The top 7 tips for public speaking from the Gladiator! Use them to capture your audience and make them want more! Checklist included!

2. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Take your time
When speaking in front of a crowd, most people become nervous and talk like
a waterfall. Instead, try starting your presentation with a pause. Take a few
seconds to calm down and focus. Then start talking slowly, and don’t get
faster. Make regular pauses. It will make your presentation feel much more
professional and easy to follow. Public speaking can be hard on your nerves,
the best thing you can do is practise, practise, practise! No one is born a
public speaker, it takes practise and experience.

3. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Talk, don’t read
Nothing is less interesting than someone how just reads from a
notecard or the slides. People want to hear you talk! Do prepare a
structure, but don’t plan every word! When you feel lost, take a
look at your slide – you’ll remember what’s coming next. This only
works if you practised your presentation enough though! (definitely
do that) If you still get lost, prepare a simple notecard with a
structure or keywords. (don’t put sentences on it)

4. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Don’t fill your slides
Many people make the mistake of filling their slides with all the
important content. If it’s all on the slide, what are you still doing
here?
Instead, only put the important keywords on it when using a list.
Or try using graphs, diagrams, images or anything else! The focus
will shift towards you, the audience will pay you much more
attention. Also, you aren’t bound to what’s on the slide, you can
talk much more freely. (see Tip #2!)

5. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Don’t build up
No matter how much people are looking forward to a presentation,
if it’s super boring, they won’t keep listening. So start with
something great, something really fascinating. Something, that
makes people want more. Then, spread more of your best content
through out the presentation. This way, it never gets boring, there’s
always something new worth listening for! And public speaking is
pointless if no one is listening!

6. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Provide value
This is very important in the marketing world, but it applies here the exact
same way. Everyone wants stuff. You go to an expo because you want to learn
something new. You attend a talk because it sounds interesting. Because you
will get something from it. Even if you just listen to someone’s story, it might
give you ideas for yourself, or help you on your own journey.
Apply this to your presentations. Focus on the wants and needs of your
audience, provide something of value to them. Not like a freebie (which is a cool
extra though), but maybe exclusive insights. Help them achieve their goals, and
they’ll come back for more!

7. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Don’t hide
Often, you will find a lectern on a stage for public speaking. These are a great
way to hide behind, so no one will notice how nervous you are! Or do they?
Instead of hiding, try moving forward. Change your position on the stage from
time to time. Simply walk around, let the audience follow you. Try holding a
casual conversation instead of being too stiff and inflexible. To be more flexible,
a presentation remote is an absolute must. Personally, I use this one, and
absolutely love it. Don’t forget that these can fail, too! (although I never had
any problems with this one)

8. by PublicSpeakingGladiator
Tell Stories
Instead of just talking about facts, you could tell a story. When
promoting a product or service, why not tell the fantastic
success story of steve (one of your clients)? Or tell your
personal story how you managed to achieve the impossible!
(sounds interesting, doesn’t it?) A story can really make a
presentation feel more alive and helps keeping the attention.
No one can listen to facts for an hour straight.