How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

How do you improve public speaking skills?  What does it take to improve your public speaking?  Why are good public speaking skills important in business?

Meet the Author: Benjamin Ball

Ben is the founder of Benjamin Ball Associates and leads the presentation coaching and pitch deck creation teams. Formerly a corporate financier in the City of London, for 20+ years he’s helped businesses win with better pitches and presentations, particularly investor pitches. He is a regular speaker and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and UCL London.  Follow Ben on LinkedIn or visit the contact page. 

Why you need to improve your public speaking skills

Strong communication skills are one of the biggest differentiators in business.

Whether you’re pitching to investors, presenting to colleagues or addressing a large audience, the way you speak can shape your reputation and open doors to professional success.

And the good news is that this is a learned skill.  Even if you are terrified of public speaking, you can become good – or even great –  at it.

We know this because at Benjamin Ball Associates, we’ve spent over 15 years coaching senior executives and professionals to improve public speaking skills: helping them become confident, engaging and persuasive speakers.

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Here are some of the best tips to improve your public speaking skills along with best practices we’ve developed to help you become a better public speaker.

1. Build your talk around one big idea

Bad speakers pack their talks and presentations.  They try and say too much.

The best speakers don’t try to say everything. They build their talks around one clear, powerful idea. That big idea gives your talk structure and makes it memorable.

If you’re speaking about company growth, for instance, your big idea might be: “We’re not just growing; we’re changing the way we think about success.” Keep returning to that theme throughout your presentation so your message sticks.

A good way to test your clarity is to explain your talk’s idea to a family member in one sentence. If they get it, so will your audience.

2. Speak directly to your audience

A great presentation is about your audience, not about your subject matter.  It should sound like a personal conversation, not a corporate memo. You should use the same language in a speech that you would use talking to friends. Compare these two examples:

BEFORE: “The company is announcing a new policy this week that changes the way expenses are recorded and paid.”

AFTER: “You’ll be pleased to hear we’re improving our expenses system. The new process makes it quicker and easier for you to get paid.”

This small shift in language makes a huge difference. It shows empathy, builds rapport and keeps your audience’s attention.

3. Decide how you want your audience to feel

Effective public speaking isn’t just about what people hear, it’s about how they feel.

You can achieve this by appealing to the heart as much as you appeal to the brain. Ask yourself: Do I want my audience to feel inspired, reassured or energised? Then use words, examples and body language that evoke that emotion.

Before:  “This new policy will streamline the organisation”

After:  “You’ll be pleased to hear that the new policy will make life easier for us all”

And how you behave matters too.  For example, if you’re announcing good news, smile. If you’re explaining a challenge, show empathy. Your facial expressions and tone often speak louder than your slides.

Remember:  appeal to hearts as much as you appeal to minds.

4. Have a great speech, not great slides

A great talk or presentation is about what you say, not what you show.  That means writing a talk that works.  What are the elements of a great speech?

• Start with your big idea, the one thing you want to say
• Structure you talk so it follows one of the classic speech structures
• Use stories, examples and metaphor.
• Use powerful language throughout
• Pay attention to the rhythm and tone of what you say, not just the facts
• Keep editing.

There’s a reason why speech writing is a profession.  At Benjamin Ball Associates, we can help edit and draft your speech so that it’s both interesting and easier to deliver. 

Only when you have finished writing and refining your speech, decide whether you actually need any visual aids at all.  Many speeches are better without them.

5. Create an engaging start and a rousing end

The start and end of you talk are the most important bits.  Never have a boring, predictable start.  Instead, connect with your audience.

A bad start:  “Good afternoon, very pleased to be here. My name is…. and I am here to talk to you about…”

A good start:  “We all know the problems we face.  And we all know things need to change.  But what can we do to make life better for us all?”

Read more about how to start a speech and how to end a speech.

You should spend more time getting your start and end right than on any other part of your talk. 

6. Don’t narrate your slides

If you still insist on having slides, many presenters fall into the trap of reading or narrating their slides. Instead, treat them as visual aids that reinforce your message.

BEFORE:  “As you can see on this slide, the new system will start operating on 16 June.”

AFTER:  “For those in head office, the new system starts on 16 June. For everyone else, it’ll roll out by the end of July.”

That small change turns a passive narration into an interesting talk that will get your audience listening.

7. Say something interesting every 10 words

It’s easy to pad your talk with filler, but the best public speakers edit ruthlessly. Every sentence should earn its place.

One leading TV CEO said to me at an industry event a few years ago, before standing up to speak, “See you in eight minutes.” Short and sharp beats long and dull every time.

Trim anything that doesn’t move your message forward. It’s the only way to keep your audience members listening from start to finish.

8. Use short phrases and many pauses

Cut any long sentences down to size.  Break them down into shorter thought units. 

And the pause is one of the most powerful tools in speaking. It gives your audience time to absorb your key points and gives you control over your pace. This is one of the simplest ways to improve your public speaking.

Try this in your next practice session:

• Pause roughly every 6–8 words
• The bigger the audience, the longer the pause
• Use pauses to emphasise important points and manage your breathing

Read more about how to use pauses in speeches.

With great pauses, you’ll sound calmer, clearer and more authoritative.

9. Include personal pronouns

Great communication is personal. Use “I”, “we”, “you” and “our” to create connection. This is a simple way to improve your public speaking.

BEFORE:  “This policy is being launched to ensure better compliance.”

AFTER:  “We’re changing our policy so you get paid faster and so we all use the system properly.”

Pronouns make your audience feel involved. It’s one of the simplest ways to sound like a great speaker.

10. Look at your audience, never at your slides

Eye contact is one of the fastest ways to hold your audience’s attention. Don’t scan the room aimlessly or stare at your screen; instead, speak to one person at a time.

Fix your eyes on one person for each phrase then move on. It feels natural and helps you come across as confident and composed,  even if you’re speaking in front of a crowd.

Make everyone in room feel as if they have had some 1:1 time with you when you speak.

11. Smile and show warmth

We all go into presentation mode when we stand up.  We get too formal and stiff.  As a result, many speakers look too serious.

A natural smile instantly makes you more engaging and trustworthy. Research even shows that smiling affects your voice tone: people literally sound more confident when they smile.

If smiling feels forced, think about something positive before you start, or picture a friendly face in the audience.

12. Show your passion

The best public speakers don’t hide their enthusiasm. Passion is contagious, and your energy can lift the entire room.

Show it through vocal variety, animated hand gestures and expressive body language. You might feel self-conscious at first but remember: a talk that feels big to you often looks just right to your audience.  Read more about improving your body language when speaking.

If you’re discussing complex ideas, use personal stories to make them relatable. It’s a great way to make complex ideas relatable.

13. Control nerves with simple habits

Everyone experiences stage fright,  even the most seasoned public speaker. The trick is not to eliminate nerves but to manage them.

The most powerful tool we have found to build confidence is to imagine yourself as a teacher.  Your job with your talk or presentation is to help others understand.  By setting yourself this task, your nerves will fade away, because the attention is no longer on you, it’s on your audience.

Also, before you step in front of an audience, take a deep breath and deliver your opening words with energy. Stand tall, shoulders back, chest out – and remind yourself: your audience wants you to succeed.

Read more about managing nerves and presenting confidently.

14. Keep improving with feedback

Improving your public speaking is a journey. After each presentation, ask someone you trust for honest feedback. Did you hold their attention? Were your talking points clear? Did your body language support your message?

Recording yourself is another great way to review your progress. Watch your gestures, facial expressions and energy levels. The more you see yourself, the more self-aware you become. That’s why we use recordings in our training sessions.

If you want tailored advice, our coaches at Benjamin Ball Associates can help you master effective public speaking : from structuring your content to refining your delivery to handling nerves and confidence.

The first step to becoming a brilliant public speaker

Improving your public speaking isn’t about turning into someone else. It’s about becoming a more confident version of you: someone who can stand in front of a group, share ideas clearly and make a lasting impression.

The good news is that everyone can learn and improve public speaking skills. All it takes is awareness, practice and a few proven techniques.

Ready to improve your public speaking skills?

If you want to accelerate your progress and improve your public speaking skills, talk to us at Benjamin Ball Associates.

Our one-to-one and team coaching sessions help professionals like you speak clearly, confidently and with impact, whether you’re delivering a PowerPoint presentation, leading a meeting or pitching to a large audience.

We’ll help you polish what you say, how you say it and how you feel about saying it, so you make a stronger impression every time you speak.

Get in touch today to find out how our coaching can transform your communication. Contact Louise Angus, our client services director today.

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Why Choose Us:
Transform your pitches and presentations with tailored coaching

We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too.

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”

Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice for leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. We’ll help you improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.

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Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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Frequently Asked Questions To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

To learn more about public speaking coaching, contact Louise Angus, client services director.  She’ll help you find the right option to suit your needs and your budget.

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