When looking for advice in public speaking techniques, it is easy to lose sight of some of the most powerful and simple techniques that anyone can use to skyrocket their effectiveness as a speaker. Whether you are delivering a speech before a large audience, or simply conducting a business conference call, there are things that can make the difference between capturing or losing credibility with your audience that have nothing to do with the information you are attempting to communicate.

To become an effective speaker, it helps to first become an effective listener. Before you try to do anything to improve your own speaking style, tune up your own listening and observation skills to critique the style other speakers you hear. It is always much easier to have a deeply critical eye for the shortcomings of others than it is to perform an effective self examination. The idea behind this exercise is to look for every little nuance in the presentation style of others that irritates, distracts, or causes you to disconnect or lose interest in what that person had to say. Look for things like annoying mannerisms, nervous repetitive phrasing, irritating gestures, lack of confidence, uncomfortable staring, or anything you can clearly define which weakened that persons ability to reach you effectively. If necessary, write these things down, and study them later.

Once you have clearly identified negative traits exhibited by others, examine your own speaking style for how many of these points can be found in the way you present yourself. Try to catch yourself making these same mistakes when you speak with others, and work to eliminate them. If you are irritated by the mistakes of others, it is a pretty sure bet they will find you equally ineffective when you repeat the same flaws.

If you are fortunate enough to work through the majority of common things that sabotage your speaking style, you should simultaneously look for critical points that captured your interest when listening to other people speak. Look for all the detailed things you liked about what you saw and heard, and be ready to adopt those traits that fit your own personality. Whether you are a positive or negative personality type, exercising and tuning your powers for observing others will provide a good starting blueprint for self improvement in your speaking style. When you discover new things that impress you, simply start doing the same things yourself. When you see how irritating some of your own habits are when exhibited by others, get motivated to stop doing these things yourself.

Confidence as a speaker comes from having a solid foundation of knowing that you understand what it takes to do it right. Regardless of how well the information is received by your audience, the reason for a negative response should be the message, not the messenger.