How to Use ChatGPT to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills (2025)
November 2025 update
Public speaking is a compound skill: content, structure, delivery, presence, and audience connection. ChatGPT won’t stand on stage for you, but it can be your script doctor, rehearsal partner, feedback engine, and accountability buddy—on demand.
This playbook shows you how to:
Clarify audience + goal so your talk has a point.
Choose a structure that’s easy to follow under pressure.
Draft, tighten, and story-ify your content.
Rehearse deliberately (voice, timing, body language).
Drill Q&A and tough crowd scenarios.
Manage nerves before and during the talk.
Measure and improve with a rubric and a 30-day plan.
Everything includes prompts you can paste.
Step 1 — Define your audience and outcome (before writing a word)
Prompt: Audience Snapshot
“You are a speaking coach. Ask me 10 questions to profile my audience and venue: who they are, what they care about, their baseline knowledge, objections, time/room setup, and what success looks like for me. Then summarize their pains, desires, and key takeaways in bullets.”
Prompt: Talk Objective
“Turn this topic [your topic] into one sentence that finishes: ‘After this talk, this audience will…’ Provide 3 variants at different ambition levels (inform, persuade, inspire).”
Why this matters: When the audience + outcome are crystal-clear, drafting is faster and editing decisions are easy.
Step 2 — Pick a talk structure you can deliver under stress
Choose a simple, repeatable scaffold:
SCQA (Situation → Complication → Question → Answer) — sharp for business updates.
PREP (Point → Reason → Evidence → Point) — crisp, works in 2–5 minutes.
ABT (And–But–Therefore) — sticky narrative backbone.
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (Attention → Need → Satisfaction → Visualization → Action) — persuasive calls-to-action.
3-Act Story (Beginning/Conflict/Resolution) — keynotes and TED-style talks.
Prompt: Structure Picker
“Given my audience [describe] and goal [one sentence], recommend the best structure (SCQA, PREP, ABT, Monroe, or 3-Act). Map my topic into that structure with section headings and time estimates for a [X]-minute talk.”
Step 3 — Draft the talk the smart way (fast first, then refine)
Prompt: First Draft (Speaker Notes)
“Using [chosen structure], generate speaker notes for a [X]-minute talk. Constraints: plain language, short sentences, one idea per line, include 2 stories or examples, and end with a clear call-to-action. Mark [PAUSE] where breath breaks should go.”
Prompt: Tighten for Clarity
“Cut 20% without losing meaning. Replace abstract terms with concrete examples. Keep my natural voice: [3 adjectives]. Highlight any jargon with [JARGON] and suggest simpler swaps.”
Prompt: Story Upgrade
“Suggest 3 personal or client-safe anecdotes that illustrate my main point. For each, give a 3-sentence version (setup, tension, resolve) and a 1-sentence version for short slots.”
Step 4 — Build a story bank (so you’re never ‘out of examples’)
Create a handful of 40-second, 90-second, and 3-minute stories around your core themes (origin, failure, surprising data, customer win, lesson learned).
Prompt: Story Bank Builder
“For the themes [list], create 9 story outlines: 3 short (40s), 3 medium (90s), 3 long (3m). Each with (a) hook line, (b) turning point, (c) takeaway I can state in one sentence.”
Step 5 — Slides (if you must): design to be spoken, not read
Use one message per slide.
Favor big visuals or a few words (6–10 max).
Put numbers in context (“up 37% year-over-year”), not just raw figures.
Build speaker notes you can see at a glance.
Prompt: Slide Outline
“Turn my speaker notes into a slide outline: one message per slide, minimal text, suggest visuals or simple charts, and include presenter notes with the exact phrase I should say.”
Step 6 — Voice, pace, and timing (your delivery engine)
Goals: 150–170 words per minute average, purposeful pauses, varied pitch.
Prompt: Vocal Drill Pack
“Create a 10-minute warmup: breathing (box breathing), articulation (tongue twisters), pitch range (counting high→low), and pacing exercises with [PAUSE] markers. Include a 2-minute emergency warmup for backstage.”
Prompt: Pace Coach
“Analyze this paragraph [paste] and rewrite it with natural phrase breaks and [PAUSE] cues. Note words that should be emphasized and where to slow down.”
Timing tip: Record a run-through; if you’re long, cut examples or supporting points, not the core message.
Step 7 — Body language and stagecraft (what they see)
Feet: grounded, shoulder width; step with transitions, not while finishing sentences.
Hands: open, gestures above the belt; avoid pocket “hiding.”
Eyes: 3–5 second holds to different audience zones.
Face: micro-smiles when appropriate; energy lives in the eyes.
Space: use a triangle (left-center-right) to anchor key points.
Prompt: Stagecraft Checklist
“Give me a body-language checklist for a [boardroom / keynote / webinar]: stance, gestures, eye contact pattern, where to stand for Q&A, and how to reset when I lose my place.”
Step 8 — Practice with deliberate rehearsal loops
Loop A: Content
Deliver from notes.
Immediately summarize your talk in 3 sentences.
Ask: Did I prove the promise? Adjust.
Loop B: Delivery
Record 2 minutes.
Watch once on mute (body language), once on audio only (voice).
Fix one thing per loop (filler “uh/like,” pace, posture).
Prompt: Filler Word Tracker
“When I paste a transcript, count filler words (uh, um, like, you know, kind of). Return a tally and suggest 3 tactics to reduce my top two fillers.”
Prompt: Focused Rehearsal
“Design a 20-minute rehearsal that targets [pacing / confidence / call-to-action delivery] with two micro-exercises and one measurable goal.”
Step 9 — Q&A and tough crowds (be ready, not rattled)
Build a Q&A map: FAQs, objections, hostile questions, off-topic traps, “I don’t know” responses.
Prompt: Q&A Generator
“Generate 20 likely Q&A questions for my topic [topic]. Label them: Friendly / Clarifying / Challenging / Hostile. Draft concise answers (≤20 seconds) and one redirect phrase for each.”
Prompt: Hostile Drill
“Role-play as a skeptical attendee. Ask me 5 progressively tougher questions about [topic]. After each, rate my answer (1–5) for clarity and tone, and suggest a stronger phrasing in one sentence.”
Golden moves:
Bridge: “That’s important—here’s what matters for today…”
Clarify: “Are you asking about X or Y?”
Admit & promise: “I don’t have that number; I’ll confirm by [time].”
Step 10 — Anxiety management (before and during)
Physiology first
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) for 2 minutes.
Physiological sigh (double inhale, long exhale) × 3.
Feet + breath cue: feel the ground, breathe low.
Cognitive reframes
“I’m not anxious, I’m activated.”
“They want me to succeed.”
“My job is to serve, not to be perfect.”
Prompt: Pre-Talk Routine
“Build a 10-minute pre-talk routine: breathwork, posture reset, vocal warmup, first 20 seconds of my opener, and a confidence script. Make it fit backstage or a hallway.”
Prompt: If Things Go Sideways
“Create a recovery script for: lost my place, tech failure, dry mouth, and heckler. Each 1–2 sentences, calm and professional.”
Step 11 — Logistics and room setup (cheap wins)
Arrive early: test mic, clicker, timer, slides, and video; check sightlines.
Pick your start spot and first audience member to make eye contact with.
Cue cards: 5–8 bullets max, large font.
Water: small sips; avoid ice right before speaking.
Prompt: Tech & Room Checklist
“Produce a venue checklist: audio (handheld vs lav), screen visibility, lighting glare, timer placement, stage path, temperature, water, backup laptop/adapter, and who to signal if anything fails.”
Step 12 — Measure what matters (and improve every talk)
Use a simple scorecard (1–5) for: Opening Hook, Structure, Clarity, Stories, Body Language, Voice/Pace, Time Control, Q&A, Call-to-Action.
Prompt: Speaker Rubric
“Create a 1–5 scoring rubric for my talk with brief descriptors for each category (Opening Hook, Structure, Clarity, Stories, Body Language, Voice/Pace, Time, Q&A, CTA). Include a comment line and a single ‘top fix’ box.”
Prompt: Debrief Template
“After my talk, ask me 8 reflection questions (what worked, what surprised, where I rushed, strongest line, one confusing moment, audience energy shifts, Q&A patterns, next improvement). Output a one-sentence ‘next talk focus.’”
Special scenarios
Executive updates (5–10 min, high stakes)
Use SCQA; deliver the Answer in the first minute.
One chart per message; finish with the decision or ask.
Prompt:
“Turn my deck notes into a 7-minute executive brief using SCQA. Include a 1-minute opener that states the recommendation up front.”
Technical talks to non-technical audiences
Translate acronyms; use analogies; one “wow” demo.
Prompt:
“Rewrite this technical explanation [paste] at a smart layperson level in 120 words, with one analogy and one real-world example.”
Panels and interviews
Prepare short, quotable answers; bridge to your thesis.
Prompt:
“Create 10 panel answers (≤18 seconds) that each land a distinct takeaway about [topic] and include one story fragment.”
Webinars / virtual talks
Higher energy, more vocal variety, visible hands occasionally, engage every ~3 minutes.
Prompt:
“Adapt my in-person talk to a 30-minute webinar: add 3 interactions (poll, chat prompt, quick exercise) and camera-friendly gestures.”
30-day training plan (15–20 minutes/day)
Week 1: Foundation
Day 1–2: Audience snapshot + objective + structure picker.
Day 3–4: First draft + 20% cut.
Day 5: Story bank (3 short).
Day 6: Vocal warmups + pace drill (record 2 minutes).
Day 7: Room/tech checklist review.
Week 2: Delivery
Daily: 10-minute rehearsal focusing on one element (pace, pause, eye contact).
Two sessions: filler-word tracking from transcript.
Build slide outline if needed.
Week 3: Q&A + Stress
Generate 20 Q&A; run two hostile drills.
Pre-talk routine finalized; recovery scripts memorized.
Record a full run; self-score with the rubric.
Week 4: Polish & Perform
Two timed full runs (hit time within ±30 seconds).
Final tighten (cut one point, strengthen CTA).
Deliver to a friend or mirror; capture feedback.
Post-talk debrief + next-talk focus.
Prompt: Daily Coach
“For day [X] of my 30-day plan (focus [e.g., pause control]), give me a 15-minute micro-workout with a clear success metric and one stretch drill.”
Ready-to-use quick prompts (copy/paste)
Opener ideas:
“Give me 6 opening hooks for [topic]: one startling stat, one short story, one provocative question, one analogy, one audience ‘show of hands,’ and one 10-word thesis.”
CTA lines:
“Write 5 closing calls-to-action tailored to [audience] that start with a verb and fit in 12–18 seconds.”
Time cut:
“I’m 2 minutes over on a 10-minute talk. Which example should I cut, and how can I compress the transition?”
Energy lift:
“Rewrite this paragraph to sound 15% more energetic using shorter sentences and upward inflection cues.”
Confidence script:
“Write a 3-line pre-talk self-talk script that emphasizes service, clarity, and curiosity.”
Checklists (print these)
Before drafting
Audience pains/desires identified
One-sentence outcome written
Structure chosen
Before rehearsal
Speaker notes ready (short lines)
Slide outline (if any) with one message/slide
Story bank (3+)
Day of
Mic/clicker/timer tested
First sentence memorized
Water/backup plan set
Pre-talk routine done
After
Self-score with rubric
Note one “keep” and one “change”
Update story bank and CTA
Troubleshooting (common issues)
Talk feels flat: add a story at minute 2; increase pitch range; insert a question.
Rushing: mark [PAUSE] every 2–3 sentences; breathe to the belly; aim for 160 wpm.
Too long: cut supporting examples, not the core message; remove one slide.
Monotone: script emphasis words in CAPS; practice reading with exaggerated contrast, then dial back.
Blanking on stage: restate your thesis out loud; walk to a new anchor point; continue with your next section heading.
TL;DR (finally)
Nail audience + outcome, then pick a simple structure you can deliver under stress.
Draft fast, cut 20%, and stock a story bank.
Train delivery: voice, pace, body language, and [PAUSE].
Prepare Q&A maps and a pre-talk routine; rehearse with targeted drills.
Use a rubric + debrief after each talk and follow the 30-day plan.
With ChatGPT as your coach, you’ll ship clear, confident talks—on repeat.
