20 Tips for Mastering Public Speaking
Nate Desmond:
One of the most important keys to giving a strong speech is the practice. Rehearse your speech enough that you can (almost) say it in your sleep. [...] After practicing by yourself, give your speech to a small audience. After you finish, ask for feedback on your performance. You can then use this advice to perfect your presentation even more.
I cannot emphasize how true this is, and how often I’ve personally failed to do this. “Meh, I’ll deliver it fine when it comes to it” just never cuts it. I’d also add one last piece of advice to the list: Enjoy yourself.
