How Practice Helps You Become a Better Public Speaker

We’ve all heard the saying “practice makes perfect”. But when it comes to public speaking, practice isn't really about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming more

confident, more comfortable, and more prepared.

Toastmasters Speaker

Whether you're preparing your first Toastmasters speech or you've been speaking for years, regular practice can make a huge difference to how you communicate.

At Headingley Speakers, we believe that one of the best ways to improve your public speaking is simple: keep speaking!

Why Does Practice Matter?

Public speaking can feel uncomfortable because it isn't something most of us do every day. Standing in front of an audience, remembering what you want to say, and trying to keep people engaged can all feel like a lot at once.

The more you practise, the more familiar these things become.

With practice, you can start to:

• Feel more comfortable speaking in front of others

• Reduce nerves and anxiety

• Speak more clearly and confidently

• Improve your pacing and delivery

• Become better at organising your thoughts

• Develop your own speaking style

You don't become a confident speaker overnight. Confidence grows through repeated experiences of standing up, speaking, learning, and trying again.

Practise Out Loud

One of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing a speech is practising only in their head.

Thinking through your speech can be useful, but speaking it out loud is completely different.

When you practise aloud, you'll notice things you might not have spotted otherwise. Perhaps a sentence is difficult to say, a section doesn't flow naturally, or your speech is much longer than you expected.

Speaking out loud also helps you become familiar with the sound and rhythm of your speech.

Don't Just Memorise Your Speech

It can be tempting to try to memorise every single word. While this might work for some speakers, it can also make you more nervous if you forget a sentence.

Instead, focus on remembering:

• Your main message

• Your introduction

• Your key points

• Your stories or examples

• Your conclusion

Knowing the structure of your speech gives you something to fall back on if you lose your place.

Record Yourself

One of the most useful ways to practise is to record yourself speaking.

It might feel strange at first, but listening back can reveal things you don't notice while you're speaking.

You might discover that you:

• Speak faster when you're nervous

• Use the same filler words repeatedly

• Don't pause enough

• Speak more quietly than you realised

• Have particularly effective phrases or moments

Recording yourself isn't about criticising everything you do. Instead, look for one or two things you can improve next time.

Practise Your Delivery, Not Just Your Words

A great speech isn't simply about what you say. It's also about how you say it.

When practising, experiment with:

• Vocal variety

• Pauses

• Pace

• Volume

• Facial expressions

• Gestures

• Eye contact

Try saying the same sentence in different ways and notice how the meaning or emotion changes.

Your delivery can turn a good speech into a memorable one.

Practise in Different Situations

Once you're comfortable practising alone, challenge yourself.

Try delivering your speech:

• In front of a mirror

• To a friend or family member

• On a video call

• While standing rather than sitting

• Without looking at your notes

Each new situation helps you become more adaptable and comfortable speaking in front of others.

Learn From Feedback

Practice is even more powerful when combined with feedback.

This is one of the reasons Toastmasters is so valuable. At Headingley Speakers, members receive supportive evaluations designed to help them understand what they're doing well and where they can improve.

Don't try to change everything at once. Take one piece of feedback, practise it, and then see how it feels in your next speech.

Over time, those small improvements add up.

Practice Doesn't Have to Mean a Full Speech

You don't always need to rehearse a ten-minute presentation.

You can practise public speaking anywhere. Try:

• Explaining an idea out loud

• Telling a story to a friend

• Answering an unexpected question

• Summarising something you've read

• Practising a one-minute Table Topic

These small opportunities help you become more comfortable putting your thoughts into words.

The More You Do It, the Easier It Gets

Your first speech might feel terrifying. Your second might feel slightly easier. Eventually, standing up in front of a group can start to feel completely normal.

That's the power of practice.

Every time you speak, you're building experience. Every mistake teaches you something. Every piece of feedback gives you something new to work on.

You don't need to wait until you're confident before you start speaking.

Speaking is how you build the confidence.

Keep Practising at Headingley Speakers

At Headingley Speakers, every meeting provides an opportunity to practise communication in a friendly and supportive environment.

Whether you're delivering a prepared speech, taking part in Table Topics, evaluating another speaker, or taking on one of our many meeting roles, you're constantly developing skills that can benefit you both inside and outside Toastmasters.

So the next time you're preparing to speak, remember: don't aim for perfection.

Practise. Learn. Try again. Improve.

And before you know it, you'll be standing up to speak with a confidence you never thought you'd have.