Is this thing on? Five tips to improve public speaking.

Whether you're delivering a keynote presentation, a wedding speech, or a guest lecture,

standing in front of an audience can be extremely nerve-racking. Trust me, I know. Recently, my boss asked me to present a relatively straightforward topic to one of our local municipal partners. I immediately felt the hair stand up on my neck when he posed the question.

Even though he allowed me to refuse the assignment, I accepted. Practice makes perfect.

(Plus, he was sick - I couldn't leave him hanging!)

After leaving his office, I began to think about the people who have mastered the art of public speaking. After some deep thought on the topic (instead of worrying), I came up with the five tips to help you get through your time on the microphone.

1. Do Your Research

Giving a great speech starts with knowing your material and planning an organized delivery so that your presentation is easy to follow. After selecting a topic, make an effort to learn interesting facts and statistics to support your speech. The more research you do, the more you will be prepared to answer questions your audience will have. Your comfort with the material and potential questions will help you be more confident.

Using a visual aid, such as a PowerPoint presentation, can be useful for your listeners to better understand your point. It also draws the attention onto the screen and off of you, which helps to relieve anxiety.

2. Prepare Notes

There's no shame in jotting down some notes to help guide you through your speech. This is my favorite. Relieving the pressure of memorizing an entire speech by writing down a few bullet points is a lifesaver, especially if you suddenly lose your train of thought or become nervous mid-sentence. I simply take a second to breathe, look at my index cards or notes, and pick up where I left off.

3. Share A Personal Story

Seasoned orators have emotional contagion skills, where they subconsciously share their moods with their audience. Speakers who have learned how to use this to their advantage can build a connection with their crowd; therefore, their crowd is more likely to feel emotionally invested in their speech.

A simple way to obtain emotional contagion is to share a story related to your topic. Telling a story at the beginning of your speech can quickly grab your listeners' attention and make them want more.

If time doesn't allow a story, I like to start off with an appropriate or related joke.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

Practice your speech in front of a mirror, record yourself, or have a few friends give you some feedback. The more you deliver your speech, the less scary it will be to perform it in front of a large crowd. Words often sound different spoken than on paper. When you read your words aloud, you'll be surprised to find that there are sentences that don't sound as fluid as you thought they did.

5. It's Not What You Say, but How You Say It

Of course, it's important to know your topic, but how you present yourself on stage is just as important. Many people don't realize they're speaking too fast for their audience to follow their presentation. Take your time to speak at a good pace, remove "um" and "uh" from your vocabulary, and know when to pause to punctuate your spoken words.

Positive body language and strong eye contact can drastically improve your public speaking skills. It helps your audience feel connected to you and helps to grab their attention.

Final Thoughts

Having a fear of public speaking can be paralyzing without the right tools to help you improve. Put these top five tips into practice the next time you have an event where you are the main speaker. It may not get easier immediately, but the more practice you get, the more natural it will eventually feel.

Good luck!