Public Speaking - a skill should develop
Here is how!
Hey, Prasad here 👋 I'm the voice behind the weekly newsletter "Big Tech Careers."
In this article, I will talk about why and how you should develop the public speaking skill.
We are also fortunate to have Ron Melanson, a seasoned Amazonian, who served as Toastmasters President, sharing his insights on how to become a confident public speaker. He is a Certified Amazon Mentor, Bar Raiser, and Working Backwards Coach. Follow Ron on LinkedIn for more.
If you like the article, click the ❤️ icon. That helps me know you enjoy reading my content.
Last week, I posted on LinkedIn about delivering three public speaking sessions in three days during AWS London Summit Week.
Yes, it was super hectic but I enjoyed it. But that was not the case always. Early in my career, I used to get terrified speaking in front of people. I would be nervous speaking in front of 10 people, forget speaking in front hundred or thousands of people.
It’s all about making conscious decision and making progress. For me, progress was slow and not always steady. I'd have good presentations followed by not-so-good ones. I'd forget points, talk too fast, or use too many "ums" and "uhs." But each time, I learned something.
The improvement didn't happen overnight. It came slowly through consistent practice. Each presentation got a little easier. Each piece of feedback helped me adjust something.
What used to terrify me slowly became just another part of my job. And then something unexpected happened - I actually started to enjoy it.
The biggest lesson from all this is simple: public speaking isn't something you're born with. It's a skill anyone can learn with practice.
Those speakers who seem so natural and confident? They worked at it. They developed their abilities through:
Regular practice
Getting feedback
Making adjustments
Stepping outside comfort zones
Continuous improvement
For Anyone Who's Nervous About Speaking
If you get anxious about presenting in front of large audience, you're definitely not alone.
Many people rank public speaking as one of their biggest fears. But that fear doesn't have to hold you back.
You can start improving right where you are:
Begin with small, friendly groups
Take on brief speaking opportunities
Record yourself and pick one thing to work on each time
Find people who will give you honest, helpful feedback
Notice and appreciate your progress
And to help you further, I will hand it over to Ron to share his insights on how to become a confident public speaker.
Over to you, Ron!
I recently attended a presentation led by senior leadership at a well-known Fortune 100 company. Not the one I work for - let’s get that out of the way. The content? Insightful, no doubt. The presenter? A subject matter expert with a resume likely filled with past keynote appearances and conference talks. Yet, despite their expertise, responsibility and title, something stood out, a cascade of “umm”s and “you know”s peppered their delivery, overshadowing their message.
Full disclosure: I’ve served as a Toastmasters President and even spearheaded the creation of a new chapter in my local office. So, yes, I have my biases and I, unfortunately, am honed in on hearing filler words. Many people ignore them or filter them out - I simply cannot. I tend to fixate on them. (Don't be me.)
However, in an effort for helping with self improvement and professional skills, I felt compelled to share some tried-and-true practices that elevate public speaking from good to great, or, at the very least, help us dodge those filler words.
Even the most prepared presenters can slip into a pattern of “umm”, “ahh”, and the dreaded “you know”. These filler words can chip away at the clarity of a message and dilute the power of a speaker’s presence. Eliminating them isn't just about avoiding distractions - it's about learning to embrace silence and tempo as a tool.
Why We Use Fillers
Fillers sneak in for one main reason: our minds are racing. When we feel pressure to keep speaking, our brain inserts sounds as it catches up. It’s a habit born out of fear. The fear of silence, fear of losing the audience, fear of appearing unsure. But here’s a little secret: the pause is a speaker’s ally, not their enemy.
The Power of the Pause
Imagine you’re listening to a speaker who uses silence intentionally. Their words feel deliberate, their ideas land with precision. When they pause, the room holds its breath, the audience leans in and waits to hear whats next and that’s where the magic happens. Pausing gives your audience space to absorb your last point and prepare for the next. It also projects confidence. It shows that you are in control, not racing to fill the space.
As TED speaker Julian Treasure highlights in his talk "How to Speak So That People Want to Listen", mastering the pause can be transformative. He notes that the most effective communicators use strategic silences to emphasize their messages and make their words resonate.
Fellow speaker and communication expert Vinh Giang ( https://www.youtube.com/@askvinh ) emphasizes in his workshops and videos that pauses are moments of power. According to Giang, silence allows your audience to engage more deeply and connect with your message. He demonstrates throughout his lessons how these moments can create a rhythm in your speaking that captivates listeners.
The Role of Tempo and Tonality
Slowing down your speech is not just about eliminating fillers - it’s about creating an engaging tempo that enhances your delivery. A varied pace keeps your audience’s attention. When you slow down, you give emphasis to key points and make your words more impactful. This strategic pacing, interspersed with pauses, ensures that your audience stays connected and engaged.
Tonality is equally crucial. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. The tone of your voice can convey confidence, enthusiasm, empathy, and authority. Adjusting your tonality helps underline your points and maintain interest. A lower, deliberate tone during pauses can signal importance and encourage reflection, while a lighter, energetic tone can inject excitement when needed.
How to Slow Down and Embrace Silence
Practice mindful speaking: Record yourself speaking on a topic. Listen closely for fillers and note when they appear. Reflect on why they popped up. Were you unsure of what to say next? Were you rushing? Self-awareness is the first step.
Speak in short phrases: Break down your thoughts into clear, short segments. Between each segment, pause. This trains your brain to get comfortable with silence and helps regulate your tempo.
Replace filler words with a breath: The next time you catch yourself about to say “uh” or “you know”, pause and take a breath instead. This not only steadies you but signals to your audience that you’re thoughtful.
Play with tonality: Practice changing the pitch and tone of your voice as you speak. Emphasize key words with a deeper tone or lighten your voice when making an engaging or humorous point. This will make your speech dynamic and more interesting to listen to.
Emulate great speakers: Watch videos of seasoned speakers like Vinh Giang on YouTube. His engaging approach demonstrates how pauses, tempo changes, and varied tonality can be used to create anticipation and drive home key points. Giang’s content often includes practical exercises that can help you internalize these techniques. Barack Obama's speeches are a masterclass in presentation no matter your political affiliation.
Enlist the help of others: Join speaking clubs like Toastmasters International. Their supportive environment is designed for improvement. Through constructive feedback and practice, you’ll become adept at identifying and minimizing fillers while perfecting your tempo and tonality.
An interesting set of exercises I have learned in my journey to becoming a better speaker, was reiterated by Vinh Giang in a recent YouTube video. I'll include the link when I find it
Follow these steps - YES - it will feel weird and awkward - but trust me here.
Using your phone record yourself talking about a subject for 10 minutes - it doesn't matter what it is but you need to present the material as if you were doing so to an audience.
place the phone face down on the desk or table and play back your presentation. LISTEN and take notes on what and how you said things. Count the Umms, Ah's the You Knows - it is not an opportunity to beat yourself up, only to become more aware (this is very Toastmasters).
Next place the phone face up and turn the volume off. Same thing, take notes on your body language, did you smile, where were you hands, were you swaying back and forth?
watch it combined and take notes what were you saying or doing - compare your listening only and your watching only notes against the combined presentation.
Are there any tics or triggers that cause this? Were you speaking quickly? Did you pause? Were you trying to say too much in a single sentence? Awareness of how you present is your path to becoming better.
Training for Speaking Excellence
Becoming a better speaker is not a solo journey. Engaging in courses or groups that focus on public speaking can accelerate growth. Toastmasters is a global organization where participants learn by speaking regularly and receiving feedback. It’s practical, supportive, and proven to reduce nervous tics and filler words over time.
For more targeted training, consider working with a speech coach or participating in workshops focused on voice modulation and pacing. Many platforms offer online speaking courses where you can learn techniques and receive professional guidance from the comfort of your home. Additionally, resources like TED talks and public speaking books such as "Talk Like TED" by Carmine Gallo can offer valuable insights into effective communication strategies.
There are also specialized courses that delve into body language and non-verbal cues, such as those provided by Vanessa Van Edwards, author of "Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People". Learning to align your words with confident body language can reinforce the strength of your pause and amplify your overall delivery.
Final Thought
Is it the end of the world if you have umms and ahhs in a presentation, of course not. If you have too many people may lose your message and focus on the filler words and not what you are trying to say. Remember, filler words are often seen as imperfections, but they’re just placeholders for thoughts. Acknowledge your use of filler words and embrace the pause instead. Practice. Record, watch, critique, learn, delete - this is a journey of self discovery and enhancing your skills. It won't magically go away tomorrow or even next month. Time, practice, awareness, honesty with yourself, tonality and pace along with practice again will help you overcome a reliance on filler words.
By slowing down and recognizing your triggers, you’re not only cutting out the “umm”s, you’re redefining how you communicate. You’re showing your audience that you trust the power of your own voice. Embrace the pause. Speak with intention. Let your words carry weight.
Remember, even renowned speakers were once beginners who struggled with their delivery. The key is persistent practice and conscious effort. With time, your pauses will become your most impactful tool, and your words will land with unforgettable precision.
I would like to extend a big thank you to Ron for sharing his insights on how to improve your public speaking skills with Big Tech Careers readers. He originally published his article on LinkedIn.
I also encourage you to check out his other LinkedIn articles and follow him on LinkedIn for further insights.
 | A guest post by
|