Few skills strike as much fear, or spark as much growth, as public speaking. More than a third of women (34 percent) in our audience say they feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with it, while only about one in four describe themselves as very comfortable. Even the most seasoned speakers will tell you it takes practice, courage, and a whole lot of trial and error to find your voice.
We asked our community of women—representing various industries and career stages—to share the public speaking strategies that have worked for them. Their tips, rooted in vulnerability, creativity, and strength, prove that confidence isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you build.
Practice, prepare, and make it natural
What our community says:
1. “Continue to talk to people, share stories, and interact with strangers (or customers, since I work in hospitality!) on a daily basis. When it’s time to speak in a presentation or media interview setting, I’m golden.”
2. “Know your material. Join Toastmasters to learn to think on your feet. Slow your speech.”
3. “Be prepared with your content. You don’t need to read word-for-word from a script, but have a script to talk on and be able to DEVIATE when necessary so it doesn’t feel robotic but still intentional. A script will also help with confidence, so you won’t rely on it as much when giving the actual presentation.”
4. “Practice/rehearsal of a presentation is key. I record myself using an app called Speeko, and this helps me make sure I remember to pause, breathe, and use a dynamic tone of voice.”
5. “Remember the following: Acting as if it's a conversation makes your speech more natural.”
Actionable tips to try:
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Join a speaking group: Sign up for Toastmasters, a local storytelling club, or an improv class. In these sessions, you’ll learn to structure a story, pace yourself, and engage an audience. Watch how others tell their stories and take notes on techniques you can try, like starting with a hook or using pauses for emphasis.
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Do “small stage” reps: Practice telling short stories in everyday interactions. When ordering coffee, comment on a new pastry and follow up with a (brief) mini-story about a baking fail you had. At work, share a story about a small win or a lesson from a project in casual conversation. The goal is to get comfortable adapting your story to different listeners and noticing what keeps people engaged.
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Record yourself and review: Film yourself on your phone, then watch it back to spot habits like talking too fast, skipping pauses, or avoiding eye contact.
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Bullet, don’t script: Outline your story in bullet points (main event, challenge, action, result, takeaway) so you can tell it conversationally instead of reading word-for-word. For example, you might write down: “Lost luggage → missed client meeting → improvised presentation → learned to double-check airline policies”, then practice narrating it naturally.
Read more: 6 Ways to Calm Your Nerves
Tailor your tone, message, and delivery for your audience
What our community says:
6. “Really think about your audience, what they know, what they don't know, and what they care about. If you focus on your audience and tailoring your information and delivery for them, you'll communicate better and have less room to focus on your insecurities.”
7. “Know your audience and prepare your presentation with that audience in mind. The message doesn’t have to change, but the delivery might.”
8. “The audience stops thinking about you in six seconds then starts to think ‘what's in it for me?’”
9. “Practice, practice, practice…then practice in front of the mirror. Know the room you're presenting in. Go check it out, then pick a place to the right back wall to look at, then the middle and left. It will help with audience engagement. Know your audience beforehand as much as possible.”
Actionable tips to try:
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Research the room: Learn who will be in the audience and adjust your examples and jargon accordingly. For example, if you’re presenting to senior leaders, skim their recent press releases or LinkedIn posts to understand their priorities.
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Anchor your message in relevance: Before writing your speech, jot down: What does this audience care about most? What problem am I solving for them? Say you’re giving a sales pitch. Don’t just list product features, instead, explain, “This tool can save your team two hours a week,” so your audience immediately sees the benefit to them.
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Practice “what’s in it for me” framing: Before drafting your talk, write down the audience’s likely question: “How does this help me?” Then reshape your points.
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Engage with your eyes: When addressing a large audience, imagine you’re having three mini-conversations—one with the right side, one with the middle, one with the left. This keeps people from feeling overlooked.
Read more: 7 Ways to Make Better, More Confident Eye Contact
Find your own unique speaking style
What our community says:
10. “Remembering they are all people. Letting my personality shine through. Be myself. Know what my audience wants to gain from the information. Also recognize that time is a valuable commodity. Most importantly, know your material front, back and upside down.”
11. “Finding my own style and letting my personality come through in my way of speaking and delivering information. It allows me to connect with the audience on a deeper level.”
12. “One technique that’s helped me become a better public speaker is focusing on connection over perfection—speaking to reach people, not just impress them. It’s transformed how I prepare, deliver, and engage.”
Actionable tips to try:
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Craft your signature style: Notice patterns in talks you enjoy giving. Do you tell stories first, then deliver data? Use visuals to illustrate points? Emulate the structure that feels natural and effective for you.
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Focus on connection, not perfection: Instead of obsessing over flawless delivery, your primary focus should be to engage your audience. Pause to ask, “Does anyone have questions about that?” or invite a quick show of hands. Small interactions build rapport.
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Use personal examples when relevant: Share real experiences from your work or life that illustrate your point. Audiences remember relatable stories far more than abstract concepts.
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Observe feedback: After presentations, ask a trusted colleague or friend which parts felt “you” and which felt forced. Gradually refine your delivery so it’s authentically yours.
Give yourself grace
What our community says:
13. “To accept that I am human and not be concerned about being embarrassed.”
14. “Finding my cheerleaders in the room/the ones that are smiling at me.”
15. “Remembering that not a lot of people like public speaking either. Just knowing that helps me get through it.”
16. “Realizing that most people aren’t even thinking about me after I’m done :)”
Actionable tips to try:
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Embrace imperfection: If you stumble over a word or lose your place, pause, take a breath, and continue. Audiences rarely notice minor errors, and they often make you feel more human and relatable.
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Shift your perspective post-presentation: After you finish, resist overanalyzing every word. Focus on what you did communicate successfully and make a note of one thing that went well and one thing to improve next time.
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Practice self-compassion: Before and after your talk, use a quick mental pep talk: “I prepared. I showed up. That’s enough.” Treat yourself as you would a friend learning a new skill.
Read more: 148 Positive Daily Affirmations for Women Who Need a Boost
