How to speak with confidence, win attention and communicate with real impact

Public speaking is one of the most valuable career skills you can develop. When you speak well, people trust you, remember you and act on what you say. Yet most people feel nervous, unsure or simply out of practice.

The advice in the guide to public speaking has been gathered by the public speaking experts at Benjamin Ball Associates. For the last 15 years they have been coaching senior executives across Europe and the Middle East to become impressive public speakers.

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. 

The Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking

This public speaking guide brings everything together in one place: the skills you need, the techniques that work and the support available when you want help.
Use it as your starting point for public speaking training, public speaking coaching or preparing for an important talk or conference panel.

1. What Public Speaking Is Really About

Good public speaking is not about being perfect. It’s about being clear, confident and easy to listen to. When you speak with purpose, you make people feel something. You move them from where they are to where you want them to be.

If you want to understand why some speakers sound natural and others feel flat, take a look at the science of public speaking. You’ll discover what’s happening in your brain and why certain habits make such a difference.

If you’d like help developing these skills faster, our public speaking coaching gives you personalised support.

2. What Gets in the Way of Good Speaking

Most obstacles fall into three groups.

Nerves and anxiety

You’re not alone if your heart races, your voice tightens or your mind goes blank. Many people feel the same. These guides will help you stay in control:

• Overcome fear of public speaking
• Overcome public speaking anxiety
• Pacing yourself for impact

If nerves regularly hold you back, one-to-one coaching helps you build calm, controlled habits fast. You can work with us in London or online.

Common mistakes

Many speakers start weakly, lose structure or talk for too long. These resources show the pitfalls to avoid:

• Top 10 public speaking mistakes
• Things to avoid when you start your speech (video)

A session of public speaking training can help you identify and fix these quickly.

Lack of preparation

Most people underestimate preparation. Strong speakers rehearse, refine and test their ideas. Luckily, preparation is a skill you can learn.

We’ll get to that next.

3. How to Write and Prepare a Strong Speech

Start with your message

Think about what you want the audience to remember. Not everything — just the one thing that matters most.

These guides help you shape a clear message:

• How to use a message house to plan your speech
• How to write a speech
• How to prepare a speech or presentation
• How to prepare a talk (video)
• How to plan your talk for success (video)

If you want to see how great speakers use words, this is a helpful example:

• The power of words – Barack Obama extract

Rehearse properly

Rehearsal builds confidence. It also helps you sound more natural. These resources show you how to practise like a pro:

• Top speech rehearsal techniques
• How to create a knock-out speech (video)
• How to create a great speech

Prepare for the unexpected

Sometimes you need to speak without notes or with very little time:

• Impromptu speeches for business success

If you want to master impromptu speaking, coaching can be invaluable. We practise real scenarios so you feel confident on the spot.

4. How to Start and End Your Speech

Strong openings and memorable endings transform your talk. Most speakers rush them, but they’re the moments your audience remembers.

How to start your speech

Your opening tells the audience “I’m worth listening to”. These guides help you start well:

• How to start a speech or presentation
• Create impact at the start of your speech
• How to start your presentation or speech

How to finish with impact

A strong ending leaves people thinking about you after you’ve left the stage:

• End your speech like a championship boxer

Clients often find that crafting openings and endings together with a coach gives them a real confidence lift.

5. More Powerful Language: How to Use Words that Work

At the heart of any great communication are great words. The real art of leadership communication is to use simple words to explain complex ideas. The good news is that the art of powerful language has been well-studied so you have many examples of simple rhetorical techniques that you can apply.

Our team of experts have gathered some of their top tips for you here:

• Using powerful language in your speeches and talks
  
• Simple rhetorical devices to use naturally
  
• The power of three in talks and speeches
  
  

5. Your Delivery: Body Language, Voice and Presence

Good speaking isn’t just about what you say. It’s also how you say it. The way you stand, use your eyes and how you gesture all add to your communications. Done well and you look confident, comfortable and commanding.

Body language that supports your message

Your posture and movement help people feel comfortable with you:

• Good body language for talks

Eye contact and connection

Eye contact creates trust and makes your message feel personal:

• Using eye contact effectively

Your voice

Your voice carries your authority. When you control pace, pauses and tone, people stay with you.

Using powerful language

Strong language choices help you sound confident and engaging:

• Powerful language for your presentation

Speaking to larger audiences

If you’re on a stage or speaking to a packed room:

• Talking to a large audience

This is where public speaking coaching is especially useful. We help you rehearse in a realistic way so your delivery feels natural and strong.

6. High-Stakes Public Speaking

Some situations matter more than others. Here’s how to prepare for the moments where the stakes are high.

Investor pitches

Investors want clarity and confidence. You need to sound credible from the first sentence.

• Speak to investors with impact

Panels and conferences

Panels demand short, sharp answers. Conferences require presence and energy.

• How to introduce yourself on a panel
• How to moderate a conference panel
• Conference panel training
• VIDEO: How to impress on a conference panel

Keynotes and leadership speeches

Here’s a real example of how coaching helps with a major event:

• Action Tutoring CEO keynote case study

If you have a big event coming up, we can help you rehearse, refine and deliver with confidence.

7. Public Speaking Training and Coaching Options

When you want to improve quickly, expert support makes a big difference.

One-to-one coaching

Tailored help to improve confidence, clarity and delivery:

• Public speaking coaching
• Public speaking coaching London

Group sessions and workshops

• Public speaking training London
• Extended London training programme
• Communications Masterclass

Online and structured learning

• Best public speaking courses UK
• Learn public speaking online

Choosing the right help

• How to choose a public speaking coach

8. Success Stories

Here’s how we help senior teams and leaders speak more confidently:

• UK financial regulator leadership team

Real progress often comes from a mix of practical tools and live coaching. Most clients see improvement after just a few sessions.

9. Ready to Become a More Confident Speaker?

You don’t need to be born a good speaker. You can learn it — and with support, you can learn it fast.

At Benjamin Ball Associates, we help leaders, experts and teams:

• Speak clearly and confidently
• Deliver stronger presentations
• Reduce nerves
• Prepare for high-stakes moments
• Build authority and presence

If you’d like to improve your speaking, start with a short conversation.

We’ll talk through your goals and suggest the right next step.

👉 Begin here: Public Speaking Coaching

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation

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.

Some recent clients

Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level.

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

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation

Your Guide to Public Speaking