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How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills (Before Stepping on Stage)

ed darling public speaking coach

Ed Darling | 5 min read

Last updated: 28/03/2026

Like any skill, improving your public speaking requires practice. But for most people, real speaking opportunities are infrequent — and the stakes feel high.

You might only get the occasional presentation, and it often becomes a case of “just getting through it” rather than genuinely improving.

So how do you build real skills and confidence before you step on stage?

As a public speaking coach, I see up close what helps people move the needle. Here are practical ways to find low-pressure practice opportunities… starting today.

Man learning how to improve public speaking skills from home while giving a virtual presentation

Study the Pros to Improve Your Speaking Skills.

One of the most powerful things you can do is study great speakers. TED Talks and Toastmasters are obvious starting points, but bear in mind they often have a very “performative” style that may not suit your next team update.

Instead, search for speakers in your own industry. Go on YouTube and try: “keynotes on [your industry/topic] 2026”. You’ll find a mixture of good and bad examples. That’s fine. There are lessons to be learned from both.

Crucially: don’t just enjoy the content. Analyse how they deliver it. Notice their pacing, pauses, vocal variety, body language, and storytelling. What’s their opening line? How is the talk structured? Do they land a strong close?

This kind of deliberate observation is one of the easiest and most effective first steps you can take.

FYI: We have a list of some of the best public speakers alive here.

Take Advantage of Every Teams Call.

Public speaking isn’t just 500 people in a conference hall — it’s also five people on a Teams call. In both cases, you’re honing the same core skills:

  • Projecting calm, confident body language
  • Using vocal variety to engage and influence
  • Choosing the right words to articulate your message clearly

Your weekly work calls might feel more focused on getting the job done, but don’t overlook these regular practice opportunities. Each week, pick one area of focus:

  1. Using more dynamic gestures
  2. Slowing your pace and adding purposeful pauses
  3. Applying the Rule of Three for better clarity

Go into every virtual meeting with this little secret intention in mind — and combine it with the next tip for even faster progress.

Record Yourself — The Fastest Way to Improve.

Watching yourself speak can feel unbearably cringe-worthy… at first.

But nothing reveals your weaknesses (and strengths) faster.

If your Teams meetings can be recorded, perfect. Otherwise, use your phone to record a quick 1–2 minute talk on any familiar topic. It really doesn’t matter what. Play it back and honestly note what stands out:

Filler words? Rushed pacing? Monotone delivery? Unclear structure? I know it’s uncomfortable to acknowledge these bad habits — but if you’re making these mistakes, your audience is already noticing them!

Do this regularly, and you’ll start catching patterns you wouldn’t notice in the moment.

Use Everyday Phone Calls as Mini Speaking Workouts.

It’s said Gen Z workers often have a problem picking up the phone — having grown up connecting via social media, booking appointments online, and ordering food via apps.

But whether you’re Gen Z or not, many of us have grown more comfortable texting (or emailing) than speaking. That slight discomfort is exactly why it’s useful to practise.

It doesn’t even have to be work-related, you can enlist friends and family too:

  1. Make a list of 5–10 people you could call out of the blue.
  2. Rank them from easiest to most nerve-wracking.
  3. Call one person each day and have a proper conversation.

It’s surprising the difference this can make. But small acts of voluntary discomfort quickly stack up… and you’ll be making someone’s day in the process. Win-win!

Start by Speaking on a Virtual Stage.

Before the real stage, let’s get you comfortable on the virtual one.

Even when you’re physically at home or in the office, treat these opportunities seriously: plan your content, rehearse your delivery, and (bonus tip) stand up while presenting to practise body language technique.

Here are three ideas I regularly recommend:

1. Host a virtual lunch-and-learn at work — pick a topic you know well and deliver a 20-minute session, include plenty of time for discussion and Q&A so it’s not “all on you”.

2. Run a LinkedIn Live — start with a focused 30-minute talk. Partner with someone if it helps reduce the pressure. Share some top tips, advice, or perspectives. Don’t worry, usually only a handful of people will be watching!

3. Deliver a live webinar — this takes more prep but is excellent practice (and many businesses are using them in their marketing strategies for 2026).

Final Thoughts: How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills.

After years of coaching, I’ve learned the fastest way to improve your public speaking skills is through immersion — creating as many low-pressure practice opportunities as possible.

If you only speak when a big presentation comes up, progress will be slow. But if you consistently use these stepping stones, your skills will grow much quicker.

That said, the absolute best results come when you combine this self-practice with professional training. A good coach will help you:

– Spot blind spots you can’t see yourself
– Get personalised feedback and accountability
– Learn proven frameworks and techniques
– Practise in a truly safe environment
– Prepare properly for those high-stakes moments

If you’re serious about becoming a confident, impactful speaker, it might be time we had a chat about your current challenges and goals. You’re welcome to book a free 30-minute intro call, where I can answer any questions, and see if working together is a good fit.

Here’s to your public speaking success,

Ed

When you're ready, 3 ways to work with me...

Coaching Programme: Follow a proven system to build confidence, find your charisma, and step-up as a speaker in your niche.

1-Day Masterclass: Learn everything you need in 1 day to face your fears, and begin speaking with confidence.

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Hey Ed,

Just wanted to share some feedback we had from the delegates after the October Away day 😊 You went down a storm!

– Presentation skills session very good
– The presentation skills session was AMAZING! Very informative and will definitely come in handy.
– Really enjoyed the presentation skills
– Speaker was very engaging and interesting and worked for all aspects of our work
– The presentation was amazing, getting to interact with each other and learning different presentation skills.- there wasn’t a moment which I found it boring or not helpful.

Jess Docksey, Workforce & Education Programme Manager

 

“Absolutely Brilliant training session to do, really enjoyed it. Ed was fab made everyone feel at ease, more confident and relaxed. I will take so much away from this session thanks Ed, you do a great job 👍👏”

Diane Axford — GMCA

 

“Attended an excellent full day session hosted by Ed at Project Charisma, it was a fantastic learning experience and would recommend to anyone who gets the chance.
Ed made everyone feel at ease even when facing our insecurities, individual conversations around the exercises left no question unanswered. A great experience that I can put into practice straight away.”

Siobhan Keane — GMCA

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100% recommendation rate! All attendees gave you a 10 on how likely they would be to recommend the workshop to peers!

Here’s a summary of the group’s feedback from the session:

  • “The workshop was well-timed, with an excellent balance of information, interactive activities, and group work that kept participants engaged.”

  • “Ed, the facilitator, was professional, knowledgeable, and exceptional at delivering clear, constructive feedback. His energy and positivity helped create a safe and supportive environment, which was particularly important given that many participants were outside their comfort zones with public speaking. Ed’s personal story of overcoming anxiety resonated with the group, fostering trust and making the experience more relatable.”

  • “The content was well-structured, breaking down key elements to make the learning process less daunting, and the pacing was comfortable for everyone. The variety of tasks, including the workbook to take away, added value, and the session ultimately empowered participants to deliver speeches with confidence.”

Ideas that resonated with the group the most:

Presentation Structure: Key techniques like planning, the “rule of three,” and the power of pausing.

Audience Engagement: Effective strategies such as the “audience hug” and balanced eye contact (“light housing”).

Public Speaking Elements: Focus on body language, voice modulation, and mindset.

Vocal Variety & Filler Words: Importance of vocal variety and minimising filler words.

Mindset Shift: Emphasis on being prolific over perfect; enthusiasm and charisma over confidence.

All the group have rated themselves as an 8, 9 or 10 in terms of confidence in demonstrating the skills they have learnt in your session.

Other comments:

“This workshop has given me a great toolkit to help build my presenting skills. I feel more empowered in my public speaking and have the confidence to participate in presentations within my role.”

“I thought it was well run, the overall content was excellent. Great feedback throughout the course to support not only the individual but also the group. I would recommend the course strongly to my peers.”

“Was nervous going into the class, worried that it would be a bit school-like or based more in acting (which it was not). Thoroughly enjoyed the experience – would love to do it again later on in the year/next year to look see how my skill has (hopefully) improved.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and was highly impressed with Ed. Ed’s approach to the subject, his personal story, the layout of the workshop and his energy made for an engaging, memorable and impactful workshop. Ed was able to give helpful feedback to everyone whilst also filled us with encouragement and confidence. I feel he shared some life skills that I will take forward with me in my career and I would love the opportunity to work with him again!”