How to Improve Speaking Skills: 17 Ways to Be a Better Speaker

Speaking clearly doesn’t always come naturally—especially when nerves kick in or the right words slip your mind. But with the right techniques, anyone can learn how to speak better in everyday conversations.

If you’ve ever wanted to improve your speaking skills but didn’t know where to start, this article will break down simple step by step ways on improving your English speaking skills. Whether you’re learning how to improve spoken English, preparing for a job interview, or simply want to feel more confident in chats, we’ll show you how to improve your English speaking skills through simple, practical habits.

Key Points:

• Discover why speaking skills matter in everyday life, work, and activism
• Learn how to improve English speaking skills through daily routines
• Explore tips like phone chats, conversation reflection, and cheat sheets
• Understand how to speak better English using phrases, not just words
• Find out how structured courses can build confidence at your own pace

What Are Speaking Skills?

Understanding how to improve speaking skills starts with knowing what they cover. 

Good speaking combines word choice, clear order, and sound pronunciation so listeners catch your meaning right away. But rhythm, pause, and energy matter too—think of how a comedian times a punchline. Beyond the voice, eye contact, gestures, and a willingness to listen shape the whole message. 

When these pieces work together, you have the tools to connect, persuade, and hold attention anywhere from a friend’s kitchen table to a full boardroom.

Why Speaking Skills Matter

There are many ways in which speaking skills can impact your daily routines, from conversations with strangers to friends that you see on the regular. Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to elevate your speaking skills in all situations, from professional to personal surroundings:

1. Stronger Social Connections

Conversation sits at the heart of friendship. When you feel confident about how to speak better, you jump into chats instead of watching from the sidelines. Knowing when to talk and when to pause lets others feel heard, which builds trust faster than any social media app ever could.

2. Career Growth

Most employers gauge you first by a conversation, not a résumé. Interviews, meetings, client calls—all rely on clear talk. Learning how to improve English speaking skills pays off when you pitch ideas or lead teams. Even fields like customer support or journalism value sharp, quick speech and the skill to ask the right follow-up questions.

3. Voice in Causes

Maybe you want to rally neighbours around a park clean-up or campaign on climate action. People listen longer when the speaker sounds sure and keeps things simple. Mastering how to improve your English speaking helps you share a vision without just repeating slogans.

4. Shifting the Mindset

• Accept the jitters. If your heart is racing rapidly, it just means your body is gearing up for success, not failure.
• Prepare more than you think you need. Notes, outlines, and practice runs strip mystery from the task.
• Picture the listener. Tailor words to their interests, background, and time limits. That single step often answers the question of how to speak better English because relevance keeps attention.

5. Daily Habits That Work

• Phone record mini-chats. A short call to order coffee or confirm an appointment trains you to speak without visual cues.
• Post-chat reflection. After every conversation, ask yourself what worked and what felt awkward. Tiny reviews of self awareness can build confidence of your tone, voice, and pace.
• Phrase banks. Keep a pocket list of set expressions (“Could you run that by me again?”). Using phrases—not single words—shows fluency and speeds up replies.
• Record and replay. Ten seconds of voice notes each day expose pronunciation slips you never notice in real time.
• Mix fun into practice. Sing along to music, mimic podcast hosts, or join an online game chat—any low-stakes space to test new sounds.

These routines show step by step how to improve spoken English without special equipment or endless study hours. Stick with them and you’ll feel progress in weeks, not months.

6. Nervous? That’s Normal — Preparation Is Your Best Friend

Almost everyone gets nervous before speaking. Your heart races, your hands shake, and suddenly your voice doesn’t sound like your own. But these are just signs your body is preparing to perform. That boost of energy can actually help you speak with more clarity and focus.

If you’re wondering how to improve your English speaking confidence, the answer starts with practice. Go over your notes. Speak out loud. Record yourself. Ask a friend to listen and give honest feedback. When you’ve heard your own voice enough times, it becomes less strange.

You can’t always get rid of nerves, but you can learn how to use them.

7. Know Who You’re Talking To

One of the fastest ways to improve how you speak is to focus less on yourself and more on your listener. If you want to know how to improve spoken English, start by asking:

• Who am I speaking to?
• What do they already know?
• What do they want to know?

This will guide your word choice and how you structure your sentences. The same message sounds very different depending on whether you’re talking to a close friend, a stranger, or a room full of people. If you understand your audience, your message will always land better.

Want to understand the full range of how people communicate? Explore different communication methods to better shape your message for any situation.

8. Don’t Avoid Phone Conversations

Phone calls feel hard for a reason—there’s no body language to help us out. But avoiding them can slow your progress when learning how to speak better English.

Start small. Call a friend just to chat. Then try phoning a shop or a local service to make a booking. Keep a simple list of useful words or questions beside you so you’re not caught off guard.

Each successful call is a confidence boost—and a step closer to mastering how to improve English speaking skills in everyday situations.

9. Plan What You Want to Say

If you’re giving a talk or preparing for an interview, spend time building a solid outline. Write down:

• The main topic
• Why it matters
• Key points you want to cover
• One sentence that sums up your whole message

Grabbing your audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds makes a big difference. So lead with a question, a fact, or something unexpected—anything but “Today I’m going to talk about…”

Organising your thoughts like this will help you speak better and stay calm while doing it.

10. Watch Reactions and Adjust Mid-Flow

Great speakers don’t deliver one-size-fits-all speeches. They look at the listener and adjust. If your conversation partner looks confused, slow down or rephrase. If they’re nodding, you’re on the right track.

This level of awareness comes with time, but it’s key to how to improve speaking skills in both personal and professional settings.

Speaking well also means knowing when to listen. Learn how to improve your listening skills to become a stronger communicator overall

11. Be Yourself — People Listen to Real Voices

Don’t try to sound like someone else. Whether you’re giving a short talk or chatting with a neighbour, people connect best with natural voices. That means sharing your point of view, your sense of humour, and even your local expressions (when appropriate).

If you want to know how to improve your English speaking, this is a big one: sounding natural beats sounding perfect.

12. Think About Your Last Conversation

After a chat, pause and reflect. Ask yourself:

• What went well?
• What did I struggle to say?
• Did I forget any words or use the wrong ones?

Thinking this way helps you see patterns in your speech. Maybe you always forget how to describe time or mix up past tense verbs. You’ll start to spot these things—and fix them.

Reflecting like this is one of the simplest ways to work on how to improve spoken English without needing a teacher.

13. Learn Phrases, Not Just Words

If you want to sound more fluent, learn short phrases instead of memorising single words. For example:

• “Do you fancy a coffee?” instead of “Want coffee?”
• “I’m not sure, let me think for a sec” instead of pausing awkwardly

Using natural expressions makes you sound more relaxed and shows others you know how to speak better. Just remember to match the tone to the situation. Some phrases are fine with friends but won’t suit a formal meeting.

Want more ideas you can use right away? Check out these must-read books to improve communication skills.

14. Avoid Reading — Use Simple Notes Instead

Reading from a page or screen breaks the flow. It also takes your eyes off the person you’re talking to.

Instead, jot down a few prompts: keywords or bullet points that help you stay on track. You’ll speak more freely and sound more confident. This approach also supports long-term growth in how to improve English speaking skills because it trains your brain to talk—not just read.

15. Use Your Voice and Body — But Keep It Natural

When you’re speaking, how you say something matters as much as the words. A flat tone or stiff body can make even the best message fall flat.

Let your hands move a little. Vary your voice. Use short pauses. All of this keeps people engaged and makes it easier to follow what you’re saying.

If you’re still wondering how to improve speaking skills beyond vocabulary and grammar, this is a big one: your voice and body language are just as important as the words.

Use technology to your advantage. Explore the best AI tools for public speaking that can help with timing, tone, and delivery.

16. Start Strong and End With Impact

The first few seconds matter. Start with a question, a short story, or something relatable. End with a summary and a closing line people will remember.

You don’t need to be dramatic—just clear and confident. It’s a small change that goes a long way when learning how to speak better English.

17. Use Visual Cues Sparingly

Slides and videos can help, but don’t rely on them. If you’re giving a talk, think of visual aids as background support. Your voice should still do most of the work.

Too many props can distract or break the connection with your listener. Keep it simple and let your words carry the message.

How NCC Home Learning Can Elevate Your Speaking Skills

If you’re serious about learning how to improve your English speaking in a way that fits your lifestyle, structured online learning courses can make a real difference. We offer a variety of online communication courses that include managing stress and learning how to communicate effectively across different dialects. These activities are designed to help you speak more clearly and confidently in real conversations with English speaking or foreign tongued individuals. 

Whether you’re preparing for work, interviews, or everyday chats, our flexible learning, study-at-your-own-pace approach makes it easier to stay consistent, especially for those worried about working and studying at the same time.

FAQs

Sources

McFarland, A., (2025) 6 Best AI Tools for Public Speaking. Unite AI. [online] Available at: https://www.unite.ai/best-ai-tools-for-public-speaking/ [accessed 07/07/2025]

Fitzgerald, T., (2025) 10 Must-Read Books To Improve Communication Skills. Forbes. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/communication-books/ [accessed 07/07/2025]