In my 21 years of life, I have done a great deal of public speaking. Here are some tips that I picked up that you can use.
Sound like you know what you’re talking about-
This is my favorite one and it’s the one I use when I start to get nervous. People are more likely to trust you if your statements sound like statements. “We need world peace” shouldn’t sound like “we need world peace?” Being confident counts in public speaking. Be articulate and confident!
Know what you’re talking about-
I don’t think there’s anything more annoying than a speaker who isn’t familiar with the information. This part is the easiest because you can prepare for this. Research, research, research as much as you can before you have to present.
Enjoy what you’re talking about-
The attention span of your audience is key. If they’re not listening to you, then you might as well be silent. My general rule is if you’re bored, then they’re bored. Try to choose topics you are interested in and passionate about. If you have to present something you don’t have interest in, then try to make it more engaging, or at the very least, pretend a little.
Start off with a small audience-
I started off by reading bible verses at church. This was a very low-risk situation. I felt comfortable enough to mess up and correct myself. Find a situation where you can do that.
Just keep practicing-
Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make better!