8 Skills To Master Public Speaking

Speaking in front of others is hard.

Presenting data in front of leaders who doubt your numbers? Even harder.

But excellent speakers aren’t born, they’re trained.

At Data Story Academy, we coach professionals to speak with authority, connect with their audience, and guide the room toward clear decisions.

Here are 8 practical ways to become the kind of speaker people actually want to listen to.

#1  Start Strong

You’ve got 5 seconds to earn their focus. Don’t start with a thank you or agenda. Lead with a sharp insight, a surprising stat, or a bold question.

Make them feel something before they think something.

#2  Stick to One Message

Great speakers don’t try to say everything, they drive one idea home at a time. Structure your talk and your slides around one takeaway per section.

Ask: “If they remember one thing—what should it be?”

#3  Use Silence as a Tool

Pauses create presence. They make your key points stand out and give the audience time to reflect.

Pause right after your biggest insight and let the weight of it land.

#4  Make Them Feel It

Facts fade. Emotions stick. Start with a story or tension your audience can relate to then bring in your data to explain why it matters.

Speak to the heart first, then the head.

#5  Let Your Body Speak

Your body language speaks louder than your words. Stand tall, use open gestures, and make eye contact with the camera (or room).

Hands visible = presence. Open palms = openness.

#6  Cut the Crutches

Fillers like “uhh,” “like,” and “you know” weaken your message. Replace them with purposeful pauses. You’ll sound more confident and in control.

Record yourself once and you’ll catch them all.

#7  Practice Out Loud

The fastest way to improve? Hit record. Watch for tone, pace, and posture. You’ll spot 3 things to improve every time.

Review. Adjust. Repeat. It’s how professionals get better.

#8  Lead the Room

When people push back or get lost, don’t retreat, reframe. Empathize with skepticism, restate your insight clearly, and always point to the next step.

Don’t just inform. Guide.

Final Thought

You don’t need to become a “motivational speaker.” You need to become a trusted guide, especially when data is on the line. These 8 habits make that happen.

Speak with Confidence. Lead with Data.

At Data Story Academy, we teach professionals how to communicate data with clarity, confidence, and credibility.

✔ Learn the PRESENT framework
✔ Build executive presence
✔ Deliver insights that drive decisions