities—perhaps you’re attending a work meeting where a colleague is scheduled to present about your department’s progress. Even if you’re not the one presenting, there’s no reason you can’t prepare a few remarks for that meeting. Unexpected situations— like a colleague calling in sick or being asked to share input on the spot—happen all the time. The act of preparing a structured presentation or response is valuable, even if you never end up delivering it.

The Toastmasters program helps with this process as members are regularly tasked with preparing for roles or speeches to deliver at upcoming meetings. Joining a Toastmasters club could help you generate ideas and keep you accountable for prioritizing public speaking skills on a regular basis.

Whether your speech-on-the-go is work-related, wedding-related or something random, practice delivering those words and visualizing the appropriate audience and setting as you do.

If you get in the habit of practicing, the act of public speaking won’t seem so daunting when you deliver your actual speech.

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If you’re thinking about joining Toastmasters to improve your public speaking skills, our Kelowna AM Toastmasters Club is always looking for new members here.

If you’re interested in learning more about Impactful Communication, subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.