11 Essential Public Speaking Tips for 2026
75% of people experience speaking anxiety.
And yet, more and more of my clients are being asked to present. Pitch. Speak up in meetings. Lead town halls. Represent their work out loud.
It’s not a nice-to-have skill anymore. It’s expected. Across industries, across roles — public speaking has quietly become one of the most visible markers of leadership.
If you can’t do it well, people notice. If you can? They remember you.
But here’s what I remind every client (especially the ones who’d rather be doing literally anything else):
You don’t have to be the most charismatic person in the room. You don’t have to shout or swagger or pretend you’re a human LinkedIn post. You just need to be prepared. And not in the “practiced my bullet points and wore a blazer” kind of way.
I’m talking about real preparation:
Knowing how you naturally speak and move
Leaning into your strengths, instead of borrowing someone else’s style
Delivering with clarity, presence, and trust — without faking it
That’s what this guide is for.
11 practical public speaking tips to help you speak with less panic and more purpose.
Tip 1 – Master the 5 C’s of Communication
(Clarity. Conciseness. Confidence. Connection. Control.)
If you want to be a speaker people trust, remember, and actually listen to — these five are your holy grail.
They don’t require charisma. They require intentionality.
Let’s break them down:
Clarity – Say what you mean. No jargon, no fluff. If a 9-year-old couldn’t explain your point back to you, it’s not clear enough.
Conciseness – Get to the point. Then stop. The longer you talk, the more meaning you risk diluting.
Confidence – Not fake-it-‘til-you-make-it. I’m talking grounded, calm conviction. You can say “I don’t know” and still sound confident.
Connection – Your job is to make people feel something. You do that by showing you care — not just about your content, but the humans receiving it. One of the most powerful ways to do that? Tell a story. Stories are proof that you’ve thought about your audience’s experience, not just your own.
Control – Control of your pacing, your tone, your body language, your message. Don’t let your nerves run the show.
One of the best examples of this? Steve Jobs.
Ask a room full of professionals to list the greatest public speakers of all time, and he’ll land in the top five every time.
Personally, I find him to be rather boring. He isn't charismatic. He isn't magnetic. He isn't ra-ra Tony Robbins or Oprah Winfrey shouting, "You get a car! You get a car!"
His superpower is his simplicity.
He ensures EVERYONE listening to his message understands his message. He typically speaks between a 3rd and 5th grade level (that's a 9-year-old up to maybe a 12-year-old).
And that’s the goal of mastering the 5 C’s.
Not to sound smarter or impress people. But to make sure your message lands.
Tip 2 – Structure Your Speech for Maximum Retention
If your message doesn’t have a shape, your audience can’t hold onto it.
You might think you’re delivering a brilliant point — but if you’re 12 tangents deep and forgot what you were saying halfway through, guess what? So did they.
The fix? Structure. Clean, simple, brain-friendly structure.
Here’s how to build it:
Use the Rule of 3
Three main points. Three takeaways. Three examples.
The human brain loves threes. It’s just enough to be memorable, not so much it overwhelms.
Think:
Past / Present / Future
Problem / Solution / Action
What / So what / Now what
Signpost as you go
Give your audience verbal cues so they can track with you.
Say things like:
“There are two reasons for this…”
“Here’s the big idea…”
“Let me walk you through an example.”
Don’t assume they’ll just figure it out. Help them stay with you — especially if you’re nervous and tempted to speed through like you’re late for a flight.
Use mental bookends
Start with a clear opener (a story, a bold statement, or a question).
End with a punchy summary or callback to your opening.
That full-circle moment makes your talk feel satisfying, even if the content was complex.
Tip 3 – Shrink Your Message, Not Your Impact
You don’t need to say everything.
You need to say the right things — clearly, strategically, and without the verbal equivalent of an IKEA manual.
If you ramble, over explain, or try to prove how smart you are with every sentence… your audience tunes out. Fast.
Here’s how to cut the noise without cutting the power:
Speak with precision
Vague is forgettable. Say exactly what you mean — and nothing more.
Instead of: “I think what we’re really trying to convey is the possibility of potential innovation down the line…”
Try: “We’re building something new — and it’s already working.”
Cut the fluff
You don’t need five slides to make one point. You don’t need a metaphor, a chart, and a half-hearted joke to open your talk.
Just say the thing.
Be direct. Be specific. Let your words do the heavy lifting — not your word count.
Embrace the TED Talk length
TED Talks are capped at 18 minutes for a reason.
That’s about how long the average brain can stay alert without going full Goldfish.
Your audience is busy. Distracted. Low-key addicted to refreshing Slack every 12 seconds.
Respect their attention span.
If you can say it in 7 minutes instead of 17? Do it.
Your impact doesn’t come from the volume of your words.
It comes from clarity, confidence, and knowing exactly what to say — and when to shut up.
Tip 4 – Use Storytelling to Make Your Ideas Stick
You want to be remembered?
Tell a story. A real one. Not a polished, over-rehearsed, TEDx cliché — but a moment that meant something. One your audience can feel.
Because people don’t remember facts. They remember feelings.
Here’s how to use storytelling in your next presentation (without sliding into “motivational speaker with a headset mic” territory):
Drop us into a moment. Think scene, not summary. What happened? Where were you? What changed?
Make it personal, not perfect. That story about feeling like the dumbest person in a room full of PhDs? It worked better than any stat or slide ever could.
Use simple structure. Beginning → Messy middle → Win, lesson, or shift. That’s all you need. No epic monologue.
Match the story to your message. Use a customer comeback story, a personal mistake, or a quiet win. Just make sure it ladders up to your point.
And if you’re thinking, “I’m not a natural storyteller,” I promise — you don’t need to be. You need a plan.
I wrote a whole post breaking this down: Storytelling in Presentations
It covers simple story structures, slide advice, and how to turn a one-sentence testimonial into a scroll-stopping moment.
Bookmark it for your next pitch.
And please, don’t open with your resume. Start with a story.
Tip 5 – Practice Like a Pro (Not a High School Debater)
When most people think “prepare for a presentation,” they picture this:
Outline the content
Rehearse it front to back
That’s not how I define preparation.
Real preparation isn’t about memorizing. It’s about understanding yourself as a communicator.
What do you sound like when you’re calm and clear? What habits sneak in when you’re nervous? Where do you shine naturally — and how can we double down on that?
Here’s how to prep like a human, not a high school drama kid.
Know Your Speaker Profile
Every speaker has a different baseline.
Some speak fast and think faster. Some are deliberate, grounded, thoughtful. Some are funny without trying. Some are warm and steady.
Your goal isn’t to be someone else. It’s to be the clearest, most dialed-in version of you.
So before you open PowerPoint, ask:
What do people naturally respond well to when I speak?
When do I feel most in flow?
What are the habits that sabotage me under pressure?
Record Yourself (Yes, Really)
I ask nearly all my clients to do this, and most resist at first. Then thank me later.
Set up your phone. Record yourself delivering a chunk of your talk.
Watch it twice:
With sound
On mute
You’ll catch so much:
Restless pacing
Voice that trails off at the end of sentences
A weird eyebrow thing you didn’t know you do (happens more than you’d think)
The goal isn’t to pick yourself apart. It’s to see clearly what your audience sees — and adjust with intention.
Use the Chunking Method
Memorizing your entire presentation is a trap.
Because the second you forget one line? Your brain short-circuits. You panic. You lose the plot.
Chunking is how I get clients out of that spiral.
Here’s how:
Break your talk into 3–4 core sections or “idea units”
Practice transitioning between each chunk
If you blank out? Just jump to the next chunk. You don’t need to hit every word, you need to stay in flow.
Preparation isn’t just about knowing your content. It’s about knowing yourself.
Tip 6 – Re-frame Stage Fright as Energy
If you feel nervous before speaking, congratulations — you’re human.
Most people assume nerves are a red flag, a sign they’re not cut out for this. But what if we flipped that?
The physical symptoms of anxiety and excitement are nearly identical. Your brain just labels them differently. And you can train it to re-label.
Instead of thinking, “I’m freaking out,” try this: “I’m excited.”
Say it out loud. (Yes, even if you don’t believe it yet.)
Fear and excitement feel nearly identical in the body — pounding heart, shaky hands, short breath. But your brain can’t process both emotions at the same time. It has to choose how to interpret the signals.
You can’t be afraid and excited in the same breath. You flip between them, sure. But they don’t co-exist.
So teach it to go toward excitement. That re-frame (tiny as it seems)gives your body energy and your mind something useful to do with it.
And while we’re here, let’s stop rehearsing for the version of the talk where nothing goes wrong. Practice what you’ll do if you blank. If you get a question you didn’t expect. Rehearsing your recovery is what gives you real confidence.
Here’s a favorite line I give clients: “Let me say that again, more clearly.”
It’s simple. It keeps you in control. And it also helps eliminate verbal crutches like ums and uhs from cropping up!
Tip 7 – Create a Pre-Speech Ritual
Everyone’s pre-speaking nerves show up a little differently, which means everyone’s pre-speaking ritual should, too.
I’ve had clients who stretch, power pose, box-breathe, jog the stairs, hum scales, slap their thighs, say affirmations in the bathroom mirror, or talk through their first 30 seconds like a script — three times in a row.
Whatever it is, it needs to work for you.
Here are a few warm-ups that I recommend (and personally use):
Tongue twisters are surprisingly useful. Most of my clients forget that their vocal muscles and mouths have to be warmed up, much like a violinist tuning their instrument in the pit ahead of a concert.
Exercise ahead of a big presentation (not RIGHT before) can be quite helpful to drop cortisol levels and increase endorphins.
Creating a pump you up playlist and playing that for even 3-5 minutes can make a major difference.
Tip 8 – Engage Your Audience Early and Often
The fastest way to lose an audience?
Treat your presentation like a monologue.
Whether you’re speaking to five people or five hundred, the real power is in making them feel like part of the conversation — not passive observers watching you go through your slides like a robot on rails.
And no, you don’t need to open with a joke or a poll or something gimmicky. (Unless that’s your thing — in which case, commit.)
What you do need is a moment early on where the audience feels seen.
That might sound like:
Rhetorical prompts (good for warming up the room):
“Quick show of hands — who’s ever…”
“You’ve probably felt this before…”
“What comes to mind when you hear…”
These open the door. But they don’t invite people to step through it.
Actual interaction (where the magic happens):
“Shout out the first word that comes to mind.”
“Turn to the person next to you and share your answer.”
“Tell me what you’d do in that situation.”
“Someone brave want to share?”
Engagement Isn’t Just Interaction — It’s Invitation
I don’t just tell clients to “watch the room.” I teach them to engage it.
Why? Two big reasons:
Engagement makes it a two-way street.
No one wants to sit through a Monday 8am monologue. When you invite the audience in (even with a simple question or show of hands), you create shared momentum. They stop passively absorbing and start actively caring.
It sets you up for callbacks.
This is an advanced move, but incredibly powerful. When you reference something an audience member said earlier (even casually) it signals: I’m listening. I’m here with you. Suddenly, your talk feels custom, relevant, alive. Not like you memorized it in a vacuum the night before.
You’re not just delivering content. You’re creating connection. And connection doesn’t come from stats, charts, or drowning people in “slides from marketing.”
It’s not built through data, it’s built through emotion. Through the right side of the brain. Through stories, feeling, and presence.
That’s why the moments between the moments matter — a raised eyebrow, a real laugh, a quick pivot that shows you’re actually there.
Tip 9 – Modulate Your Voice Like a Soundtrack
Your voice is not just a delivery mechanism. It’s the soundtrack to your message.
And just like a great soundtrack makes a scene unforgettable (cue emotional montage with swelling strings), your vocal dynamics can elevate even the simplest idea — or completely undercut it.
Here’s the problem: most people default to one tone. One pace. One energy level. And that one-size-fits-all delivery? It turns every idea into a beige TED Talk.
Your voice has range. Use it.
Think of your talk like a score:
Use pace to build urgency or create space.
Use pauses to let something land. (Seriously. Let. It. Breathe.)
Use volume to emphasize — not overwhelm.
Use pitch shifts to highlight contrast or shift energy.
Emotionally charged content? Soften your tone.
Big idea moment? Lean in, drop your voice slightly, and own it.
Want your audience to sit up and actually pay attention? Change something.
Even subtle shifts keep people locked in — not because you’re trying to be theatrical, but because your voice matches the moment.
And if you’re worried you sound monotone? Record yourself.
Three of my clients last week had no idea how flat they sounded until they heard it back. The awareness alone changed everything.
Because if your delivery doesn’t match your message, your audience can’t feel it — no matter how brilliant your content is.
Tip 10 – Use Technology to Support (Not Distract)
Tech should never be the main character in your presentation.
It’s the supporting cast — the one that shows up on time, looks good, and doesn’t interrupt you mid-sentence.
Here’s how to keep it on your side:
Keep Slides Simple
If your slide deck can be emailed and understood without you there, it’s not a presentation — it’s an attachment.
Aim for:
One message per slide
Big, readable text
One strong visual (no clutter, no collage of screenshots)
You want your audience listening to you, not squinting at an 8-point font spreadsheet wondering if it’s a vision test.
Make Data Digestible
Yes, you need the numbers. No, you don’t need to show every single one.
Highlight the insight, not the raw data. Use a story or example to anchor the meaning.
And if you must include a chart, make sure it passes the “3-second glance” test: can someone understand the takeaway without you narrating every cell?
Test Your Tech (Always)
This seems obvious. Until it isn’t.
Test your mic. Your clicker. Your screen share. Your audio levels. That one video you think is going to be a showstopper — test it twice.
Confidence evaporates fast when you’re battling your tools mid-presentation.
Ask me how I know.
I once arrived 30 minutes early to a client workshop (gold star for me), and we needed all 35 of those 30 minutes to get the tech working.
The client hadn’t figured out how I’d actually show my slides and present at the same time. Enter Kevin, the IT hero, who daisy-chained some kind of wizardry to make it work.
Moral of the story? Never assume. Test everything. Have backups. And maybe send Kevin a muffin basket.
Have a Backup Plan
Screens go black. Wi-Fi drops. Slide decks disappear into the ether.
Great speakers don’t panic. They pivot.
Have your notes printed. Yes, even the speaker notes. Especially the speaker notes.
I know too many people who relied on their perfectly crafted notes… only to find out the screen wouldn’t split, or the notes wouldn’t show up.
Have a printed version in your bag. Know your core message well enough that if everything crashes, you can still deliver.
Presenting Virtually? Don’t Phone It In.
Virtual doesn’t mean less effort — it means more intention.
Camera at eye level (no one wants to look up your nose)
Light your face (natural light works, ring lights are better)
Clean background or blur it
Kill notifications — the Slack ping of doom is real
Look into the camera (not at your face) when it matters — it simulates eye contact
Your audience still wants to feel like you’re with them. Tech can help… or hurt. Use it wisely
Tip 11 – Adapt Your Delivery for Any Environment
The best speakers aren’t locked into one mode. They flex. They read the room. They adjust on the fly without losing their message.
Because presenting in-person at a leadership offsite isn’t the same as pitching over Zoom to a client who’s half-watching while eating a tuna sandwich.
In person, you’ve got body language, presence, and energy to back you up. You can use the space. You can move. You can feel the room shift as you speak.
Online, it’s a different game. You’re a box on a screen competing with inboxes, Slack, and whatever’s happening just off-camera. So your energy needs to come through the screen — tighter delivery, clearer visuals, and intentional eye contact (aka, look at the camera when it matters, not your own face).
And sometimes, you’re halfway through a talk and the energy just… drops. People glaze. The vibe changes. That’s not failure — it’s feedback. Great speakers notice, then shift. Maybe it’s a question. A story. A reset moment. The power’s in how you respond.
Your delivery should feel less like a broadcast and more like a dance. You’re leading, yes. But you’re also listening — with your eyes, your gut, and your presence.
Adaptability isn’t about being polished. It’s about staying connected.
Public Speaking in 2026 Isn’t About Perfection
It’s not about having the perfect slide deck, the booming stage presence, or the kind of voice that makes strangers cry on planes.
It’s about preparation. And learning to show up like you mean it — whether you’re leading a client meeting, pitching a new idea, or giving the kind of internal update that actually sticks.
The most effective communicators in 2026 aren’t going to be the most charismatic.
They will be the most aware. Of how they come across. What’s getting in the way. And how to play to their strengths.
If that’s what you’re after (for yourself or your team) here’s where I can help:
Buy My Brain: A 60-minute, one-on-one power session to fix what’s not working and get you speaking like the most compelling version of you.
Book a Company Training: Practical, zero-cringe workshops for teams who want to be heard, remembered, and trusted.
Because your message matters. Let’s make sure it lands.
