7 Simple New Year’s Resolutions for Improving Your Public Speaking

1.  I will construct all my speeches to focus on one main point, removing all information that doesn’t support that central point.

2.  I will streamline, condense, and eliminate most of the data from my presentations, replacing numbers with stories and anecdotes to illustrate my idea. 

3.  I will cut down on the number of slides I use in my presentations, averaging about 1 slide for every 3 minutes of talk – or fewer. 

4.  I will eliminate the agenda slide from any talk less than 100 minutes long.

5.  I will never, ever use clip art again in my slides.  Instead, I will use high-quality photographs and images to illuminate my talk. 

6.  I will deliver my presentations with energy and enthusiasm, but I will keep my feet under control and not wander randomly around the stage. 

7.  I will adhere strictly to my allotted time and end before it has run out. 

I know, we should have resolutions done by now, but this list could get appended to a Toastmaster's promise.