What do you do if you want to improve your assertiveness and confidence in public speaking and presentations?

If you wish to improve your assertiveness and confidence in presentation, always remember who is your audience. There is no “one size fits all” you need to customise your content and delivery according to your audience. Once you know, you need to understand your audience would be varied group with visual Learners, some would be kinaesthetic and some would be auditory Learners. You need to take them into consideration and design your content. Have some handy games, poll questions, or icebreakers to incorporate where every you see dip in attention. I hope this would be helpful.

Recording yourself while speaking can help you pinpoint areas of improvement. As a non-native speaker, it's important to • look out for the overuse of filler words, • observe confident (or insecure) body language, and • make sure your sentence structure is simple and conveys your message clearly.

Record your speaking! The best athletes study their game film. They carefully review plays and look for missteps in order to improve. Do the same. Record your run-through. Specifically watch for; - Where you're looking - What your hands are doing - How quickly you're speaking - Your filler words

If anxious before presenting, reframe your mindset. Anxiety shows up in the body the same as excitement. Instead of thinking anxious thoughts, say to yourself that you are excited about the opportunity. This stop your anxiety from taking over allow space to think about the positive aspects of your upcoming presentation.

Confidence is a result of what you do. So, practice and keep progressing on this journey. Whether it is speaking to a handful of guests in your home over coffee, or at a local speaking club like Toastmasters, keep moving forward.

For non-native speakers, focus on mastering key phrases and expressions relevant to your industry or field of expertise. Record yourself practicing using these phrases with clarity and confidence in simulated presentations or role-playing scenarios. Analyze the recording to find areas of improvement, like pronunciation or body language. By working on your language skills in contexts directly related to your industry, you'll not only enhance your assertiveness but also gain confidence in communicating effectively during presentations and meetings.

Recognize that feeling nervous is common, especially for non-native speakers. Instead of trying to eliminate your accent, focus on speaking with confidence and clarity. Share personal anecdotes or experiences in your presentations to build rapport with your audience. Remember, embracing your vulnerabilities can enhance your authenticity and make you a more engaging speaker.

Don't forget to inject a bit of humour. Nothing snaps an audience back into focus like a well-told joke. Humour creates a bond. A sense of closeness. Poke a little fun at yourself. Choose something that humanizes you (and others might relate to).