Public speaking is essential for boosting confidence, overcoming fear, and enhancing interpersonal skills, but it is also one of the most common fears, affecting approximately 27 million Americans. Strategies to improve public speaking include planning, practicing, engaging with the audience, and being authentic. Well-delivered speeches can significantly impact lives, as demonstrated by historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and young motivational speakers.

1. for Kids
Public Speaking
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
It boosts
confidence and
helps overcome fear
Boosts
interpersonal
skills
Leads to better
self image and
perception
It fosters feelings
of self-worthiness
and self-esteem
STRATEGIES TO BECOME
A BETTER SPEAKER
Plan
appropriately
Practice
Engage with
your audience
Pay attention to
body language
Think positively
Cope with your
nerves
At any given time, 5% of the
world’s population aged between
5 and 50 suffer from the fear of
speaking in open to others.
Fear of public speaking is the most
common fear. One study showed
that 61.7% of individuals have a
fear of speaking in front of a group.
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA SUFFER
FROM A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING?
WORLD’S MOST MOTIVATIONAL
KID SPEAKERS
HOW MUCH IMPACT CAN YOUR
WORDS HAVE?
10 year old motivational
speaker who spreads a
positive message of self-love
and confidence.
Gives her first speech in UN
at the age of 16.
12-year-old Severn
delivered a speech at the
Earth Summit.
The average adult attention span
has plummeted from 12 minutes
a decade ago to just 5 minutes now,
so engage your audience and get to
the point.
More than half of college
students sought help for
their anxiety issues.
70% of people think good
presentation skills are crucial
to succeeding at your job.
12
min
8% of Americans
(27 million Americans)
suffer from speech
anxiety.
Nyeeam Hudson Malala Yousafzai Cullis-Suzuki
The speech changed the lives of
18.9 million African
Americans living in America at
that time.
75% of 115 UN member countries, i.e.,
86 countries’ leaders, were impacted
by MLK’s speech.
A WELL-DELIVERED SPEECH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT
MILLIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD.
Martin Luther King’s speech of 1600
words benefitted African Americans to
combat racial injustice.
TIPS TO PREPARE FOR PUBLIC
SPEAKING
Practice and
prepare
Know your
audience
Organise your
material in the most
effective way
Gauge the
reaction of your
audience
Be yourself, and let
your personality
come through
Use humor, tell stories
and use effective
language
Maintain eye contact
with the audience
Grab attention in the
beginning and close with
a dynamic end
According to a University
of Chapman study, 25.9%
of people were afraid of
public speaking.
Students chose death as the
top fear followed by public
speaking second.
Death was voted as the top
fear by 20% and public
speaking was voted as top
fear by 18.4% of students.
www.smartenings.com
Resources:
https://hubpages.com/business/the-importance-of-public-speaking
https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm
https://www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/blog/10-tips-improving-your-public-speaking-skills
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/30/clowns-are-twice-as-scary-to-democrats-as-they-are-to-republicans
/?utm_term=.9b579d075e91
http://brandongaille.com/14-fear-public-speaking-statistics/
http://fortune.com/2013/07/10/giving-a-speech-conquer-the-five-minute-attention-span/
http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-statistics-information.shtml
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/25/new-survey-70-percent-say-presentation-skills-critical-for-career-success/#
1379ade88890
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/10-year-old-motivational-speaker-nyeeam-hudson_us_57a1fbcae4b0e2e15eb7f2d3
http://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/martin-luther-kings-vision-change-world.html#aLTlhTOl7cB5bbuy.99
https://blogs.chapman.edu/wilkinson/2016/10/11/americas-top-fears-2016/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karen_Dwyer3/publication/271993200_Is_Public_Speaking_Really_More_Feared_Than_Death/l
inks/563f6dd408ae8d65c0150d16/Is-Public-Speaking-Really-More-
Feared-Than-Death.pdf
http://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/martin-luther-kings-vision-change-world.html#izrzgLchDpk8YvHl.99
http://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/growth-united-nations-membership-1945-present/index.html
https://www.infoplease.com/us/race-population/african-american-population