Effective public speaking combines clarity, confidence, and authentic connection with the audience. By defining your goal, using relatable techniques like stories, strong body language, and a touch of humor, you can make ideas more memorable and engaging. With preparation and practice, you’ll be poised to deliver a powerful message that resonates. Here are some effective public speaking tips to help with confidence, clarity, and engagement:

1. Define your goal: Before crafting your speech, ask yourself what you want the audience to think, feel, or do after hearing you. Having a clear goal provides direction and structure, making it easier to stay on track and avoid unnecessary diversions. If your goal is to inspire, focus on powerful stories and actionable steps. If it’s to educate, highlight clear takeaways and key concepts.  
2. Use storytelling: People remember stories more easily than facts. Engaging anecdotes or examples help illustrate your points and make your message memorable.(Gallo, 2014)
3. Focus on body language: Maintain eye contact, use open gestures, and avoid pacing. Confident body language helps convey your message more effectively and keeps your audience engaged.
4. Pause for Emphasis: Don’t be afraid to pause. It adds weight to your words, gives the audience time to process information, and helps you control your pacing.
5. Teach the audience something new: Providing fresh insights or unique information keeps your audience engaged and adds value to your presentation. Choose information that aligns with your expertise and the audience’s interests, helping them walk away feeling like they’ve gained something meaningful. This could be a surprising fact, a new perspective, or a helpful technique related to your topic.
6. Be authentic and genuine: Audiences respond well to speakers who are themselves on stage. Embrace your own style, voice, and personality instead of imitating someone else. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it with a smile rather than trying to cover it up. Authenticity fosters trust and rapport, making it more likely that your message will resonate deeply.
7. Be playful and be funny: Even a small laugh can ease tension and help you and the audience relax. Be careful to avoid humor that may alienate or confuse your audience and always keep it relevant to the topic.
8. Engage at least two senses to make it memorable: Incorporate slides or visuals that enhance understanding but don’t overwhelm with text. Keep visuals simple and relevant to the key points. (Talk Like TED (Summary 9 Public Speaking Secrets), 2021)
9. Focus on breathing and pace: Steady breathing helps calm nerves and maintain a moderate speaking pace. Slow down if you feel rushed to stay clear and composed.
10. Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse out loud multiple times. Practicing helps you internalize the content, reducing reliance on notes and improving fluency. Try practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself for feedback.

References

Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds. St. Martin's Press.

YouTube. (2021, January 17). Talk Like TED (Summary 9 Public Speaking Secrets). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHoToWhje0Q