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Know Your Audience. The best speakers command the room within the first minute. To do that, find out exactly who you’ll be speaking to, then look for a relevant funny stat or news item to launch with—and tie it back to the crowd. It’ll instantly peg you as an authority, says Sarah Lloyd-Hughes, author of How to Be Brilliant at Public Speaking.
Practice Strategically. Ask a friend to record you on your phone, then watch the playback to spot strengths and weaknesses, advises media trainer TJ Walker. Odd trick: Comedian Ophira Eisenberg recommends rehearsing in a drab space—it forces you to focus and think critically.
Dress The Part. Wear clothes that make you feel powerful, but don’t buy new duds. An outfit you’ve worn before means no surprises or tugging that could distract you or your listeners.
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DURING
Use Your Hands. Gesturing ups the impact of a message by 60 percent. Proof: The most popular TED Talkers used twice as many hand gestures as the least liked. Avoid looking like air-traffic control by anchoring your paws between your shoulders and your waist—right in front your torso—and let the movement come naturally.
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Have Water Handy. Pausing to sip helps you reconnect to your body, and it “tends to cool down that fight-or-flight response,” says Lloyd-Hughes.
Refer To Your Notees Sparingly. “A PowerPoint slide show is there as your aide, not the other way around,” says Lloyd-Hughes. “When you’re not citing a slide, click to a blank page or turn the screen black.” If you’re glued to index cards because you’re having trouble recalling certain phrases, revise your points to fit your natural voice, says Eisenberg. Memorize the meaning, not the words themselves.
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Shut Down Jerks. If someone interrupts with a smug comment, remain calm, answer as if it’s not a personal attack (even if it is!), and push on without giving up more of the floor. If it’s a Q and you can’t A, simply say: “That’s interesting. I’ll look into it more and get back to you.” Then return to your material.
This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of Women’s Health, on newsstands now.