Last updated on Feb 13, 2024
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- Public Speaking
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Learn the basics
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Improve your confidence
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Develop your style
4
Master the techniques
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Practice your skills
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Expand your knowledge
7
Here’s what else to consider
Public speaking is a valuable skill that can boost your confidence, career, and personal growth. But if you're new to public speaking, you might feel nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start. Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people struggle with public speaking, but you can overcome your fears and master the art of speaking with the help of some online courses. Here are some of the best online courses to help you get started with public speaking.
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- Mannsi Agrawal I help People and Brands Communicate Effectively Online, On stage and In Person | Li Top Voice (2x) | Intl. Corporate…
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- Guruvayurappan Surianarayanan IT Solutions Consultant - Insurance || Product Management|| Insurance Data Enthusiast || Underwriting and Policy…
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1 Learn the basics
Before you dive into the details of public speaking, you need to learn the basics. The basics include how to prepare, structure, and deliver a speech, how to use your voice, body language, and visual aids, and how to handle questions and feedback. A good online course that covers the basics is Introduction to Public Speaking by the University of Washington on Coursera. This course will teach you how to design and deliver engaging speeches for different purposes and audiences. You'll also get to practice your skills and receive feedback from your peers and instructors.
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- Navneet Kaur Transformational Coach | Communication Coach | Senior Certified IELTS Trainer | Author📖 | Content Writer | Ex-Business Analyst
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Public speaking can be a nerve-wracking experience for many individuals, especially those who are new to it. However, with the right guidance and practice, anyone can become a confident and effective speaker. Online courses provide a convenient and accessible way to improve your public speaking skills. Whether you're looking to overcome stage fright, craft compelling speeches, or engage with your audience, there are numerous courses available to help you on your journey. 1. "Public Speaking: The Basics" by Coursera2. "The Art of Public Speaking" by edX3. "Powerful Public Speaking" by Udemy4. "Dynamic Public Speaking" by LinkedIn Learning5. "TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" by Udemy
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Public speaking skills improve with practice and exposure rather than solely relying on courses or books. Begin by speaking in front of a mirror to build confidence and refine delivery. Progress to smaller groups or friends for supportive feedback and constructive criticism. Gradually expand to speaking in front of unknown individuals to simulate real-life speaking scenarios. Each experience provides valuable learning opportunities, helping to refine delivery, overcome nervousness, and connect with diverse audiences. Continuous practice and exposure are key to mastering public speaking and building confidence in various settings.
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2 Improve your confidence
One of the biggest challenges of public speaking is overcoming your anxiety and self-doubt. You might feel nervous, shaky, or sweaty before or during a speech. You might also worry about what others think of you or how you'll perform. These feelings are normal, but they can affect your delivery and impact. To improve your confidence, you need to work on your mindset, emotions, and coping strategies. A good online course that helps you improve your confidence is The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking Course by Udemy. This course will teach you how to overcome your fear of public speaking, how to boost your self-esteem and charisma, and how to handle challenging situations and audiences.
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- Ayisha Mohammed CAO Mariestopes|Social Change and Community Dev.Advocate|Media Personality| Host Of Gist With Ayisha| Public Speaker|SDG 3,5,8 and 13 Ethusiast|Youth SRH and Digital Market Consultant|Training Facilitator|Project Coordi
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This for me is very important as a new public speaker, you need to do a SWOT analysis on yourself knowing your strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities about yourself before you can consider any other thing. Building your confidence as a new speaker is a whole renewed energy because it makes you have control of your audience and successful or satisfactory presentation at all times.
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- Ayisha Mohammed CAO Mariestopes|Social Change and Community Dev.Advocate|Media Personality| Host Of Gist With Ayisha| Public Speaker|SDG 3,5,8 and 13 Ethusiast|Youth SRH and Digital Market Consultant|Training Facilitator|Project Coordi
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This for me is very important as a new public speaker, you need to do a SWOT analysis on yourself knowing your strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities about yourself before you can consider any other thing. Building your confidence as a new speaker is a whole renewed energy because it makes you have control of your audience and successful or satisfactory presentation at all times.
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3 Develop your style
Public speaking is not a one-size-fits-all skill. You have your own personality, voice, and message that make you unique. To be an effective and authentic public speaker, you need to develop your own style that suits your goals and audience. You need to find your voice, tone, and humor, and use them to connect with your listeners. A good online course that helps you develop your style is Dynamic Public Speaking by the University of Colorado Boulder on edX. This course will teach you how to craft and deliver persuasive and memorable speeches, how to use storytelling and humor, and how to adapt your style to different contexts and cultures.
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- Van Do, PMP National Operations, Planning and Business Strategy Manager at TRC Companies, Inc.
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Developing your style takes time. You can join a local or virtual Toastmasters group to help you practice your public speaking and see where your style evolves. For me I was able to practice my public speaking style through my non-profit volunteering opportunities. They were low-risk environments where everyone is supportive and passionate for the same cause, so I was very comfortable "practicing" in that safe space.
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Think of the top speakers you learned from, were inspired by and found memorable.Review them and ask and answer "why".Study their speech patterns, engagement with the audience and style.Do not imitate but do learn and see how you can do what you like about them writhin the framework of your own personality.
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4 Master the techniques
Public speaking is not only about what you say, but also how you say it. You need to master the techniques that make your speech clear, concise, and compelling. These techniques include how to use pauses, emphasis, transitions, and repetition, how to vary your pitch, volume, and speed, and how to avoid filler words, jargon, and cliches. A good online course that helps you master the techniques is Speak English Professionally: In Person, Online & On the Phone by Georgia Institute of Technology on Coursera. This course will teach you how to improve your pronunciation, intonation, and fluency, how to use effective communication strategies, and how to speak confidently in different settings and formats.
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Always keep it in your mind your body language. Right body gestures. Hands movements. Eye contact. Pauses. Engage audience fully.
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- Ashok Pangeni Automotive professional | Electric vehicle | Mechanical Engineer | MBA
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Great way to start is joining a toastmasters club. One will get platform, like minded individuals and beautifully designed pathways for speeches.
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5 Practice your skills
The best way to improve your public speaking skills is to practice them. Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you'll become. But how do you practice your skills in a safe and supportive environment? A good online course that helps you practice your skills is Public Speaking Essentials: How to Craft Your Personal Story by Skillshare. This course will teach you how to create and share your personal story, how to use feedback and reflection, and how to join a community of learners and speakers. You'll also get to watch and learn from inspiring examples of public speakers.
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- Mannsi Agrawal I help People and Brands Communicate Effectively Online, On stage and In Person | Li Top Voice (2x) | Intl. Corporate Trainer | Keynote Speaker | International Communications Coach | Media Personality | TEDx (3x) |
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Remember the KPF Loop: K: KnowledgeP: PracticeF: Feedback This is the best way to achieve excellence in any field, and Pulblic Speaking is no difference. The problem is that 80% of the people who come to me, saying that they absolutely fear going on stage have never really followed the loop. They didnt have a coach or trainer to help them understand the knowledge, didnt get adequate feedback, and half heartedly wrote, practiced and delivered a speech, only to get lukewarm response, and NEVER want to fo it again. Hence, this loop shouldn't be forgotten for long term public speaking success.
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- Tiago Nascimento Supervisor Educacional
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Eu sempre pratiquei na frente do espelho, expressões faciais, gestos, postura, vestimentas, texto, movimentos, eloquência, dicção, são ferramentas essências para estar em cima de um palco falando para várias pessoas, então eu sempre as pratiquei na frente do espelho.
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6 Expand your knowledge
Public speaking is a lifelong learning journey. There's always something new to learn, explore, and improve. You can expand your knowledge by reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and attending events related to public speaking. You can also take more advanced or specialized online courses that suit your interests and needs. Some examples of online courses that can expand your knowledge are TED Masterclass: How to share your ideas with the world by TED, Presentation Skills: Speechwriting, Slides and Delivery by Tomsk State University on Coursera, and The Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from Great Speeches by FutureLearn.
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- Mannsi Agrawal I help People and Brands Communicate Effectively Online, On stage and In Person | Li Top Voice (2x) | Intl. Corporate Trainer | Keynote Speaker | International Communications Coach | Media Personality | TEDx (3x) |
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"Why do I need knowledge on public speaking? I have been speaking for the last 43 years. Isn't it the same thing, just on stage, with a mic?" In the last 16 years as a Public Speaking Coach, this is the BIGGEST MINDSET HURDLE I find. Most people do not understand that Public Speaking is a specific skill that can be taught and learnt. There are specifics of writing, structure and delivery that can be taught. They go on stage, with 0 knowledge, some practice and instantly decide that public speaking is not for them. As a coach, my biggest job is to sensitise the world to the fact that this isn't an inate talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. The sources are many; in person coaching, online sessions and some books.
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- Tiago Nascimento Supervisor Educacional
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Certa vez fui desafiado a dar uma palestra de um assunto que eu não conhecia, levei horas estudando o assunto proposto, passei dias e semanas estudando a fundo para não passar informações erradas ou inverídicas, então é fundamental você ter domínio no assunto para apresentar e falar a respeito disso na frente de um público.
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7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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- Guruvayurappan Surianarayanan IT Solutions Consultant - Insurance || Product Management|| Insurance Data Enthusiast || Underwriting and Policy Administration || Guidewire Certified ACE || SAFe POPM
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My 3Ps for speaking - Practice - speaking is all about “practice” all the best speakers around the world practice. Storytelling is like a ballet it has to be choreographed.- Prepare - preparation is key for any speaker. If you fail to Prepare, you should prepare to fail.- Patience - speaking is also about patience, for it to be effective. Every audience is different. ( remember the art of thinking fast and slow) Most importantly seek feedback and use those constructive feedback’s in your practice. Courses may help but not better than a friend or a mentor who can give you valuable feedback.It’s not about perfection .. it about being better than your last speech ! Happy Speaking !
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- Mridu Bhandari 🎙️🚀 Public Speaking Coach | Anchor, Podcast Host | Building @Mentorleap | Ramnath Goenka Awardee | @UCL Alum | Chevening Scholar
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Speaking is a skill best learnt through practice. In my cohort-based course - 'Speak with Impact' - a small group of online learners from all over the world, comes together twice a week to learn live from me and practice together. It's a safe and non-judgemental space. No matter which course you do, make sure you put the skills into practice, monitor your performance regularly, seek feedback, improve and do this continuously. Live cohort based courses help in higher motivation through a peer group, live feedback and faster improvement as compared to self learning videos.
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