Not everyone is a confident public speaker; in fact, many people aren't. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 73 per cent of the population suffers from public speaking fear, also known as glossophobia. We are all afraid of stumbling over our words or altogether forgetting what we want to say. There are many other daunting activities that we may envision ourselves accomplishing with ease, but standing in front of a room full of people with all eyes on us is not one of them.
Whether we like it or not, we may have to do it at some point. It could be by introducing yourself and your interests to individuals you've never met before, making a presentation as part of a school assignment or for business or giving a speech or welcome address at an academic event or wedding ceremony e.t.c. These are just a few examples of situations in which public speaking may be required.
Because first impressions last a long time, your speech must portray who you truly are and produce a positive first impression on your audience. This article will help you become a better public speaker.
Qualities of a Good Public Speaker
Every good speaker should possess certain characteristics. Cultivating the skills below will help you connect with and keep your audience's attention.
- Confidence: It's natural to be frightened, but to excel at public speaking, you must conquer your nerves. A good public speaker is confident while delivering their presentation. You can express confidence by making direct eye contact with the audience and speaking in a calm, composed manner.
- Passionate: A high sensation of excitement for anything is known as passion. A good speaker must be passionate about the issue to properly express their speech. If the subject does not excite you, it is unlikely to excite your audience. Your words will be useless if you don't speak with enthusiasm. Emotions that flow spontaneously are triggered by passion. They can affect an audience and successfully communicate a message. [1]
- Self-awareness: You must first understand who you are and what your greatest attributes are to be a good public speaker. The most effective speakers make an effort to play to their strengths. Is it your sense of humour that elevates your presentation? Is it the ability to tell stories, or is it something else? You'll be able to effectively engage the audience if you know your strengths as a public speaker. [2]
Other qualities include effective use of body language and space, audience awareness and not being a stickler for perfection.
Steps to Improve Your Public Speaking
Public speaking is an ability that can be acquired, and while no one can erase the dread that comes with it, we can learn to manage it and improve our speaking abilities. The steps outlined below will assist you in becoming a better public speaker:
1. Learn to deal with nerves: As you practise this ability, you'll get more comfortable, but that doesn't imply the sensations will go away totally; bear in mind that there will always be some tension. What you need to do is learn to manage the emotion rather than allowing it to overwhelm you. Other highlighted recommendations will demonstrate how you may accomplish this.
2. Prepare thoroughly: It cannot be stressed enough that the more you practise and prepare, the more confident you will feel. Increased confidence means less anxiety. Prepare well in advance of the deadlines so you have plenty of time to rehearse and polish your presentation.
3. Target your audience: Consider how effectively your listeners will understand what you're trying to communicate. Do this by using captivating openings and personal experiences or anecdotes as needed. This will keep them interested in your message.
4. Take public speaking lessons: You may need to take public speaking classes, study books, and other resources to assist you to master this skill and improving your speaking abilities. The following are some resources that may be useful to you: Ted Talk videos, Coursera courses for public speaking, The quick and easy way to effective speaking and the art of public speaking, books by Dale Carnegie.
5. Take advantage of technology: Use presentation software such as PowerPoint to help your audience see what you're saying, and have a guide you can follow. Try not to read the screen word for word, but to expand on the topics you've mentioned. You don't have to think on your feet because you already know what you're going to say, which is why rehearsals are so vital.
6. Practice in front of others: Rehearse your speech or part in front of friends or close acquaintances to assess how well your audience understands your message and to receive areas of improvement in your dialogue. This can also help to boost your confidence.
7. Speak clearly: Maintain a calm and comfortable demeanour; your words should flow and have a rhythm. Change pitch a couple of times to avoid seeming boring. This will keep your audience engaged and prevent your speech from becoming too lengthy and dull.
8. Watch yourself and other good speakers: To enhance your speaking skills, you may need to record and watch yourself to identify where you may improve. You may also try to emulate good public speakers by copying their speaking patterns.
9. Allow some of your individuality to come through: You don't want to sound too official, so allow your personality to shine. Your audience will be more interested in hearing what you have to say if they believe the person speaking to them isn't an emotionless robot. [3]
10. Have a nice ending: As vital as it is to start with an engaging introduction, it is also critical to have a good ending; this adds to the total package and keeps the audience’s attention from beginning to end.
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