As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect and set goals to develop strong presentation skills in 2026. Whether you’re sharing project updates in a team meeting, delivering a compelling sales pitch, or captivating an audience at a conference, honing your public speaking skills can open doors and foster both personal and professional growth. Here are ten helpful tips to help you become a more effective and engaging speaker in the upcoming year.
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Overcome Your Fears
Many people have anxiety about public speaking. If you’re one of them, take the new year as a chance to confront and overcome your fears.
Embrace the “Fear-Setting” Technique: Inspired by Tim Ferriss, the fear-setting exercise shifts focus from anxiety to action. Begin by identifying your major fears about public speaking. Write them down, and then assess the worst-case scenarios: What’s the likelihood of these happening? How might you mitigate these fears? Next, visualise the best-case scenario and identify the steps you can take to achieve it. This process can help you gain perspective, reduce anxiety, and approach your speech with clarity and confidence.
Before speaking, use grounding techniques that engage your senses to bring you back to the present moment. For instance, take a few moments to notice five things you can see in your environment, four sounds you can hear, three textures you can touch, two scents you can identify, and one taste in your mouth. By focusing on your senses, you can anchor yourself in the moment, reducing anxiety and helping you feel more grounded and prepared to speak.
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Learn to tell stories.
Instead of just stating facts, share a personal story that relates to your message. For instance, if you’re discussing resilience, recount a challenging situation you faced and how you overcame it, and conclude with the lesson learned.
Build the emotional journey of your story. Start with a low moment (fear, doubt, frustration), progress through tension (building excitement), and conclude with resolution (success, achievement). This could be as simple as your experience overcoming stage fright before delivering a successful speech.
Introduce unexpected elements to your story. For instance, while explaining a business failure, you could reveal how that led to an unanticipated opportunity or partnership that changed your career trajectory.
Frame your story around themes that resonate widely, like challenge, loss, or resilience. Share a story about a mentor’s influence that highlights the universal value of guidance and support and illustrates how it shaped your journey.
Compare your journey to a well-known concept, like climbing a mountain. You might say, “Starting my career felt like scaling Everest, hard work, preparation, and every step taken required determination.”
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Own your voice
Record yourself practising your presentation and listen to how you sound. Notice your pitch, pace, volume, intonation and emphasis on key words; listen for monotony. If you notice a lack of variety, practice emphasising key phrases by changing your pitch. For example, raise your voice slightly when stating a key takeaway or lower it for dramatic effect.
Practice diaphragmatic breathing by inhaling deeply through your nose, allowing your abdomen to expand. Exhale slowly through your mouth. This will help improve your breath control and sustain longer sentences without becoming breathless.
Do some vocal exercises, such as humming scales or lip trills (blowing air through closed lips), to warm up the vocal folds.
Practice varying your pitch while reading a passage aloud, raising specific phrases and lowering others. For instance, elevate your pitch when expressing excitement and drop it for serious points.
Record yourself speaking at different speeds. Practice speaking slowly at key points to highlight their importance and speed up when sharing less critical information to maintain energy.
Use volume strategically in your delivery. For instance, whisper a key point to grab attention or raise your voice for emphasis when sharing testimonials or impactful statistics.
Choose a few paragraphs from your favourite book and practice delivering them with different emotional undertones (anger, passion, sadness).
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Learn to pause
Practice strategic pauses after delivering an important point, fact, statement or before asking a thought-provoking question. This allows your audience to reflect on what you’ve said. For example, pause immediately after stating a shocking statistic to allow it to sink in.
When moving from one idea to another, pause briefly to signal the shift. For example, “Now that we’ve discussed the problem… (pause) let’s explore potential solutions.” This gives your audience time to process the topic change.
Before you pause, take a small step or shift your weight slightly. This physical movement can cue you to pause and signify a transition to your audience. For example: “We need to come together as a team… (step forward) to create lasting change.”
When practising your speech, highlight places in your script where you intend to pause. For example, highlight places where you want to add a dramatic effect or allow for reflection, and be intentional about practising those pauses.
In a previous article, I wrote, “For many speakers, two seconds of silence feels like an uncomfortable eternity in their minds. Many don’t appreciate that those two seconds of quiet are a gift to our audience. It allows your message to get through and settle in their minds. It allows them to keep up with us when we have so much to say. Our momentary pause allows them to breathe, too.”
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Understand how you move.
Record yourself giving a presentation or practising your speech. Afterwards, watch the playback to observe your posture, gestures, and facial expressions. Pay attention to distracting habits, such as crossing your arms, excessive pacing, or swaying.
Present yourself to a friend, colleague, or mentor and ask for specific feedback on your body language. Inquire about how your gestures complement or detract from your message and if your posture conveys confidence.
After each presentation, jot down notes about how you felt your body language was received. Reflect on what movements felt natural and effective, or what you noticed might have been distracting for your audience.
Before and during your presentation, take a moment to become aware of your body. Check how you’re standing (legs, shoulders) and what your hands are doing. Use this mindfulness to adjust your posture or gestures as needed.
After a presentation, ask a trusted colleague for feedback on your eye contact. Ask them whether you made eye contact with them and how it felt either way.
In her article, ‘Body Language Is The Missing Link In Effective Communication’, author Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD writes:
“There’s no doubt that words have power, and that a well-delivered speech can inspire teams, build collaboration, and reinforce organisational vision and values. However, what leaders say is only part of the communication equation: How they say it (paralinguistics) and how they look when they say it (body language) can undermine even the most powerful verbal message. That’s because most leaders underestimate the impact of their nonverbal communication.”
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Involve your audience
Don’t just talk at them. Ask Questions: A rhetorical question, a direct one or a thought-provoking one. For instance, “How many of you have ever faced a setback in your career?” After a few hands go up, you can continue by sharing a related story or lesson.
Use tools like audience response systems (or even simple show-of-hands) to gather opinions. You might say, “Let’s take a quick poll. How many of you believe that our greatest lessons often come from our biggest failures? Please raise your hand if you agree. Consider a time when a setback ultimately led to important personal growth.” This encourages participation and gives you immediate feedback.
Integrate a fun quiz related to your presentation topic. Pose questions and encourage audience members to shout out answers or raise their hands. For example, “Which of the following trends will have the most significant impact on our industry in the next five years?” a) Artificial Intelligence b) Sustainable Practices c) Remote Work d) Blockchain Technology?”
Offer a small prize for correct answers to spur participation.
At the beginning of your presentation, ask participants to rate their current mood or feelings about the topic on a scale of 1 to 10, then invite a few people to explain why they chose that number briefly. This creates a personal connection to the subject matter.
Relate to the audience by telling a story that resonates with their experiences. After sharing your story, invite them to reflect, asking, “Have any of you faced a similar challenge?”
If time permits, break your audience into smaller groups to discuss a specific question or topic. Give them a few minutes to collaborate, then ask a representative from each group to share their insights with everyone.
Incorporate a quick audience participation activity. If you’re discussing teamwork, ask attendees to turn to a neighbour and share a brief experience of effective teamwork before you share your insights.
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Create impactful slides
Use minimal text and powerful images. For example, if you’re discussing climate change, instead of traditional slides filled with text, use a powerful video montage that juxtaposes scenes of natural beauty with alarming footage of environmental destruction. Use images that open with striking footage of thriving ecosystems, vibrant wildlife, and lush landscapes, followed by stark images and statistics showing the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, deforestation, and rising sea levels.
After sharing the video or slides, present a statement and question such as, “As we stand on the precipice of irreversible change, ask yourself: ‘What legacy do you want to leave for future generations? Will you be remembered as the one who remained silent, or as the one who acted when it mattered most?’ The choices we make today will define the world of tomorrow.”
Use minimalistic slides that display powerful quotes on a plain background. For instance, a slide that states, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” This keeps the focus on the message without distractions.
Stick to one idea per slide: “The golden rule is to have one claim or idea per slide. If you have more to say, put it on the next slide,” Pawel Jurczynski
Avoid the obvious: if you’re creating a slide designed to show you are on target, don’t use a bullseye at the centre of a target with an arrow. If you’re talking about a partnership, don’t use a handshake. They are tedious, obvious, and unimaginative; consider something completely different.
You can learn more here: ‘21 Powerful PowerPoint Tips You Really Need to Know’
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Learn from the Masters
Each month, choose a famous speech and break it down. Analyse what made it great: was it the storytelling, the structure, or the use of rhetorical devices? Use these insights to incorporate similar techniques into your presentations for more impactful messages.
Here are 12 famous and influential speeches throughout history that offer valuable lessons in rhetoric, structure, and emotional impact:
January – Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream” (1963)
This iconic speech delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is renowned for its dream imagery and powerful call for civil rights, highlighting the importance of hope and unity.
February – Winston Churchill, “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” (1940)
Delivered during World War II, Churchill’s speech rallied British morale and determination, emphasising resilience and fighting spirit. The use of repetition is a key rhetorical device.
March – John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address” (1961)
Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” called for civic engagement and public service, inspiring a sense of collective responsibility.
April – Malala Yousafzai, “United Nations Youth Assembly Speech” (2013)
In her speech after surviving an assassination attempt, Malala advocated for education and women’s rights, demonstrating bravery and the power of personal testimony in inspiring change.
May – Nelson Mandela, “I Am Prepared to Die” (1964)
Spoken during his trial for sabotage, Mandela’s speech articulated his commitment to fighting apartheid and emphasised the struggle for freedom, making a compelling case for justice.
June – Susan B. Anthony, “On Women’s Right to Vote” (1873)
This speech, given after Anthony was arrested for voting, passionately argued for women’s suffrage, highlighting the moral grounds of equality and justice in the fight for women’s rights.
July – Barack Obama, “Yes We Can” (2008)
Following the New Hampshire primary, Obama’s speech became a rallying cry for his campaign, emphasising hope and change and showcasing personal storytelling to connect with the audience.
August – Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?” (1851)
Delivered at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Truth’s powerful speech highlighted the intersection of race and gender, using poignant rhetoric to advocate for women’s rights.
September – Steve Jobs, “Stanford Commencement Speech” (2005)
Jobs shared personal stories of failure and success, emphasising the importance of following one’s passion and the value of life experiences, making it a profound career and life lesson.
October – Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” (1933)
In his first inaugural address, FDR addressed the Great Depression and called for courage among Americans, using reassurance and firm resolve to instil hope amid adversity.
November – Emma Watson, “HeForShe Speech” (2014)
At the UN, Watson’s speech advocated for gender equality and invited men to join the feminist movement, effectively using personal anecdotes and statistics to create empathy and mobilise support.
December – Abraham Lincoln, “Gettysburg Address” (1863)
A brief yet powerful speech commemorating fallen soldiers, Lincoln emphasised unity and the principles of freedom and equality, demonstrating how brevity and clarity can have a profound impact.
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Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Adopt a growth mindset towards public speaking. Recognise that improvement takes time and that mistakes are part of the learning process. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and remain open to learning from every experience.
View public speaking opportunities as challenges to enhance your skills, not obstacles to avoid. Each speaking engagement is a chance to learn and grow.
Seek constructive feedback from peers, mentors, or audiences. Use their insights to identify areas for improvement and view criticism as a valuable tool for your development.
After each presentation, take time to reflect on what went well and what could be better. Consider keeping a public speaking journal to track your progress and lessons learned.
Establish clear, attainable goals for your public speaking journey. For instance, aim to practice a certain number of speeches each month or to enhance specific skills, such as eye contact or vocal variety.
The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Rehearse speeches in front of friends, family, or even in front of a mirror to refine your delivery and develop comfort with the material.
Spend time visualising a successful presentation. Imagine yourself speaking confidently and engaging the audience. Visualisation can reduce anxiety and enhance performance.
Stay curious about the art of public speaking. Read books, watch TED Talks, or attend workshops to learn new techniques and perspectives. The more you learn, the more you’ll develop your skills.
Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations about your speaking abilities. Remind yourself that experience leads to improvement and embrace the journey as part of your growth.
Shift your mindset from self-consciousness to audience connection. Focus on how you can help your audience rather than on your performance.
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Get some professional help.
The best way to develop strong public speaking skills in 2026 is to:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some excellent one-to-one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
As we approach the New Year, abandon traditional resolutions and adopt these powerful techniques to become a better public speaker. By changing how you prepare and present, you’ll not only enhance your skills but also enjoy the process of becoming a captivating communicator. Here’s to a year filled with bold speeches, memorable connections, and the bravery to step into the spotlight! I hope these tips help you not just speak, but also inspire.
You can join us for a full day of high-impact training with a small group of participants from other organisations. If you’d like to make a real difference to your presentations, build confidence and be remembered for all the right reasons, book today.
