If you’re anything like I used to be, then the mere thought of having to give a speech or presentation will make you want to literally pass out, call in sick, or transfer schools. It didn’t matter what the topic was- at some point during the presentation, I would freeze up. I absolutely hated talking in front of people, and still do sometimes, but a professor my first year of college spoke so well and with such poise that it inspired me to strive for the same. I am by no means on his level when it comes to communicating, but I have researched and picked up a few tricks along the way that have helped me immensely!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie delivering her iconic "We Should All Be Feminists" Ted Talk

Practice in the mirror

This one actually makes me laugh when I try and do it, but it really helps some people! Doing this helps you see exactly what you look like when you’re speaking in front of everyone and allows you to make improvements to your stance, posture, and delivery. Try this a couple of days before so you can really master it.

Wear heels

I know, I know, they’re only the most uncomfortable shoes ever invented and they are the last things you want to put on your heels. But they really do give you an extra boost of confidence. They make you stand a little straighter, walk a little taller, and look down on all of the peasants below you (I AM YOUR OVERLORD, BOW IN MY PRESENCE!). Okay... it’s not quite that serious, but I’ve noticed that wearing heels does definitely help my confidence. Alright, moving along…

Power posing

This sounds so strange, but it definitely helps with your delivery and dynamics. Power posing is where you stand in a certain position for around 30 seconds to a minute in a stance of “power”; shoulders back, leaning slightly forward, with your feet about 2 feet apart. Just picture how a CEO or President Barack Obama stands and you’re close enough. Do this before and during your presentation!

Make “nose contact”

I have never phrased something so weirdly in my life, but stay with me on this. Part of the presentation is making eye contact with your audience, but this by far almost always makes me lose my train of thought most because people cannot control their facial expressions and I’m always wondering what they are thinking if their face is in a look other than ultimate concentration. Maybe that disgusted look on Tom’s face IS about my PowerPoint slide background, or maybe Tom’s girlfriend just texted him saying that she is making meatloaf for dinner and he despises meatloaf.

YOU. NEVER. KNOW.

So, troubleshoot this situation before it happens by looking at their noses instead of into their eyes. It looks the exact same as making eye contact, without all the awkward eye contact. Thank me later.

Be yourself

If you are not a nuclear science physicist (which, who in real life is?), then do not try and sound like one. There is a way to simplify even the most complicated of topics without sounding like you’re talking down to your audience. Good public speakers know that this is necessary to keep your audience engaged! A quick and dirty trick for this is, when you use a big word, explain it directly after. For example, “Translation, which is the process of going from DNA to mRNA, is crucial to understanding genetic composition.” This is so your audience doesn’t tune out after hearing a word and they have no idea what it means, which we are all guilty of. Use language that you are comfortable with and your speech/presentation will go so much smoother and you will definitely sound like you know what you’re talking about!