I discovered these tips for public speakers in a book from 1916. Although this list was written more than 90 years ago, these suggestions are still good today. It seems that good speaking habits are timeless.

If you try to remember all of these while you are speaking, you will drive yourself (and probably your audience) to distraction. A good way to use these tips to improve your public speaking skills is to review the list and look for things you do when you speak. Are you a nervous speaker who fidgets or clears your throat? Do you speak in a dull monotone when delivering a speech? Or speak too quickly? Choose one or two bad habits, and concentrate on ridding yourself of them.

Use an audio or video recorder to record yourself delivering a speech. As you review the recording, watch and listen for opportunities to improve. Even if you are an experienced public speaker, you can always improve. I have spoken in front of hundreds of audiences and I consistently receive excellent evaluations from audience members. Even so, I consistently make an effort to be a better speaker at each presentation.

These tips will help you, too, to be a better public speaker.

• Don’t rant.
• Don’t prate.
• Don’t fidget.
• Don’t flatter.
• Don’t declaim.
• Don’t be glib.
• Don’t hesitate.
• Don’t be nasal.
• Don’t apologize.
• Don’t dogmatize.
• Don’t be slangy.
• Don’t antagonize.
• Don’t be awkward.
• Don’t be violent.
• Don’t be “funny.”
• Don’t attitudinize.
• Don’t be monotonous.
• Don’t speak rapidly.
• Don’t sway your body.
• Don’t be long-winded.
• Don’t “hem” and “haw.”
• Don’t praise yourself.
• Don’t overgesticulate.
• Don’t pace the platform.
• Don’t clear your throat.
• Don’t “point with pride.”
• Don’t tell a long story.
• Don’t rise on your toes.
• Don’t distort your words.
• Don’t stand like a statue.
• Don’t address the ceiling.
• Don’t speak in a high key.
• Don’t emphasize everything.
• Don’t drink while speaking.
• Don’t fatigue your audience.
• Don’t exceed your time limit.
• Don’t talk for talking’s sake.
• Don’t wander from your subject.
• Don’t fumble with your clothes.
• Don’t speak through closed teeth.
• Don’t put your hands on your hips.
• Don’t fail to stop when you have ended.

And that brings me to the end of this post, so I will follow the advice of that last tip and stop here.

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