Be prepared. Research, prepare, rehearse. The more time you invest in preparation and practice the more confident you will feel.
Start strong. Begin your speech with a powerful opening that will grab your audience's attention.
Be conversational. Avoid reading your speech word for word. Instead, try to be more engaging and just refer to notes or points from an outline every now and then.
Speak with passion. Be sure you are passionate and knowledgeable about your topic. The audience will be more willing to listen if you are excited and well versed on the subject matter you're presenting.
Be patient. Public speaking is difficult and we sometimes make mistakes or technology fails us during a presentation. Remember to be patient with yourself and your audience.
Choosing an effective speech topic can sometimes be challenging. The following Venn diagram can assist speakers in selecting a topic. The diagram shows that the intersection of your passion, your knowledge and what your audience cares about is a strong starting place for a great topic.
Source: Dlugan, A. (2010, October 25). The Secret of Choose Successful Speech Topics. Six Minutes Speaking and Presentation Skills. https://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-topics/
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