Ready to gather more recognition and influence in 2026? Here's something that will help: my Top 10 Public Speaking Blogs of 2025. Read 'em and reap! 

Once again in 2025, the U.S. and the world pursued what often seemed like an erratic and chaotic course. One of your core tasks as a professional has remained the same, however: creating positive influence when you speak. Of course, that goes whether you're presenting in person, or learning how to improve your confidence and skills when speaking virtually. As always, employees, prospects, clients and customers, and other stakeholders need you to speak at your best.

Get ready for the new year! Learn the skills of great communicators. Visit my Business Speaker's Library. You'll also find it here on Amazon. Or click on the image below:

Here's some help. Below, as always at this time of year, are my most popular public speaking blogs from the preceding twelve months. They're in ascending order, based on which articles in my public speaking blog Speak at Your Best! interested you, the readers, most. Feel free to click on the links below to go to any blog(s) that interest you (or to review those that you found particularly useful at the time they were published). 

#10  25 Words or Phrases You Should Avoid in Speeches and Presentations 

Congratulations are in order if you've prepared strong content for an upcoming speech or presentation. But if you want to wow audiences, you need to understand how to watch out for language that will work against your success! Here are 25 words or phrases you should avoid, ranging from the mildly unhelpful to deal breakers.

#9  10 Causes of Speech Anxiety That Create Fear of Public Speaking 

If you suffer from speech fright, you may already know what I write in my book, Fearless Speaking: that in the U.S., there are many millions of people who deal with glossophobia. And then there's the rest of the world. In this article, I discuss 10 leading causes of speech anxiety and provide powerful tips about how to deal with stage fright and speak with confidence!

#8  The Indispensable Habit that Will Make You a Better Speaker 

A few years ago, at a presentation skills workshop I was conducting at a healthcare conference, a participant asked, "How do we know that people hear what we're saying?" I thought, "What a great question!" After all, It's essential that you know how to get people to pay attention and be interested in what you say. This article reveals the indispensable habit you must develop!

#7  The Best Way to Prepare and Practice Your Presentations 

Are you too busy putting together content to prepare your presentations the right way? You need to grasp how your message sounds to listeners, since they don't care about your beautiful prose. This is really about how to prepare for memorable speaking, and it's all right here!

#6  Brain Freeze While Presenting? ― Here Are Five Ways to Recover

What do you do when your thoughts go one way, and your mouth goes another (or stops functioning completely)? That's called a "brain freeze." However well prepared you are, you're going to suffer one of these one day. And few situations can be more mortifying. Don't worry―your career isn't over. Here are 5 ways to recover and get back in the game!

#5  How To Begin a Presentation ― The Critical First 60 Seconds 

You’ve heard lots of advice on improving your public speaking. But what about the bad habits you may need to break?  Sure, you need to know the secrets of going beyond lackluster presentations. But sometimes, it pays to take a good hard look at some old habits that may be getting in your way. Just in case you aren't a perfect presenter, here are seven ways you may be undermining your otherwise solid presentations. 

#3  Body Language and First Impression: How to Establish Instant Rapport

This is the visual age, when people get information and make judgments largely on the basis of what they see. Does this apply to speakers and presenters? You'd better believe it does! That should get you thinking about the body language you show audiences when you speak. Here are four ways you can use body language in business and social situations to establish instant rapport.  

#2  How to Build a Presentation: Four Ways to Achieve Your Purpose

Do you know the best way to organize a speech? Well, to begin with, it's not enough to put together the most rah-rah opening (think motivational speakers) or razzle-dazzle PowerPoint decks (think too many business presentations). The organization of your ideas matters much more―and that means understanding why you're speaking. It's the most direct route to knowing how to influence an audience precisely the way you want to. This article shows you how. 

And now for 2025's most popular piece on my Speak for Success! platform:

#1  9 Positive Character Traits You Should Show Whenever You Speak

Public speaking is like novel-writing: character development is more interesting than a clever though superficial approach. In this case, it's your character we're talking about. Leaders speak . . . and speakers lead. Are you someone who leads while speaking? Audiences make important decisions as you share ideas with them, and those decisions affect their willingness to accept what you say. Here are 9 ways you can win in those vital business and social transactions.

Want to reduce your anxiety while letting go of your fears and negative thinking? Get my latest book for business speakers, The Confidence Book. Speak at your professional best!

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Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching  and corporate group training worldwide. For nine consecutive years, he was ranked by Global Gurus as one of The World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller How to Give a Speech. His second book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time," and he has been named as one of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches. His handbook for presenting in videoconferences, Speaking Virtually offers techniques for developing virtual presence. He is also the author of Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. His latest book is The Confidence Book: 75 Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety, Let Go of Your Fears, Change Your Negative Thinking, and Perform At Your Professional Best. He is also the creator of The Dr. William Scarlet supernatural thrillers. Contact Gary here. 

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