6 answers
Ahnna
Student
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
3
Questions
Asked
892 views
How to improve my communication skills?
I am a 7th grader and have always hated to present alone up in front of my class. No matter what I'm scared of either messing up or doing something I shouldn't have. Just wondering how to over work that fear, and be able to feel confident in front of many.
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6 answers
Karen Yeates
I am open
1
Answer
Houston, Texas
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Here’s an easy-to-remember acronym that I created for overcoming presentation nerves: PEACE.
I use this all the time and it works. Give it a try. Best of Luck!
P - Practice
* Rehearse by yourself, in front of a mirror, or with family/friends.
* The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.
E - Engage
* Look at friendly faces to feel like you’re talking to a friend.
* Use gestures to make your presentation feel natural.
A - Accept
* Accept that mistakes happen and are part of learning. - "Like Taylor Swift" Shake it Off"
* Focus on your effort, not perfection.
C - Calm
* Take deep breaths to relax your body. (Smile)
* Visualize success to ease your nerves.
E - Ease In
* Start with smaller, simpler presentations.
* Celebrate small wins to build confidence over time.
When you feel nervous, just remember to bring your cute Smile and PEACE to the stage! You’ve got this!
Thank you for allowing me to provide support, -Karen Yeates.
I use this all the time and it works. Give it a try. Best of Luck!
P - Practice
* Rehearse by yourself, in front of a mirror, or with family/friends.
* The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.
E - Engage
* Look at friendly faces to feel like you’re talking to a friend.
* Use gestures to make your presentation feel natural.
A - Accept
* Accept that mistakes happen and are part of learning. - "Like Taylor Swift" Shake it Off"
* Focus on your effort, not perfection.
C - Calm
* Take deep breaths to relax your body. (Smile)
* Visualize success to ease your nerves.
E - Ease In
* Start with smaller, simpler presentations.
* Celebrate small wins to build confidence over time.
When you feel nervous, just remember to bring your cute Smile and PEACE to the stage! You’ve got this!
Thank you for allowing me to provide support, -Karen Yeates.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Ahnna
Sabrina B.
Holistic Integrative Health Coach & Energy Practitioner
5
Answers
Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands
Updated
Sabrina’s Answer
Hi there,
First of all, it’s amazing that you’re asking this question! It shows you’re ready to grow and improve, which is already a huge step.
When it comes to presentations, remember this: focus on what you want to say rather than how you look while saying it. Your audience isn’t judging every move you make—they care about understanding your message. So, make it clear and engaging.
Think of your presentation as a story. When you tell a story, you naturally want people to be hooked, to feel what you’re sharing. Use that same energy in your presentation! Speak as if you’re bringing your audience on a journey. Be clear, vivid, and exciting—just like a storyteller.
Now here’s a key tip about communication: it’s not just about talking; it’s about listening too. Before you present, think about your audience. Who are they? What do they care about? When you understand them, you can make your message relatable and meaningful.
And about the fear? It’s totally normal to feel scared—it shows you care. Instead of trying to get rid of it, use that energy to fuel your passion for what you’re saying. With practice, you’ll see that the more you focus on your message and your audience, the less you’ll worry about how you’re coming across.
You’ve got this, and the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel. Every great speaker started where you are now—taking the first step.
Warmly
First of all, it’s amazing that you’re asking this question! It shows you’re ready to grow and improve, which is already a huge step.
When it comes to presentations, remember this: focus on what you want to say rather than how you look while saying it. Your audience isn’t judging every move you make—they care about understanding your message. So, make it clear and engaging.
Think of your presentation as a story. When you tell a story, you naturally want people to be hooked, to feel what you’re sharing. Use that same energy in your presentation! Speak as if you’re bringing your audience on a journey. Be clear, vivid, and exciting—just like a storyteller.
Now here’s a key tip about communication: it’s not just about talking; it’s about listening too. Before you present, think about your audience. Who are they? What do they care about? When you understand them, you can make your message relatable and meaningful.
And about the fear? It’s totally normal to feel scared—it shows you care. Instead of trying to get rid of it, use that energy to fuel your passion for what you’re saying. With practice, you’ll see that the more you focus on your message and your audience, the less you’ll worry about how you’re coming across.
You’ve got this, and the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel. Every great speaker started where you are now—taking the first step.
Warmly
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Ahnna
My pleasure. I’d love to hear about your experience with this. So please don’t be afraid to share it either here or via email if that feels more comfortable.
Smile through it, it always makes things either when we smile 😊
Greetings, Sabrina 🌷
Sabrina B.
Gaby Midori Hosokawa
Senior Product Marketing Manager
3
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Gaby Midori’s Answer
It’s great that you’re already thinking about improving your communication skills—that’s such a brave first step! Here are a few tips that can help you feel more confident when presenting:
Practice Makes Perfect: Start small by practicing in front of a mirror or with close family or friends. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll feel.
Know Your Material: If you’re confident about what you’re talking about, it’s easier to stay calm. Spend time preparing and understanding your presentation—it’ll make you feel more in control.
Start with Small Steps: If standing in front of the whole class feels scary, try raising your hand to answer questions or sharing a short thought during group discussions. These little steps will build your confidence.
Use Positive Self-Talk: Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, remind yourself of your strengths and imagine your presentation going well. Positive thoughts can make a huge difference.
Focus on the Message: Remember, your audience is there to learn from you, not to judge you. Think about sharing something interesting or helpful, and it’ll shift your focus away from fear.
Breathe and Pause: Nervousness can make you rush. Take deep breaths and speak slowly. Pausing occasionally is okay—it gives you time to think and your audience time to absorb your words.
You’re already on the right track by wanting to improve! Every time you push yourself a little, you’re building confidence that will grow over time. You’ve got this! 😊
Practice Makes Perfect: Start small by practicing in front of a mirror or with close family or friends. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll feel.
Know Your Material: If you’re confident about what you’re talking about, it’s easier to stay calm. Spend time preparing and understanding your presentation—it’ll make you feel more in control.
Start with Small Steps: If standing in front of the whole class feels scary, try raising your hand to answer questions or sharing a short thought during group discussions. These little steps will build your confidence.
Use Positive Self-Talk: Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, remind yourself of your strengths and imagine your presentation going well. Positive thoughts can make a huge difference.
Focus on the Message: Remember, your audience is there to learn from you, not to judge you. Think about sharing something interesting or helpful, and it’ll shift your focus away from fear.
Breathe and Pause: Nervousness can make you rush. Take deep breaths and speak slowly. Pausing occasionally is okay—it gives you time to think and your audience time to absorb your words.
You’re already on the right track by wanting to improve! Every time you push yourself a little, you’re building confidence that will grow over time. You’ve got this! 😊
Laura Turkienicz
Consultant
55
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Laura’s Answer
To improve communication skills, practice active listening by focusing on the speaker and avoiding interruptions. Expand your vocabulary through reading and engage in diverse conversations to build confidence. Seek feedback from others and consider joining public speaking groups. Recording and reviewing yourself can also help identify areas for improvement. Consistent practice of these strategies will enhance your communication abilities.
Thank you for the advice.
Ahnna
Diana Glauser
Sourcing Manager
2
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Diana’s Answer
Hi Ahnna:
Great question! I also have a dislike of presenting in front of people, but I have been able to overcome a lot of that. Here is what helped me, and I hope that these suggestions may be helpful to you as well!
1. Write out what you would like to say. The goal here isn't to memorize your speech, but I have found that writing out your key topics or points helps you to organize your thoughts and structure your presentation.
2. Practice, practice, practice! You can practice your presentation in front of a mirror or in front of a trusted family member or friend. I have found that the more that I practice my presentation/speech, the more comfortable I was in speaking. If you are comfortable with practicing in front of another person, ask that person for feedback on what you can improve upon!
3. Remember, if you mess up, it's not the end of the world! Take a moment, take a breath, collect your thoughts and restart again.
4. Make eye contact with the audience. This may not be helpful for you, but it personally helps me to make eye contact with people as I speak. It makes me feel more like I am talking to that person in the moment versus the entire room of people.
I hope that some of these tips help. Good luck in your presentations! I know you will be great!
Great question! I also have a dislike of presenting in front of people, but I have been able to overcome a lot of that. Here is what helped me, and I hope that these suggestions may be helpful to you as well!
1. Write out what you would like to say. The goal here isn't to memorize your speech, but I have found that writing out your key topics or points helps you to organize your thoughts and structure your presentation.
2. Practice, practice, practice! You can practice your presentation in front of a mirror or in front of a trusted family member or friend. I have found that the more that I practice my presentation/speech, the more comfortable I was in speaking. If you are comfortable with practicing in front of another person, ask that person for feedback on what you can improve upon!
3. Remember, if you mess up, it's not the end of the world! Take a moment, take a breath, collect your thoughts and restart again.
4. Make eye contact with the audience. This may not be helpful for you, but it personally helps me to make eye contact with people as I speak. It makes me feel more like I am talking to that person in the moment versus the entire room of people.
I hope that some of these tips help. Good luck in your presentations! I know you will be great!
Thank you, Diana!
Ahnna
Tiffanie Rand (Lampasona), CDR, CIR
Recruiter
94
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Tiffanie’s Answer
Hi Ahnna,
Great question! Maybe you could take a look at your local toastmaster's club and join, that is an organization that specifically works with you on your public speaking roles. You can also consider getting a volunteer position that gives you the opportunity to talk to more people for example: if you volunteer as an admin at a nonprofit you'll be able to talk to people more often and that will give you the confidence to speak more publicly. You can also volunteer to help out planning an event where you might have to talk to a lot of people, like in your town at their fall festival or something like that. Any volunteer opportunity that allows you to talk to people will help with your public speaking.
You may also be able to take a public speaking course at a community college, but I recommend trying the toastmaster's before something like taking a class.
Great question! Maybe you could take a look at your local toastmaster's club and join, that is an organization that specifically works with you on your public speaking roles. You can also consider getting a volunteer position that gives you the opportunity to talk to more people for example: if you volunteer as an admin at a nonprofit you'll be able to talk to people more often and that will give you the confidence to speak more publicly. You can also volunteer to help out planning an event where you might have to talk to a lot of people, like in your town at their fall festival or something like that. Any volunteer opportunity that allows you to talk to people will help with your public speaking.
You may also be able to take a public speaking course at a community college, but I recommend trying the toastmaster's before something like taking a class.
Thank you, Tiffanie for the advice.
Ahnna
You're welcome!
Tiffanie Rand (Lampasona), CDR, CIR