Public speaking is an important skill to have in the modern world. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work or delivering a speech for your college commencement, having strong public speaking skills can make all the difference. To help you hone your public speaking abilities, here are 18 common terms related to public speaking that you should know. From active listening to vocal variety and more, these terms will equip you with the knowledge needed to become an effective speaker!
How you can practice all 18 public speaking terms
Consider signing up for Yoodli, an AI powered speech coach where you can practice each of these terms without the pressure of an audience. Yoodli is free of cost and being rolled out to 300k+ Toastmasters members globally.
Active Listening
This refers to the practice of listening carefully and deliberately to the speaker without interruption or judgment. It’s an important skill to have in any public speaking setting as it allows you to better understand the message being communicated.
Audience Analysis (the most important public speaking term)
Before crafting a speech, it’s essential to understand the audience. Audience analysis helps identify factors such as age, gender, beliefs and interests that can inform your message.
Nonverbals
Nonverbal cues such as gestures, posture and facial expressions are important in public speaking as they can help convey your message more effectively than words alone.
Chunking
This refers to the practice of breaking down a speech into small, manageable segments (it’s a public speaking term used with debate students as well). Doing this helps reduce the cognitive load and make it easier for your audience to comprehend and remember your message.
Enthusiasm (our favorite public speaking term!)
Enthusiasm is key in public speaking as it allows you to engage with your audience more effectively. When presenting, try to be passionate and energetic about your topic.
Eye Contact
Establishing eye contact is a key aspect of public speaking as it helps build a connection with the audience and shows that you are confident in your message.
Filler Words
Filler words such as “uh”, “um” and “like” are common in public speaking but should be avoided as they can make it difficult to understand your message.
Filler words explainer video
Humor
Incorporating humor into a speech can help break the ice and make your topic more relatable and memorable to the audience. Just make sure that it’s appropriate for the context.
Impromptu Speech
Speech that has been prepared in advance but does not have to follow a specific structure or outline. It can be used for practice and improvisation for future public speaking engagements.
Inflection
Using vocal inflections like rising and falling tones can help emphasize certain points in your speech, making it easier for your audience to follow what you’re saying.
Nonverbal Cues
These are gestures and facial expressions used to communicate with your audience. Examples include smiling, nodding, leaning forward and more.
Pauses
Pausing briefly throughout a speech allows the audience time to process what you’ve said and emphasizes important points. Just don’t pause for too long as it can be distracting to the audience.
Q&A
In addition, questions and answers (Q&A) is a common feature of public speaking events in which the audience can ask questions about the speech or topic being presented.
Rhetorical Questions
Asking the audience questions can help engage them in your presentation and make it more interesting. However, only use rhetorical questions to keep your speech flowing.
Signposting
This is a technique used to emphasize key points throughout a speech by using words or phrases that “signal” to the audience that an important point is coming up.
Storytelling
Next, telling stories can be a powerful way to connect with your audience and make your message more memorable. Ensure they’re short, relevant and appropriate for the context.
Vocal Variety
Varying your pitch, volume, speed and intonation. This help keep your audience engaged and make it easier for them to follow your message.
Visual Aids
Using visual aids such as slides, videos or props can help reinforce your points and make them more memorable for the audience – public speaking term here is to use them strategically. Just don’t overuse them as they can be distracting.
Public speaking terms – how to improve
In addition, Practice, practice, practice. Either record yourself on camera or try in front of a mirror. If you’d like, consider practicing on Yoodli’s judgement free AI speech coach. By following these public speaking terms and tips, you can ensure that your next public speaking engagement will be a success! Good luck and happy presenting!
Far too often, we get asked where the name Yoodli came from! Why is your public speaking coach called Yoodli out of all things? What does Yoodli mean? Read on to find out more:
What does the Yoodli name mean?
Yoodli is a play on the word “yodel” which is a type of voice exercise. For those of you who’ve watched the Sound of Music movie, you probably remember the song titled “The Lonely Goatherd.” Professional actors and singers yodel all the time to keep their muscles warm and open out their lungs. We made up the word Yoodli around the word Yodel to pay homage to our speech coaching roots!
Why did you name a public speaking company Yoodli?
Great question! We think its unfair that two out of three people are afraid of public speaking. We all speak all the time! How can we make speaking, something that’s deeply human, fun and light and playful? By reflecting that in our brand! Try saying Yoodli out loud three times quickly. You’ll end up smiling 🙂
Plus, Yoodli has the two Os and the L making us right at home with other companies you’ve probably thought of (Erm, what does Google mean?!). If you want to see how important a name is, check out what the Silicon Valley show had to say about the importance of a name.
What’s the right pronunciation of the name Yoodli?
We’ve seen all kinds of spellings of Yoodli! Anything from Udli to Yodli to Yooodli. The best way to say Yoodli is to emphasize the Os, and say the word quickly in a high pitched voice (You – ooooo – dli!). Check out the video below by expert coach Carissa Karner explaining how you can say Yoodli (and use it to improve your communication skills!)
Check out the fun ways in which you can pronounce Yoodli
What can Yoodli do for me?
Yoodli is a private, personalized, and judgement free speech coach. Yoodli provides you artificial intelligence powered analytics on the way you speak – you’ll get data on your filler words, pacing, eye contact, body language, non inclusive language, hand gestures, and much else. Get started for free at www.yoodli.ai. Yoodli is also partnering with Toastmasters International to bring public speaking coaching to members across the world!
If public speaking makes you nervous, you might notice a few things when you get up in front of a crowd.
Your voice might break, your hands might start to shake, and before you know it, you’ve forgotten everything you wanted to say. Sound familiar?
Luckily, you can learn how to speak confidently with an AI speech coach like Yoodli. Yoodli analyzes your video for the filler words you use and how often you use them, and even your body language to give you an idea of your weak points and help you build your confidence.
Here’s how you can do that:
Co-founder Varun Puri speaks on how to practice your public speaking with Yoodli’s AI-powered tool.
In addition to practicing with Yoodli, here are our seven best tips to speak with confidence.
1. Be prepared.
One of the best ways to be prepared for a speech or any public speaking situation is to practice. Whether you’re practicing and analyzing your speech through Yoodli or in front of a mirror, you’ll want to practice everything, including:
Your actual speech
Your facial expressions and body language (we’ll take a more in-depth look at this below)
Your transitions
Any visual aids you plan to use, if any
It’s also a good idea to visit the place you’ll be speaking beforehand. Don’t drink any caffeinated drinks — such as coffee or energy drinks — before your speech. These can make you more anxious.
2. Don’t be afraid to take a pause.
There’s nothing wrong with pausing during your speech. In fact, taking a pause can be a very helpful tool for public speakers. Although you might feel like your audience will notice you’re nervous if you pause, it’ll seem natural, and your listeners can take a second to process what you’ve just said.
To speak with confidence, it’s also a good idea to have planned pauses in addition to impromptu ones. For example, pause after asking any questions or when transitioning to another part of your speech.
When you pause to think before you speak, you’ll also be avoiding filler words — like “uh,” “um, and “like.” To find out which filler words you use most and how often, try recording yourself on Yoodli beforehand.
3. Use appropriate body language.
Body language is huge, and it’s a powerful component of giving a successful speech.
Body language — like hand gestures, posture, and facial expressions — can have a direct effect on the audience. Seeing natural body language can make them more comfortable while at the same time setting the tone of your speech.
As a general rule of thumb, make sure you:
Smile (when appropriate — this might not be appropriate when you’re talking about very serious subjects)
It’s easy to start speaking faster when you’re speaking in public, especially if you’re feeling anxious or excited.
Unfortunately, speeding through a speech makes it clear to the audience that you’re nervous. It might also make it more difficult for them to absorb your message, especially if your pace is too fast for the audience to keep up with.
When you practice, practice at the pace you envision speaking at. This can help you speak with confidence when it comes to the actual date.
Watching some sample speeches on Yoodli might help you get a grasp of what an appropriate pace sounds like (although you can also just record your own speech to see exactly what your pace is).
Yoodli, an AI tool, offers plenty of free courses, as well as sample speeches, so you can improve your public speaking.
5. Try a little humor.
Although not every speaker is comfortable with it, humor can be an awesome tool.
Using some light comedy can actually help engage your audience and even make your speech or presentation more memorable. It can also lighten the mood or make you seem more “human” when public speaking.
Still, there is a risk of being funny. If you make an inappropriate or offensive joke, it can turn your audience off completely and destroy any prior trust you’d established with that group.
Positivity goes a long way. Going into your speech, visualize the talk going exactly as you want it. If you envision yourself failing, embarrassing yourself, or the like, that can negatively influence your upcoming speech.
You might be able to draw on past success. Think of a time when you spoke in public and absolutely nailed it. It’s proof you can do it!
Still, even when your goal is to speak with confidence, it’s normal to have some negative feelings. Try your best to replace any negative thoughts with positive ones.
7. Don’t worry if you make mistakes.
Mistakes are normal, too! They’re part of the human experience. Although you don’t want to envision negative things, it’s a good idea to be prepared for a mistake or two — that way, you won’t be shocked and thrown off if it happens. Plus, you can have a plan for if you do make a mistake.
Just know, it’s completely OK to laugh at yourself. That might even make you feel more comfortable. It can also help to disperse any nervous energy you still have.
A social skills coach is a professional who helps individuals improve their ability to communicate and interact with others in social and professional settings. They work with clients of all ages and backgrounds, and can often help with issues including shyness, social anxiety, difficulty making friends, and poor communication skills.
What does a Social Skills Coach do?
Coaching typically involves working one-on-one with a coach or in small groups, and may involve role-playing, feedback, and practice in real-world situations.
The goal is to help clients build confidence, overcome social barriers, and develop more meaningful and fulfilling relationships with others. They often also help clients identify and overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be holding them back in various situations.
Coaching can be uncomfortable at first. However, that’s the goal of the coach – to push you outside your comfort zone. A typical coach might make you record yourself, then watch yourself back, and critique yourself. Watching yourself on camera is weird (we cringe too!) but it’s the best way to identify speaking tics and ways to improve. For example, are you moving your hands too much? Not making enough eye contact? Interrupting others? And so forth.
The Yoodli AI powered social skills coach gives you private, judgement free analytics
What to look for in a coach?
If you are interested in working with a social skills coach, it’s important to find someone who is experienced and qualified to meet your needs. These folks ideally have certifications from organizations such as the ICF (International Coaching Federation). Look for a coach who has a proven track record of helping clients achieve their goals, and who is trained in the latest techniques and approaches. In addition to this, you should also be on the lookout if have the right tools and resources to set you up for success. Make sure to:
Check out their reviews (potentially even ask a fellow client for feedback)
Do a free consultation (every coach will do an initial intake call to set goals)
Ask them about their working style: Do they give feedback in a very direct way? Do they like to sugarcoat things? Knowing if their approach matches your style is critical as you find the right fit.
AI Powered Social Skills Coaching
In addition to in person coaching with a human expert, consider using an AI speech coach. Yoodli is a free platform that provides users feedback on their gesture, posture, tone, pitch, intonation, body language, and much else. While an AI speech coach likely can’t unpack your underlying insecurity, it can’t certainly be more helpful at times:
Judgement free: Technology will give you objective data on your speaking without making you feel bad!
Track progress: Yoodli helps you track your filler words, eye contact, body language, and measure progress over time
Easy to schedule: You don’t need to book an appointment with Yoodli! It’s ready whenever you are. Want help on a Zoom call? A presentation? An upcoming interview? Yoodli will be ready as soon as you are.
In conclusion, a social skills coach can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication and social skills and build deeper connections with others. A great way to start your social skills training or atleast augment your human coaching experience is to work with an AI powered social skills coach. You can get started for free at http://www.yoodli.ai.
You may have heard the term “mansplaining” before, but what does it mean? Mansplaining can be hard to understand, but it’s a really important concept everyone should get familiar with, particularly cisgender, straight men.
We’ll give you an overview of what the term means, provide some common examples, and explain how you can avoid doing it.
What Is Mansplaining?
Mansplaining is when a man gives an explanation to a woman under the assumption that he knows more about a field, concept, etc. without considering the woman’s expertise in the concept. It’s also called “mansplanation.” This explanation can feel condescending or patronizing, and leave the recipient feeling disrespected.
Mansplaining can be a barrier to inclusivity and prevent women from contributing their full worth to a conversation, a critical aspect of DEIB.
In all forms of communication, we want to ensure that everybody is feeling respected and heard. So, if you want to avoid mansplaining, there are a few steps to do so: recognizing it, acknowledging it, and correcting it.
How common is mansplaining?
Mansplaining is extremely common. The typical woman experiences mansplaining at work about six times a week on average. That would mean women face 312 instances of mansplaining every year.
What is manterrupting?
On the other hand, manterrupting is a term that refers to instances where a man interrupts a woman only because she’s a woman. For example, in mixed-gender conversations, a study from the University of California-Santa Barbara found that 97.9% of interruptions were from men.
Men are also more likely to aggressively speak over women in a dominant way that silences the entire room’s occupants, according to meta analyses of 43 studies.
What’s a manologue?
A manologue is similar to mansplaining in that it references men who give women their personal views, arguments, and advice that women didn’t ask for. The assumption comes from the man in question thinking that women are interested in the things he feels he has to say.
In a nutshell, it’s an unhelpful, unwarranted monologue from a man.
For example, Forbes points out that during the presidential debates of 2016, candidate Hilary Clinton was interrupted 51 times by Donald Trump. This happened in less than half an hour.
Does womansplaining exist?
No, womansplaining doesn’t exist and will never exist. Here’s why.
Because general society is based on patriarchal values and men are protected by this system, men often don’t face any consequences from inappropriate and entitled a behavior.
Men have historically always been the ones in power. As such — since mansplaining is directly tied to power dynamics — womanspalining could never exist.
What is whitesplaining?
Whitesplaining — another concept directly tied to a power dynamic — refers to instances where a white person explains or comments on the minority experience in a condescending way to a person of color.
They might also attempt to explain racism to them or even blame the person of color for certain behaviors.
Where Did Mansplaining Come from?
Mansplaining has essentially existed since the beginning of humanity. The word is a combination of “man” and “explaining.” However, the word’s origins are a bit difficult to trace.
The word emerged sometime from 2005 to 2010. Author Rebecca Solnit didn’t create the word, but she did bring attention to the concept with her essay “Men Explain Things to Me: Facts Didn’t Get in Their Way” in 2008.
Although Solnit didn’t expect it, her essay went viral online. On LiveJournal in particular, feminist groups shared her writing and helped popularize the term.
Mansplaining received even more attention in 2010 and 2012. It was cited as one of the New York Times’ “Words of the Year” and the American Dialect Society’s “most creative” new word, respectively.
Mansplaining Examples
Sometimes it helps to have a few scenarios or examples to explain a term. Here are some mansplaining examples to illuminate this concept a little better:
As a woman opens up about an experience she had and a man interrupts her to inform her that he’s “faced worse.”
During a conversation a woman discusses a current event and a man cuts her off to say she’s mistaken or doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
When a woman describes her position to a man, he interrupts her mid-sentence to inform her that he “knows how that works.”
While a woman is working on a task, a man steps in and completely takes over, even though she didn’t ask for that.
When a woman is sharing about a novel she recently read, a man cuts her off to say that she’s wrong about how the book ended.
All of these mansplaining examples are harmful in their own ways and should be avoided.
What’s an example of mansplaining in a relationship?
In the context of a relationship, mansplaining can look a little different or manifest in various other ways. Here are some common mansplaining examples in a relationship.
When a woman is trying to complete a task or figure out a solution to a problem, her boyfriend or husband takes over completely, saying “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
A woman expresses her thoughts on a social or political issue and her male partner says, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
While a woman opens up about her feelings surrounding a specific issue, her boyfriend or husband claims she’s “just being emotional.”
When a woman is making a decision regarding her body, her boyfriend or husband cuts her off and advises that she does something else instead.
A woman talks about her professional goals to her husband or boyfriend and he responds by insisting that she focus on “being a good mother and wife instead.”
These mansplaining examples in a relationship can ruin the connection you have with your partner.
Recognizing Mansplaining
Are you worried you may be mansplaining? It can be hard to notice when you cross over from simply explaining a concept to mansplaining. In fact, many people have no intention of doing so. This is closely tied to unconscious bias.
What’s the difference between mansplaining and explaining?
The line between the two appears when you either give undesired explanations or ignore the expertise of the recipient, according to the BBC.
Mansplaining is extremely patronizing to the recipient.
Simply put, if she does not want your help, or she has more relevant experience, then you are mansplaining.
How to easily recognize mansplaining
As mentioned above, the BBC’s chart is one of the easiest ways to identify mansplaining. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll start recognizing it everywhere.
Credit: Kim Goodwin, BBC (“Mansplaining, explained in one simple chart”)
Now, sometimes you may not intend to be mansplaining. This is where body language and the words you use come into play. It’s important to pay attention to whether you’re using condescending language or tones. Also make sure you’re giving people respect while they’re speaking. This can include cutting women off more than men, or not paying attention as much when a woman is speaking.
You can use platforms like Yoodli’s speech coach to catch this kind of language or behavior that you wouldn’t have recognized otherwise.
Correcting Mansplaining
To begin correcting a mansplaining habit, don’t make assumptions about who you are trying to help. If you are looking to help, ask if they want to hear you out before launching into an explanation. Oftentimes, underlying assumptions about women lacking experience in the workplace are the root cause of why a man feels the need to mansplain. By asking somebody if they need help, you put them in a position to say yes or no. That way, they can explain what they already know. It helps to avoid explanations that they might not need.
Second, it is important to be self-aware of your habits that may give off a sense of disrespect. A platform like Yoodli can give you quick feedback on potentially harmful behaviors. For example, Yoodli can inform you how often you’re cutting somebody off. It also notifies you whether or not you’re looking at your screen when a certain person is talking. With Yoodli, you can recognize these behaviors and correct them accordingly.
Benefits of Avoiding Mansplaining
These adjustments to your communication will also help you when you work with other people. If you can mitigate a condescending tone, or look somebody in the eye, you could find yourself having effective communication. By learning these practices, you are not only showing more respect to women in the workplace but all women you communicate with. Healthy communication is all about respect — listening more puts you on the right track to showing respect for the women (and everybody) you interact with.
If you struggle with stuttering, you know firsthand how challenging it can be to communicate effectively and with confidence.
Stuttering is a speech disorder that uses repetition or prolongation of sounds or words. It affects about 1% of the adult population and about 5% of children. This post is not medical advice – it is more a set of practices that might help reduce repeated words.
Stuttering can have a significant impact on a person’s life by hurting one’s communication, social skills, and confidence.
What Are The Causes Of Stuttering?
A number of factors can lead to stuttering, including genetic, neurological, and environmental variables.
Genetic Factors
Genetic factors are a primary reason for stuttering. Specifically, research suggests that stuttering can run in families. About 60% of people who stutter have a family member who also stutters.
Neurological Factors
Neurological factors can play a role in the development of stuttering. Some studies have found differences in the way the brain processes language in people who stutter, including differences in the way the brain’s left side functions.
Abnormalities in certain brain structures and connections can cause stuttering.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors can lead to the development of stuttering.
Stressful life events or changes, such as starting school or experiencing a significant loss, can cause stuttering in some individuals.
Additionally, premature birth or low birth weight can lead to a higher risk of stuttering.
Other factors that may cause stuttering include hearing problems, respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and certain medications.
It is important to realize that the exact cause of stuttering is not fully understood and more research is needed to fully understand the complex factors that can lead to this disorder.
Examples Of Famous People Who repeat words back to back
One of the most famous people of our time, Elon Musk!
Here’s a link to Elon Musk’s Commencement Address. In the bottom section we can read the transcript. Let’s take a look at how Yoodli’s feedback tool analyzes his speech:
We can see that under the “What could have gone better”, repetition and filler words are the top two categories, which are usually common for folks who stutter.
Let’s take a look at what our founder, Varun Puri, has to say on repetition:
Repetition on Yoodli
While repeating the same word back to back can be debilitating in certain high pressure situations, Yoodli allows you to practice and record yourself in a comfortable environment so that you can practice and evaluate your speaking in a judgment-free way.
By understanding the types of words and sounds that give you trouble, you can come up with alternative ways to say the same message and over time, get comfortable through practice.
What Are The Treatments For Stuttering?
There are several treatment options available for individuals who stutter, including:
Speech Therapy
This is a common treatment option for stuttering that works with a speech therapist to learn techniques to improve fluency and reduce stuttering.
These techniques may include exercises to slow down speaking rate, emphasize certain syllables, and control breathing.
Recently, AI has become a major tool to help with speech therapy. One of the best AI speech coaches on the market is Yoodli, a free speech coach that can analyze your speech in a judgment-free way.
Here’s a video that shows the power of Yoodli’s AI capabilities:
Yoodli – AI powered communication coach
Fluency Shaping Techniques
These techniques are designed to help individuals who stutter produce speech that is smoother and more fluent. This may involve using specific speaking techniques, such as pausing before speaking or speaking on exhaled breath.
Relaxation Techniques
These techniques, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, are designed to help individuals reduce tension and anxiety, which can sometimes worsen the stuttering.
Consistent Practice
Some individuals find that practicing speaking in specific situations, such as in front of a mirror or with a supportive listener, can help improve fluency. You can also record yourself speaking in front of Yoodli or even use Yoodli in your Zoom calls to see how you’re doing.
Using Yoodli in your Zoom calls
Support Groups
Joining a support group for individuals who stutter can provide a sense of community and the opportunity to share experiences and strategies for helping stuttering.
Tips For Managing Stutter On A Daily Basis
There are several ways that individuals who stutter can use to manage their stuttering on a daily basis. These include:
Slow down your pace: Speaking more slowly can help reduce the stutter. It can be helpful to take a few deep breaths before speaking to help calm your nerves and slow down your speaking rate.
Take deep breaths before speaking: Deep breathing can help relax the muscles used for speaking and reduce tension and anxiety, which can sometimes worsen stuttering.
Use visualization techniques: Some individuals find it helpful to visualize a smooth and fluent speaking experience before speaking. This can involve picturing yourself speaking smoothly and confidently in your mind.
Record yourself speaking: Recording yourself speaking can be a helpful way to identify areas where you tend to stutter and to practice techniques to improve fluency.
Focus on the content you say rather than the act of speaking: It can be helpful to focus on the meaning of what you want to say rather than worrying about the act of speaking itself. This can help reduce anxiety and improve fluency.
Yoodli’s Free AI Speech Coach Is Here For You To Help Manage And Treat Your Stuttering
Stuttering is common! Some of the most famous people like Elon Musk repeat themselves, and are able to persevere through it. By using the tips above, you can be in charge of your life and not let your stutter impact the way you live.
Try the tips and techniques above to manage your stutter and sign up for Yoodli to receive free and instant coaching to help you improve!
Small talk plays a crucial role in building relationships and creating a sense of connection with others. As such, it’s important not to neglect your skill in small talk and work on ways to improve it!
Why Is Small Talk Important?
Small talk is important for three main reasons:
Allows people to get to know each other better
Establishes common ground
Build rapport
By engaging in small talk, people can learn more about each other’s interests and backgrounds. This helps strengthen their relationship and builds trust.
Small talk also helps to make people feel more at ease and comfortable in social situations. This is especially important in professional settings where building relationships is crucial for success.
Additionally, small talk can be an effective way to network and make connections, as it allows people to exchange information and potentially open up new opportunities.
Tips For Easy And Effortless Small Talk
Proper Word Choice
When making small talk, it’s important to choose your words carefully. Below are a few tips that can help you use the proper words:
Avoid non-inclusive words. These can include words that are profane, derogatory, and even words that you may casually use such as “guys” when speaking to an audience of different genders.
Be mindful of the filler words that you use. Words such as “umm”, “uhhh”, “yeah”, “basically”, etc. indicate nervousness and a lack of confidence.
Keep the conversation light and positive and avoid controversial or sensitive subjects.
Yoodli’s feedback tool allows you to record your speaking so you can be mindful of these tips.
Example of A Speech With Quality Word Choice
One of the best speakers in the world, Oprah Winfrey, does an excellent job with her words. She knows that words are very powerful, particularly when they are delivered in the right way.
Using Yoodli’s feedback tool, we can analyze her Oscar Acceptance Speech here.
Analyzing Oprah Winfrey’s Oscar Acceptance Speech Using Yoodli’s Feedback Tool
We see that Oprah does a great job of:
Minimizing her repetition
Not using any filler words
Using relevant top keywords
Only using weak words 1% of the time
Delivery
It’s important to practice delivering your message in a confident and positive way. The following are great ways to increase your charisma, charm and delivery when speaking:
Pacing your words so it’s not too slow or too rushed
Smiling when you talk
Using eye contact to show interest
Pausing when you speak to allow the other person to respond
Actively listening to what the other person has to say
These behaviors can help to make the conversation feel more natural and engaging. It’s also a good idea to be mindful of your body language and make an effort to appear approachable and open to chatting.
We can analyze the same speech above, but this time, looking at the delivery analytics:
Analyzing Oprah Winfrey’s Oscar Acceptance Speech Using Yoodli’s Feedback Tool
We can see that her pace was relaxed at 134 words per minute. Her body language is perfectly centered, she incorporates good eye contact with the audience, and pauses throughout the speech.
Techniques For Avoiding Awkward Silences
There are a few techniques that can help you avoid awkward silences when making small talk. One way is to have a few topics in mind before starting a conversation. This can give you something to fall back on if the conversation starts to lull.
The Yoodli Impromptu Speaking Challenge that our founder, Varun Puri, plays is a great way to train your brain to think quickly on its feet:
Yoodli Impromptu Speaking Challenge
Head over to Yoodli’s Gaming Section to check out the other games that you can practice your small talk skills with.
Another way to avoid awkward silences is to follow up on the other person’s responses and ask them more questions about themselves. This can keep the conversation flowing and show that you are interested in what they have to say.
Finally, don’t be afraid to share something about yourself! This can help to create a more balanced and engaging conversation. By using these techniques and staying mindful of the conversation, you can avoid awkward silences and keep the conversation flowing smoothly.
Small Talk Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult. Yoodli’s Free AI Speech Coach Can Help You Become Great At Small Talk
Small talk is an important skill that can help you build relationships, make people feel comfortable, and facilitate networking.
By following the tips and techniques outlined above, you can become more confident and proficient at making small talk.
If you want to take your small talk skills to the next level, consider signing up for Yoodli. With Yoodli, you’ll have access to a range of resources and tools to help you become great at small talk and improve your communication skills.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your social and professional connections. Sign up for Yoodli today and start making small talk like a pro!
Have you ever heard the term “executive presence” but weren’t exactly sure what it meant? You’re not alone. Executive presence is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the business world, but it can be difficult to define or quantify.
What Is Executive Presence?
Executive presence is a combination of qualities that enable a person to inspire confidence and respect in their leadership ability. It is important in the workplace because it helps leaders to effectively communicate and influence others.
It is a combination of factors that enable an individual to be perceived as a leader:
Confidence
Gravitas
Authenticity
Communication skills
Personal brand
Confidence
Confidence is an essential part of executive presence, as it helps leaders inspire others and make decisions with conviction. This comes from the way you speak and how you deliver your message.
When you feel confident, it completely changes your presence. For example, you might feel more sure of yourself. People may view you as more in control, poised, and professional.
Consider working on this aspect of executive presence if you think you might be lacking confidence. Someone who feels self-assured is more likely to:
Volunteer for challenges as work or school
Make solid decisions
Speak up for themselves or others, like in meetings at work or during class in school
Gravitas
Gravitas, or a sense of importance and weight, is also crucial for leaders to convey, as it helps them command respect and attention from their peers and subordinates. In other words, someone with gravitas shows authority.
You don’t have to be born with it; instead, this aspect of executive presence can be grown and cultivated as you develop your skills.
If you feel like you need to work on your gravitas, you can do things like:
Keep track of your personal and professional growth
Work on developing an increased sense of self-awareness
Learn how to communicate effectively
Authenticity
Authenticity is another key element of executive presence, as it allows leaders to be genuine and relatable to their teams.
When you’re true to yourself (and when others see this), you’ll be able to connect with peers and subordinates on a deeper, genuine level. It also helps inspire others to follow your lead while also cultivating an atmosphere of trust.
To develop or improve your authenticity, you can do things like:
Practice self-reflection
Don’t be afraid of being vulnerable, especially in front of other people such as your peers or subordinates
Be honest with the people who have relationships with
Be upfront about your imperfections and how you mitigate them
Recognize your own weaknesses and strengths
Leaders who have executive presence are not only self-aware, but also truthful, up front, and maintain a sense of integrity.
Communication skills
Good communication skills, including the ability to articulate ideas clearly and listen actively, are also essential for leaders to effectively convey their vision and connect with their team.
If you aren’t able to communicate effectively with others — no matter if they’re your peers or subordinates — you won’t be able to improve your executive presence. As a leader, you need to be able to convey information in a concise but meaningful way to inspire the people who look up to you.
You’ll be able to better support your team and your peers when you have excellent communication skills.
Personal brand
Your personal brand includes both personal grooming and the way a leader presents themselves.
Both executive presence and personal branding helps you stand out from the crowd in the best way. Developing a strong personal brand also helps you:
Be consistent in your leadership
Manage your reputation (both online and offline)
Build trust and credibility in your position
Advance further in your career
Have more of an impact on your peers and subordinates
Build successful, fruitful relationships and connections
Overall, executive presence is about projecting a sense of confidence, competence, and authenticity that inspires trust and respect in others.
Executive Presence Training
You can explore training to improve in specific areas that you might be struggling with. Executive presence training helps hone in on your leadership skills so that you can be more confident, competent, and credible.
For example, if you go through this type of leadership development, you’ll likely have a coach who can give you tips and strategies for improvement. This could include learning activities and self-assessment, too.
Yoodli pairs perfectly with executive presence training, and can help you get to the next level. This AI speech coach is free to download and can help with everything from your word choice to your filler word usage, speaking pace, and even the information you want to convey.
Using generative AI technology, Yoodli will analyze your speech and give you actionable tips and feedback based on what was said and how you said it. It can help you improve your executive presence by helping you prepare for and practice your:
Impromptu speaking
Presentations for work or school
Conversational speaking skills
Interview skills
You can learn more about how Yoodli works below:
You can improve your executive presence through Yoodli, an AI-powered communication coach.
Why Is Executive Presence Important?
Executive presence is important for everyone to develop, but especially leaders or those who want to become leaders.
Executive presence is a crucial quality for anyone aspiring to leadership roles, as it enables them to
It’s a key ingredient of successful leadership, since having executive presence helps you:
Be more confident
Lead your peers and subordinates
Reach your career goals efficiently (and faster than before)
It’s important to keep in mind that improving your executive presence doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes dedicated time and effort, as well as personal work on yourself.
Improving your executive presence can involve a number of different strategies. Here are a few ideas to improve your executive presence.
1. Build your confidence.
Confidence can help you project authority and inspire others to follow your lead. You can build your confidence by setting and achieving challenging goals and seeking out new opportunities to lead or speak up.
The first step to improve your self-confidence is believing in yourself and what you stand for. Confidence is contagious, and you can spread this to others, like your coworkers, classmates, peers, and subordinates.
2. Work on developing good communication skills.
Good communication skills are crucial for executive presence, including the ability to articulate your ideas clearly and listen actively to others.
If you feel like you already have good communication skills, focus on refining or enhancing them. Taking advantage of the latest communication technology is a great way to start.
One sign of a successful communicator is being able to change your style of communication based on the situation or your audience.
You can work on developing your communication skills by signing up for Yoodli and practicing your speaking in a judgment-free way. Yoodli’s feedback tool will instantly analyze your speech and give you suggestions on how to improve your word choice and delivery.
3. Become a better listener.
Sharpening your listening skills is one of the best ways to improve your executive presence. Active listening is crucial for building rapport and understanding others’ perspectives. Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal cues (such as hand gestures) and ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding.
Knowing how to be a good listener is more important than many leaders realize. Plus, learning how to listen with empathy is an especially important skill for any leader.
4. Practice staying level-headed when you’re under stress.
A true sign of successful executive presence is the ability to stay calm and functional, even when you’re stressed. In stressful or chaotic work environments, it can be hard to continue leading in your usual manner. When you’re overwhelmed, keeping a cool head is a challenge in and of itself.
Practice staying calm and professional when you’re going through a stressful time and work to improve your emotional maturity.
Other ways to improve your executive presence
Of course, there are many other ways you can improve your executive presence. For example, you can do other things like:
Make sure you’re up-to-date on current events going on in the world, in your industry, and in your smaller circle (like at work or school) to demonstrate your credibility
Be on the lookout for and open to feedback, including criticism, and plan to use that feedback for improvement
Learn from and keep up with leaders who inspire you for motivation
Make sure you continue to be professional, at work and outside of work
Executive Presence Examples
Sometimes, it’s easier to envision what executive presence looks like through realistic examples and scenarios. As such, here are some executive presence examples to better illustrate what this key quality of leaders can look like in different settings.
A leader in your local community speaks out against the town’s littering problem and motivates community members to support the cause and take action to reduce the amount of trash and rubbish.
A boss stays calm and collected while acknowledging an issue with the team in a respectful way, which not only solves the problem but also improves the team’s rapport.
A CEO gives an impressive, succinct presentation to a large committee panel and is able to effectively showcase the business’ financial success from the past quarter.
A marketing exec enthusiastically pitches a service to a potential customer — leveraging her expertise — and builds a strong relationship with the client from the get-go.
Sheryl Sandberg’s 2011 keynote speech
Here’s an example of executive presence and confidence using Yoodli’s feedback tool. This executive presence example involves Yoodli’s feedback tool analyzing the entire Sheryl Sandberg speech.
Let’s take a look at Yoodli’s analysis of Sandberg’s speech. We can see below that:
She doesn’t use filler words in her speech — Instead she pauses.
She has a variety of top keywords that relate to her speech
She only uses weak words 2% of the time
You can see the transcript at the bottom, and on the right is the speaking insights, which include word choice and delivery:
Full Yoodli Analysis of Sheryl Sandberg Speech
From a delivery perspective, we see that Sandberg maintains great eye contact and incorporates pauses during her speech.
She could have reduced her pace ever so slightly, so as to not sound rushed. 150 words per minute would be more optimal.
President Barack Obama’s DNC Speech
Let’s take a look at one of the best speakers in the world, Barack Obama, and analyze his speech using Yoodli’s feedback tool:
Barack Obama has a strong executive presence, evident in this speech.
Using Yoodli’s analysis, we can observe the following:
He doesn’t use any filler words! Instead, he incorporates pauses in his speech. This conveys confidence and credibility.
He includes only inclusive words. This helps him relate to all segments of the audience.
His top keywords are appropriate for the situation. Words such as president, better and democracy are all words that make sense in a political speech.
Some of the most notable advantages to having a strong executive presence include:
Helping you feel more empowered: When you work on your leadership skills, for example, this can build your self-confidence, making you feel more empowered. You’ll feel more satisfaction in your professional and personal life when you project a positive image of yourself.
Motivating and inspiring other people: Leaders who motivate and inspire others have a strong executive presence. When you’re able to connect with people on a personal level and clearly communicate your goals, you’ll get more support from those around you.
Building your credibility and trust: When you feel empowered and secure in yourself, you’ll build up the trust and credibility others have in you. This is important for anyone, but especially for those who want to be leaders for their peers, subordinates, coworkers, or key stakeholders.
Being able to influence and persuade others easier: If you’re in an industry like sales or marketing, having a strong executive presence can make it easier to influence others or shape their opinions on something, such as a service or product. It’s due to a combination of being able to get people excited, communicate clearly, and exude confidence.
Refining and enhancing your personal brand: Having a positive reputation and personal brand, as well as a good executive presence, goes hand in hand. For example, a manager whose coworkers see as motivational, confident, and clever are more likely to be respected by their peers.
Growing your negotiating and conflict resolution skills: It’s no secret that improving your executive presence also builds up your negotiating and conflict resolution abilities. Being able to communicate clearly while also staying calm in stressful situations can also come in handy in both your personal and professional life.
Becoming a better communicator and team player: Someone with strong executive presence likely also has efficient communication skills. Not only are they comfortable speaking with others, but also are adept at getting their point across and communicating their vision. This can make you a better team player and improve your collaboration skills as well.
Going further in your career in less time: Having a significant executive presence can also help you go further in your career in less time. You can accelerate your career path through self-confidence, having a good reputation, and of course, excellent communication skills. That’s because you’ll be more likely to be noticed by others, especially with regard to getting raises, promotions, and higher positions.
The Bottom Line
There are several strategies that you can use to improve your executive presence, such as:
Build confidence
Develop good communication skills
Be authentic
Pay attention to your personal brand
If you want to take your executive presence to the next level, use Yoodli, an AI-powered platform designed to help you grow as a leader.
With Yoodli, you’ll have access to a range of resources, including free coaching and feedback to help you develop your executive presence and strengthen your leadership skills.
Don’t miss this opportunity to tap into the power of AI and take your leadership to new heights. Sign up with Yoodli today.
If speaking in public makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone.
Glossophobia — more commonly known as the fear of public speaking — is actually very common. In fact, between 72-75% of people have anxiety or fear around public speaking.
Although Yoodli offers some more hands-on practice through video tutorials and clear-cut information on everything from presentation techniques to uptalk, books on public speaking are a great complementary option for those tackling their fear.
Here are the top 7 best public speaking books you should check out to conquer your fear of public speaking.
If you’re exploring ways to improve your public speaking skills, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard of Chris Anderson’s book. There’s an even better chance you’ve heard of TED Talks — speeches that run 20 minutes or less and present innovative, influential ideas and topics. Anderson is the curator of TED, and his guide to public speaking covers the most important aspects of giving a successful speech while also emphasizing that every talk is its own unique experience. In addition to that, he also provides examples of a few techniques for public speakers to avoid.
Mike Acker eloquently spells out how to be a better public communicator through “Speak With No Fear: Go From a Nervous, Nauseated, and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter.” Acker’s book and his strategies stand out, as they’re applicable to speeches as small as a birthday toast to an audience of hundreds. Readers can build on his seven strategies — from imagining the worst possible scenario to channeling your anxiety into a positive outcome — to completely transform their public speaking abilities.
Scott Berkun’s book stands out as one of the most versatile books on our list, as he guides readers through how to be an effective communicator to anyone. “Confessions of a Public Speaker” might also be the most hilarious book of the seven. Berkun’s personal experiences are highlighted throughout. He doesn’t shy away from past embarrassments but rather uses them as valuable learning experiences worth sharing. Berkun also details his public speaking successes from over a decade of determined practice.
Published in 1915, “The Art of Public Speaking” is a classic, tried-and-true, no-nonsense guide to effective communication, from the initial prep work to the actual presentation. Carnegie’s secret to successful public speaking? Practice. He emphasizes the sheer importance of focusing on the positive while also putting in the effort. Confidence is another huge theme explored in “The Art of Public Speaking,” and Carnegie’s book is considered foundational for anyone who wants to improve their public speaking skills.
Women, in particular, often face even more challenges with regard to public speaking. Many women attest to the fact that they’re usually held to impossibly high standards when compared to men, and authors Lois Phillips and Anita Perez Ferguson use their own experiences to break down this phenomenon. The determination seen in “Women Seen and Heard” is not only inspiring but also leverages pertinent public speaking tips to improve communication.
Again, Dale Carnegie breaks down public speaking in one of his other most popular books, “The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking,” through simple, actionable techniques that anyone can implement. In this book, you’ll learn the basics of compelling public speaking, as well as the critical aspects and methods central to efficient communication. Considered a communication classic, Carnegie’s take on public speaking will completely transform not only your own communication skills but also the way you view public speaking as a whole.
If you’re an introvert, public speaking may be even more difficult or overwhelming for you. Luckily, we have Joanna Penn to walk us through the ends and outs of public speaking. Penn focuses on three aspects of communication: the practicalities of speaking, your mindset, and what she calls “the speaking business.” The way she sees it, all creatives will have to present and communicate ideas in front of an audience at some point, so you might as well put in the energy and effort to learn how to do it effectively. Although the book is tailored toward creatives and other introverts, Penn’s strategies are applicable to anyone who aims to improve their public speaking abilities.
For folks looking to practice the material they learn in their books, check out and practice with the resources at Yoodli.
What is Table Topics? Is it possible to prepare to speak off-the-cuff?
Table Topics® is a long-standing element of Toastmasters club meetings. It’s designed to help participants practice impromptu speaking.
Keep reading to learn how Table Topics® works and to get a few tips and resources for impromptu speaking.
What Is Table Topics?
Let’s say you’re in the break room at work. Phil from the accounting department engages you in conversation. After briefly discussing your recent holiday experiences, Phil asks what you think about the leadership contest in the U.S. House of Representatives. Later that day, you’re in a team meeting, and your boss unexpectedly asks you about the status of the new website you’ve been working on.
These are exactly the sort of situations that Toastmasters Table Topics® is designed to help you with. What is Table Topics? Toastmasters club meetings have used this exercise for decades. Let’s take a look at how it works and then consider a few Table Topics examples.
How Toastmasters Table Topics® Works
A Topicsmaster is designated prior to the Toastmasters club meeting. At the meeting (typically after the prepared speeches), the Topicsmaster introduces Table Topics®. This can be a topic or a question. Often, it’s related to current events or that meeting’s theme.
The Topicsmasters ask for volunteers to respond to the topic or question, or they randomly call on people. Typically, they prioritize people who don’t have other speaking roles in the meeting. They might call on a guest to speak—but only after members have modeled how it’s done. Guests are always given the option to respond or not. The Topicsmaster aims to match the difficulty level with each respondent’s experience.
Each response takes a minute or two. The Topicsmaster keeps the exercise going by managing the transitions until the completion of the exercise.
Toastmasters Table Topics Examples
To get a better understanding of how the exercise works, take a look at these Table Topics® examples and ideas.
Headlines
The Topicsmaster asks people to talk about a current news story. Even if they don’t know much about it, they could play the role of reporter and discuss the questions they would ask about it to understand the story. Ultimately, the point of Table Topics® is to get experience with impromptu speaking, not to demonstrate what you know about a particular matter.
Grab Bag
The Topicsmaster brings a bag full of items and asks people to draw something from the bag and speak about it. Examples:
The items are office supplies, and people tell a brief story in which the item is the main character.
The items are unfamiliar to most people, such as objects from a print shop or a chemistry lab, and people explain what they are—even if they have no idea and just make it up. (You can see how this exercise can be a lot of fun!)
Photo Stories
The Topicsmaster brings or digitally displays images, and people make up stories about them. For example, there’s a picture of a car in the middle of a forest. A storyteller tells about a self-driving vehicle that just wants to get away from it all.
Sales Pitch
The Topicsmaster asks each person to sell a certain item. For example, the first person gives a two-minute sales pitch for a beach condo in Fiji. The next person has two minutes to tell the others why they should buy a twelve-pack of Christmas stockings. This Table Topics exercise can be done as a Grab Bag or with images to make it even more interesting and fun.
Keep It Going
The Topicsmaster introduces one topic or question, and everyone speaks to that topic. For example, What’s one piece of advice that you would give to your younger self? or What’s the best thing going on at work or at home right now? It helps if the topic is one that everyone can speak to.
Mix It Up
While Topicsmasters follow guidelines, they (and the club in general) may put creative spins on how Table Topics® is done. The main thing is to accomplish the purpose of the exercise, which is skills development. Let’s look at that next.
Toastmasters Table Topics Skills
When your boss asks you for an update on your project, the purpose is to find out what’s going on with your project. When Phil asks for your opinion on the leadership contest, the purpose is to find out your opinion on the leadership contest.
However, when the Topicsmaster asks you about the war in Ukraine, the purpose is not to learn about the war in Ukraine and your views about it. The point of the Toastmasters Table Topics® exercise is skills development. It’s designed to help members think on their feet and respond quickly yet effectively.
While this is a chance for respondents to develop their impromptu speaking skills, it’s also an opportunity for the Topicsmaster to practice preparation and facilitation skills. And, just like every other element of Toastmasters club meetings, Table Topics® allows everyone to build confidence in public speaking and leadership. Every opportunity to speak and lead is valuable practice and experience.
Practice Table Topics Skills With Yoodli AI
Toastmasters International partners with Yoodli to help members improve their Table Topics® skills. Toastmasters members can find a Table Topics® button front and center on their version of the Yoodli AI public speaking tool.
You can see in the screenshot below that Varun has one minute to give an impromptu talk about his book recommendations. Yoodli records his speech and then provides instant feedback on his filler words, eye contact, weak words, etc. Practicing without a human audience gives you confidence to speak in front of people!
Toastmasters members can access the Toastmasters version of Yoodli through their member portal (see the screenshot below).
By the way, if you’re not a Toastmasters member, you can access similar impromptu speech games for free with the Yoodli app. They will have you learning and laughing!
Impromptu Speaking Tips & Resources
Mark Twain said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” Although the attribution is in question, Sir Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks.” While we might chuckle at these clever quips, there’s something serious to be found in the idea.
Toastmasters Table Topics® involves impromptu speaking, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare for it. This article by Distinguished Toastmaster Peggy Beach recommends that you prepare for Table Topics® by reading a lot and staying up-to-date with what’s in the news. This advice works for all impromptu speaking, whether you’re in a Toastmasters club meeting or not.
Beach’s article mentions that the bar is lower for impromptu speaking. In the break room, Phil doesn’t expect you to answer his question about the House leadership contest as though you were Greta Van Susteren or Chris Matthews. Keep that in mind, and treat impromptu speaking like a comfortable conversation whether it technically is or isn’t.
Read “10 Tips for Terrific Table Topics” by Distinguished Toastmaster Christopher Cox. These strategies for sharp responses (such as “know when to stop” and “draw on your own experiences”) are helpful for any impromptu speaking.
Play Spin a Yarn for free. This super fun Yoodli game lets you practice maintaining your train of thought with plot twists along the way.
Wrapping Up
Impromptu speaking is a valuable skill to have, regardless of who you are and what you do. You’re always being called on to speak, whether it’s in the hallway at work, at a dinner with friends, or in a work meeting or interview.
Toastmasters Table Topics® and Yoodli are here to help you develop your confidence and ability with impromptu speaking. Take advantage of these valuable opportunities, and always be prepared to speak off the cuff!
