The document provides 20 public speaking tips aimed at enhancing presentation skills, emphasizing the importance of audience engagement and effective communication. Key strategies include using nervous energy positively, telling relatable stories, preparing thoroughly, and making emotional connections while maintaining credibility. Additionally, it encourages presenters to take risks, seek feedback, and manage their voice effectively.

1. 20 Public Speaking Tips
Peter Dhu

2. 1 Use your nervous energy
 It is not about getting rid of nerves, but rather harnessing the nervous
energy
 Nerves will put you into your peak performance mode
 It is about making the butterfly's fly in formation

3. 2 Leave your ego at the door
 Focus 100% on the audience and don’t worry about your own nerves and
your own self talk.
 If you focus on yourself then you are taking away from the audience

4. 3 Be clear on your purpose
 What do you want to achieve
 What do you want the audience to remember
 Why do they care
 What outcome/change/action do you want to occur

5. 4 Start really strong
 First Impressions count
 The first 30 seconds is crucial
 The rule of primacy – the first words are remembered

6. 5 What pain are you solving for your audience
 What problem are you solving
 What pain are you alleviating
 What questions are you answering
 What is keeping you audience
awake at night with worry
 Answer these questions and you will do a great job

7. 6 Use stories
Tell a story Make a point Link the point to a benefit for
the audience
Stories are your Unique Intellectual Property
You don’t need to learn your stories, they happened
Stories are memorable
Stories create an emotional response

8. 7 Have a call to action
 Ask them to do something
 Challenge them
 Make the status quo unacceptable

9. 8 Speak to the audience one to one
 Speak as though you are just having a conversation
 Be genuine, authentic and conversational
 Make eye contact one person at a time

10. 9 Get out of your comfort zone
 Take a risk every day that gets you closer to your speaking goal
 If you are comfortable, then it is not big enough for you
 Dr Susan Jeffers said “Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway”
 Just speak more

11. 10 Do your preparation
 Prior preparation prevents pathetically poor performance
 Spectacular performance is preceded by spectacular preparation
 Preparation is the foundation of every presentation

12. 11 Use your voice
 Use tonal variation and intonation
 Vary your speed
 Vary your volume
 Use pause to create suspense

13. 12 Always get feedback
 Feedback is the food of champions
 How do you know if you don’t ask
 Feedback will help you grow and unlock potential

14. 13 Establish credibility
 Why you
 Where does your data come from
 What is your experience
 Why should we believe you
 Build your credibility stack

15. 14 Don’t read your speech
 Use a mind map
 Have bullet points
 Tell your stories
 Speak extemporaneously

16. 15 Gestural intelligence
 Have inclusive gestures
 Develop a rich gestural vocabulary
 Don’t fidget or use distracting hand movements
 Eliminate bounce in your gestures
 Don’t point at your audience

17. 16 Connect with your audience
 Focus on connection, not perfection
 Build rapport
 Build trust

18. 17 Don’t be afraid of the
elephant in the room
 Acknowledge differences
 Acknowledge concerns
 Acknowledge problems
 Acknowledge fears

19. 18 Make your message memorable
 Use surprise or unexpected message
 What is in it for me
 Put a hook in your message
 Have a call to action
 Make your data concrete
 Use emotion

20. 19 Present with the right energy
 Match the energy level of the room – don’t be too high and don’t come
over too flat
 Understand that you are privileged to be before that audience.
 With privilege comes responsibility
 Communicate with conviction and belief
 Have a positive attitude

21. 20 Take care of your voice
 War m up with tongue twisters or humming
 Drink water before and during your presentation
 Do drink apple juice or pineapple juice to help lubricate your voice
 Don’t drink milk or soy based coffee
 Use a tick tack to avoid dry mouth
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