Boost Public Speaking Confidence

For some, the idea of public speaking is as chilling as encountering a cobra crossing a pathway. And while it takes years of hands-on depth training to learn how to charm a cobra, you can tame public speaking fears and supercharge your confidence today with the help of AI-powered Microsoft Copilot.

More than a traditional public speaking tool, Copilot is by your side, championing you through life’s moments. It’s designed to help you prepare, practice, and present with clarity and poise—no matter the setting. So, raise your glass high for that wedding toast, or lead your next HOA meeting with confidence and a sense of fun. Here’s how Copilot can help.

The key to confident public speaking is feeling both prepared and present—and Copilot is designed to support both. It offers fresh perspectives, a space to air your thoughts, and support when you need it.

For example, use Copilot in Microsoft Word¹ or Microsoft OneNote¹ to brainstorm and organize your ideas. Simply describe your topic and audience, and Copilot can:

• Generate a tailored outline: Whether you’re giving a 10-minute welcome address to kick off the town’s Fourth of July parade or pursuing your secret dream of delivering a TED Talk, Copilot can suggest a logical flow—introduction, key points, transitions, and conclusion.
• Draft your script or talking points: Ask Copilot to write a first draft. You can then collaborate with it to refine the tone, simplify jargon, or weave in storytelling elements.
• Capture your thoughts as you think out loud: Ask Copilot to capture and organize your ideas as you speak. Just open Copilot in Word, click the microphone icon, and start speaking. Copilot will transcribe what you say and help you structure your ideas into clear, structured content.
• Clarify your message: Not sure if your content is too technical or too vague? Ask Copilot to help you rewrite sections for clarity and impact, so your message truly resonates with your audience.

After you're satisfied with the outline of your content, it's time to bring it to life visually by creating a PowerPoint presentation. Use Copilot and Microsoft Designer (an integrated AI design tool) in Microsoft PowerPoint¹ to create and edit presentations. Copilot provides content and structure suggestions, while Designer helps enhance the visual appeal of those suggestions.

Here's how:

• Turn your outline into slides: Copilot can help you create a PowerPoint presentation from the ideas you captured in your Word document, including titles, visuals based on the template you choose, and transitions.
• Design clean, professional layouts, and images: Copilot and Designer can help you design your presentation for improved clarity and visual appeal, especially when used with well-designed templates.
• Create speaker notes: Copilot can help you add Speaker Notes allowing you to stay on track without sounding scripted.

With your slides ready, Copilot becomes your rehearsal partner. Use it in Word or Microsoft Teams¹ to simulate Q&A, polish your script, and rehearse with intention:

1. Anticipate audience questions: Ask Copilot to generate likely questions based on your topic, and practice crafting thoughtful responses.
2. Get feedback on tone and clarity: Paste your script into Word and ask Copilot to review it for readability, tone, and overall engagement.
3. Time your talk: Ask Copilot to estimate your delivery time and suggest edits to help you stay within your time slot without rushing or dragging.

Even the most experienced speakers can feel nervous on presentation day. Copilot can help you stay grounded and focused. Use it for quick, personalized support:

1. Generate calming techniques: Ask Copilot to suggest breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or mindfulness routines to help you center yourself before stepping up to speak.
2. Create a pre-talk checklist: Ask Copilot to build a personalized checklist with helpful reminders like reviewing your slides, testing your tech, staying hydrated, and pacing yourself. Keep it in OneNote, Word, or even as a final slide in your deck to stay focused and calm.
3. Boost your mindset: Ask Copilot to generate motivational affirmations or reminders of past wins to help you walk in with confidence and clarity.
4. Review speaker notes: Be familiar with your speaker notes in PowerPoint as Copilot helps you stay on message. You don’t have to memorize every word—just stay connected to your core ideas.

Then, go for it! When it’s time to present, Copilot helps you stay on track with steady pacing and clear talking points—so you can deliver your message with confidence and ease.

After your talk, use Copilot to turn your experience into valuable insights:

1. Summarize audience feedback: Ask Copilot to review notes from your audience or team in OneNote or Word. It can help identify key themes and organize feedback into actionable insights—highlighting both strengths to build on and areas for improvement.
2. Track your progress: Ask Copilot to help you create a progress tracker in OneNote or Word. It can automatically compile past feedback, presentation notes, and self-reflections, giving you a clear view of your growth over time and helping you refine your skills for future talks.