In the first post, I mentioned that the most successful people in history have been some of the best communicators in history. People like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama have made a great impact in society, largely, based on their skills in public speaking (I still get chills when I listen to an MLK speech). These people, and thousands of others like them around the country, succeeded because they are able to speak with power and persuasiveness. However, Let's not kid ourselves, these successful people weren't born with a skill for public speaking. They had to learn it.
Can you imagine a little baby Lincoln giving the Gettysburg address? (Go ahead, Imagine it, it's adorable) Now as silly as that image is, it's just as imprudent to think that good public speaking is something that comes naturally. That kind of idea comes from a natural timidity that some of us have toward the prospect of having to stand in front of a large group.
The other day I sat in on a college course a friend of mine had invited me to. It was a presentation day; groups of three students stood up at the front of the room to present their findings on a specific topic (one group presentation was about filing for unemployment) and each member of the group had to communicate a certain idea based on that topic. One poor girl, while presenting, was asked to speak louder because no one could hear her (she was basically whispering). For some reason this caused an audible laugh in the classroom. The girl, having heard the laughter, turned her back to the class and continued to whisper through her presentation. When this caused more laughter, she abruptly ended her presentation. It was a little sad (okay, it was a lot sad).
Clearly that young girl wasn't a dynamic public speaker. She basically did everything you're not suppose to do when communicating (I'm now writing this with my back to the screen).
Spotting someone doing a terrible job at communicating is easy (being asked to "Speak up" is usually a dead give away). And we all can easily recognize when someone is doing an awesome job at it too. But while we understand what makes a bad public speaker, the traits that make someone good at speech communicating is a little harder to pin down. The truth is, it just isn't simple. It takes practice (take every opportunity to speechify) but there are some things you can keep an eye out for. A checklist you can go through to make sure your next speech or presentation doesn't go down in flames (or laughter).
1. Be Sincere.
Sincerity helps other people believe you mean what you say. That is, you must believe yourself and your message so others will too. Sincerity creates the appearance of ease & comfortablity with your given speech topic.
2. Speak Knowledgeably.
You should know enough about your topic to make it worthwhile for people to listen to you. You don't have to be an expert but you do have to do your homework. That means research and preparation.
3. Be Organized.
Okay, so you believe in what your saying, you've done your research, now what? Deliver the message as clearly as possible. Go from 'A' to 'B' without jumping around and confusing your audience.
4. Know How To Listen.
Ever wonder why we cut for a "reaction shot' when someone is speaking on television? because at least half of oral communication involves listening. You have to know when to pause or shut up and listen to your audience. It'll keep you on your toes and bring a certain energy to you speech.
5. Choose Your Words Carefully.
Your choice of words can make difference in whether or not your message is understood. This is usually dictated by your audience, you don't want to seem above them or better than them. You want to come off as a slightly more knowledgeable peer.
6. Use Body Language.
There's basically two kinds of communication; verbal and nonverbal. The nonverbal is the message your body movement (and your clothe) is sending. Be aware of how your dressed, your grooming, your posture etc., all these things 'say' a lot.
Like most people, I'm allergic to cliches but I feel this one is appropriate; practice makes perfect. I'm sure if we took a time machine to catch a young President Barack Obama roaming the halls of Harvard, we wouldn't see the confident, swagerific man we see today. He had to give a lot of speeches and talks, and class presentations to get as good as he is. The reason most folks are just plain terrible at public speaking is because they haven't practiced. But it's not a super hard thing to learn how to get better at. It takes practice. Who knows? you might get so good at it people will start to think it just comes naturally.
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