Emerging Leaders: How to improve your speaking presentation in 15 minutes

You know how 15 minutes could save you 15 percent or more on your car insurance?

Well, believe it or not, 15 minutes also is the amount of time it takes to become infinitely more skilled at delivering speaking presentations. And here's the best part - you don't have hire an expensive presentations coach or even do any actual public speaking. (Although, when it comes to speaking, getting real-life experience is never a bad thing.)

There may be coaches who can give you feedback that is as on-point as you'll give yourself using the technique I'm about to share with you, but they probably cost a fortune. In fact, when I used to coach emerging leaders on their presentation skills for $300 an hour, I'd use this technique.

For this exercise, all you'll need is a smartphone and the determination to get over the awkwardness of viewing a recording of yourself speaking. It will be cringe-inducing for sure, but hopefully worth the discomfort for the results you'll see.

So if you've got 15 minutes, I've got the secrets for how to vastly improve your speaking skills. Here's the breakdown, minute by minute, of a technique shared with me by Ed Tate, the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking in 2000:

Step 1

For 3 minutes: Record yourself speaking on any topic

The subject matter doesn't matter. It could be gardening, HR policies, or walking through the steps to make your famous chile verde. Just pick a topic - any topic - and speak to the camera, as if you were speaking to an audience.

Step 2

For 3 minutes: Listen to the audio only, but don't watch

Put the phone somewhere you can't see it and just listen to it. How do you sound? How are your vocal tone, pitch and pace?

Did you use filler words such as 'um” and 'ah”? Did you notice any verbal habits you'd like to fix? Make notes about what you can improve.

Step 3

For 3 minutes: Turn off the sound and watch the video.

Now reverse the strategy. Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language.

Do they support your message or distract from it? Make notes on anything you'd like to change.

Step 4

For 3 minutes: Fast forward

If your phone has fast-forward capability, watch the video again at higher speed with no sound to spot any repetitive gestures. This might include jerky movements, waving of hands or other gestures your audience might find distracting.

If you don't have the ability to fast-forward, watch again anyway, without sound, looking for any gestures that you've overused.

Step 5

For 3 minutes: Sound and video

Now put it all together, listening to the sound as you watch yourself present, making any final notes for feedback.

Your 15 minutes are now up, and you'll have seen exactly what to do to polish your performance next time you speak. If you'd like to see immediate results, repeat the entire 15 minute exercise a couple times.

And that, my friends, is how 15 minutes could save you $300 or more on presentations coaching.

' Jo Miller is a founding editor of BeLeaderly.com and CEO of Women's Leadership Coaching Inc. @jo_miller