Here's how you can develop confidence in public speaking and presentations as an HR professional.

Here are few suggested ways of developing confidence in Public Speaking. 1. Knowledge - Have a strong hold over the topic or subject that you are going to talk on. 2. Buffer Knowledge - If your talk is for 1 hour, prepare your content for 2 to 3 hours. 3. Stories - Keep some fav stories always off the cuff, they come very handy at times. 4. Practice - There is really no alternate to practice. 5. Own the content - Be responsible for every word that you display on screen or talk about. 6. Own the place - If possible reach the venue in advance and get comfortable with the settings and design of the place. And, many more ...

One helpful practise I use is to map my audience / stakeholders ahead of the presentation. It’s helps to guide content curation, presentation style and potentials questions that might come up.

Know what you’re talking about. Have a look at your slides beforehand and understand the meaning of your content so that you’re able to say it in your own words as well. Speak in front of the mirror or your partner or mum or friend or anyone you trust. Recording your voice also works! Wear comfortable clothes so that there’s one less thing to worry about. If possible, do a practice run in the same room you’ll be speaking from, using the same device.

Humility and curiosity have been pivotal in my journey to becoming an adept speaker. They've driven me to seek out experiences, observe, and solicit feedback during presentations. I've consistently sought candid critiques from leaders and attendees at my speaking events, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Studying and noting techniques from renowned and TED speakers, who undergo rigorous training, has been enlightening. Tackling my weaknesses head-on, I realized the necessity for profound changes to overcome ingrained habits. Engaging with forthright mentors has been instrumental in transforming these tendencies, allowing me to hone my vocal delivery and messaging influence.

As an HR professional, I always do few things to be a good speaker: - Knowing the topic very well which I deliver - Exercise it a bit before Speak, either infront of the mirror or my family members - I deliver it with positive tonality and believe - My body talks when I speak according - When I speak, I confidently do it. - I use relevent humour and real life cases, stories during speaking

Communicate, communicate and keep try to communicate, this will be your 1st step towards public speaking. Begin with small topics and start practicing infront of your family, friends, record your video on your mobile phone, must have a mentor and infront of mirror. Draft your key improvement areas in points and work hard to rectify the challenges. Keep things simple and smart, practice these suggestions from friends, family, or from your mentor. The more your practice the areas of improvement, the better you will be for your speech delivery.

To be a good HR professional, a person also needs to be a good speaker. Here are some tips on how you can be a good speaker: - Start with a good story relevant to the topic - Use real-time and real-life examples - Speak with data and facts - Focus on your soothing appearance - Use powerful Body language and tonality - Listen and be listened to - Be mindful and kind while speaking - Touch every audience by heart, by word, and by roaming around them

Imagine yourself standing at the podium, poised and self-assured. You deliver your presentation with clarity and conviction, captivating the audience. As you conclude, the room erupts in enthusiastic applause - your message has resonated, and your hard work has paid off. This is the power of positive visualization. By mentally rehearsing a successful outcome, you program your mind for confidence and achievement. Whether you're pitching to investors or addressing a conference, positive visualization can be the key to transforming presentation anxiety into dynamic, impactful performances. Embrace this simple yet powerful technique, and watch your presentation skills soar to new heights.

What's in it for them! Know this sentence well! It never about what you know and what you want to deliver But more of what they want to know and how they want it to be delivered! Make it enjoyable and cultivate that culture of just pure curiosity

Stand tall, be you, be confident and proud of your content Be the person who knows their content will impact life's and then allow the body language to flow naturally Do the necessary steps to correct those unconscious bad habits such as hands in pockets, leg shaking, etc

Managing public speaking anxiety is important for a confident delivery. One great technique is embracing the power of the pause. It's completely fine to stop, breathe, and gather your thoughts during your presentation. This helps you stay calm and focused, and gives your audience a moment to absorb what you’re saying. Pausing can turn nervous energy into something that enhances your clarity and impact. By giving yourself these brief moments, you ensure a more composed and engaging presentation.

Here are 3 quick ways to overcome anxiety; Physically: Jump till that energy in your goes out physically so it does not disturb you during the session Verbally: shout it out (in a closed space) and let the fears go away and naturally allow yourself to be in confidence Mentally: Tell yourself you did your best and shift your focus to help others instead of showing off yourself on stage

Think about delivering a presentation as an opportunity to be useful/ be of service rather than focusing on what people think of you.

Developing confidence in public speaking as an HR professional involves practical steps. Start with small, supportive groups to build comfort. Practice regularly, using tools like video recordings for self-assessment. Learn techniques for managing anxiety, like deep breathing. Look to Training and Development for inspiration—they often use gradual exposure and feedback to build skills.

Use examples. People will be more ears to your conversation if you explain the topic of discussion with real examples. Examples which almost everyone in the audience can relate to. Stating examples not only removes the jargon from your discussion but also helps the audience correlate and understand the topics better.

More experienced and confident public speakers use humour in their presentations. The audience will be incredibly engaged if you make them laugh and it lightens the mood which will make you feel more comfortable. But caution must be exercised when using humour because a joke can be misinterpreted and even offend the audience. Only use jokes if you’re confident with this technique and it’s suitable for the situation. Making fun of yourself is usually a safe way of using humour and it cultivates trust because it’s more relatable to the audience.

Always start your speech with a quote,rhetorical question or any fact. Starting with a joke may not always be a good idea. Always have enough examples to support your point. Take pauses wherever needed. Last but not least, enjoy your own speech. Record once before delivering it because this way you can assess yourself and make necessary amendments prior.