Public speaking is not a popular activity for most people. In fact, many feel a crippling fear of public speaking. For others, it's a chore that just has to be done. But good public speakers, like those you see on TED Talks, are good because they love what they're doing. Like a musician or other performers, they love to get up on stage and speak. You can improve your public speaking by learning to love it as they do.
Get Fired up
Good speakers are fired up about their topic. They're passionate and inspired, and this translates to inspiration for the audience. When you're talking about a topic you're interested in, you'll find yourself more confident and even enjoying giving the speech.
What if you're not so excited about a topic you have to speak on? You can take any topic and liven it up. Identify a problem and frame your topic as the solution to the problem. Tell a story or several stories throughout your presentation. Another way to make it interesting is to make the audience do the work. Make it participatory.
Break Down the Barrier
Giving a presentation usually isn't fun when you feel all alone up on stage and there's a huge “wall” between you and the audience. When you have good rapport with the audience, you can relax and enjoy yourself. It's like you're talking to a group of your friends.
One way to break down the barrier is to mingle with audience members. Greet them when they arrive and chat with them. You can also open your presentation with a joke (as long as it’s funny, appropriate, and relevant) or a story to establish commonality. Another idea is to encourage some audience participation at the beginning of the presentation.
Don't Take Yourself So Seriously
Approach presenting with a smile on your face and a laugh always about to escape from your throat. Don't take yourself too seriously. If you're having fun, the audience will have fun too. People often get serious or self-conscious because we fear rejection, but remember that the audience is here to see you speak and hear what you have to say.
Of course, it's not only love and enthusiasm that makes a presentation good. Public speaking looks natural when a good speaker does it, but a great deal of skill development, preparation, and practice goes into giving a good presentation. You see the speaker smiling, talking, and bringing the audience along with them through their presentation. What you don't see is all the hard work.