9 Everyday Habits to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

Good public speaking skills is one of the attributes audition judges look for in aspiring pro cheerleaders. Your ability to speak words clearly, without stuttering, with confidence, and grace determines how fit you are to represent the pro cheer squad you’re auditioning for.

Like congeniality, your public speaking skill falls under the category of social skills. It also starts in your home and yourself. Even if you grew up shy or an introvert, you can still develop a highly sociable and confident persona by turning the tips found below into habits.

1. Talk to groups of people

Converse with groups around you. They can be your officemates, classmates, friends, or family members. This is a good stepping stone for you in building confidence for speaking in front of crowds. And don’t forget to always have something nice to say to start a conversation.

2. Offer to be a prayer leader

Leading a prayer regularly is a great way to train your brain to speak well-thought-out words in impromptu settings. Great opportunities for being a prayer leader starts at home before meals. You can also take advantage of lunch by praying for meals when you’re at work or school.

3. Speak in a low to medium pitch voice

A good speaker knows the right voice volumes to use to match conversation settings. Low voices should be used in solemn events like a date. Medium voice volumes belong to casual conversations. Loud voices are a no-go because it makes one sound rude.

4. Make an outline of the ideas you want to convey

Even in casual conversations, you must pay extra attention to the words you let out and your train of thought. When presenting facts, have supporting pieces of evidence to back your claims. You must also memorize the connection of one information to another so you’ll never lose your momentum as you speak.

5. Take pauses when you talk

When you talk, it’s your job to make sure that your listeners understand what your point is. You should never talk too fast. Give your listeners the time to absorb the information you share. Don’t take too long pauses as well. One or two seconds of pausing is enough time to let your listeners catch up to your pace.

6. Read aloud news headlines and catchy ad taglines

People who don’t say a lot in a day are more prone to stutter or mispronounce when they speak. It’s a good exercise for your tongue and mouth to read aloud useful information you find outside and inside your home. Just remember to keep your voice at medium volume.

7. Read stories to children

If you have kids or live with a few at home, read them bedtime stories. Not only does this benefit the younglings, but it also trains your eyes, brain, and mouth to process, associate, and express texts faster.

8. Maintain a calm persona

Presenters need to maintain a calm mind to speak clearly and have an uninterruptible train of thought. To have a calm mind, you must start by being a calm person. You can make this character change by doing yoga, mindfulness meditation, and avoiding stress every day.

9. Don’t be afraid to use hand gestures while speaking

Each of us have our own mannerisms to speak effectively. This is commonly observed among TedxTalk guests and battle rappers. Not only does it help you feel comfortable and confident as you speak, but it also enhances your word delivery making your speech highly effective.

If you’re not used to talking in front of many people who you already know, start by conversing with one person you truly trust. Add one person to the conversation circle if you’re ready to handle them. Then keep adding others until you can manage a crowd or present in front of it.

Need more tips on how to be a people person? Read these blog posts!

• Audition Prep: 6 Ways to Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
• Audition Advice: Useful Tips to Gain Confidence When Speaking In Public
• How to Project Confidence in a Crowd (7 Tips)
• Showmanship: What It Is and Tips from the Pros
• 6 Essential Ways to Speak With More Confidence

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