Public speaking may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do in your lifetime. For some people, it can seem like no matter how many times you do it, it’s as if you get more nervous each time. It’s even worse when your future career depends on it. However, mastering the art of public speaking is the one thing that can change your life forever, and it’s so much better when you master this skill at a young age.

2017 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking Manoj Vasudevan says a person who is able to skillfully express himself or herself as an orator, especially early in life, is more likely to foster better friendships and relationships and build a larger network of collaborators.

As a young person, public speaking is important as it helps to influence decisions and motivate change. It is without a doubt the most important and most dreaded form of communication. But, as always, teenAGE has you covered, and we’re sharing with you four secrets to mastering public speaking as a TEEN.

1. Shake off the Nerves

It is not easy going in front of a group of people to speak – whether it be 10 people or 100. It really is natural for you to feel nervous. The thing is, though, that nervousness might be what causes your presentation to fail. Find a way to conquer your stage jitters before you take the stage; whether it be listening to music or practising a 3-5 minute breathing exercise – convert that nervous feeling into confidence and make it count.

2. One Big Idea

Getting up and speaking in front of an audience is the same as you telling your friends about an experience you encountered. Yes, it is; that’s all you’re doing! When you’re given the opportunity to speak remember that ONE BIG IDEA you want to share. Be mindful of the story you want to tell, the problem you faced and how you managed to overcome those obstacles. People want to be motivated and moved by what you to tell them so ‘be the real you’ so that you’re audience can relate to you.

3. Maintain eye contact

One way to connect with your audience is to maintain eye contact. This is extremely important because something as small as this will help you to gain trust from your listeners. A technique you can use to maintain eye contact and connect with most of your audience is to look at one person for each full sentence you say; when it is time to move on to a new sentence go ahead and move to someone else. The fact is when you see a reassuring smile in the audience it will motivate you to continue and pushes your audience to listen.

4. Have fun and engage your audience

Don’t think of you speaking as something you have to do, but think of it as something you really want to do. Have fun and crack some jokes! It’s not about being serious all the time. Get your audience involved in your presentation by asking them questions or to share their experiences. For example: “How many of you have ever?…Clap once” Doing this will benefit you by keeping you calm and it will intrigue the audience as they’ll think to themselves, “I wonder what he/she is going to ask next”

There are so many more things you can learn where public speaking is concerned as a teenAGER. There are opportunities out there that can help you to better your public speaking skills. YouTube for one is an amazing platform you can use to brush up on those skills and the best part about it is that it’s free!

Check out the links posted below to read up more on how you can master the art of public speaking as a teenager.

18 tips for mastering public speaking

Speak easy tips

Ten Secrets of Public Speaking success

–Isheba Cornwall