#semr1099

    “Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” -Stephen Keague. Being a good public speaker is extremely important. However it is a skill that not everybody has. Why is that? Is it difficulty? As a matter of fact it is very simple if one knows exactly what he/she needs to work on. the key to good speaking are knowledge and preciseness, audience engagement,  and preparation.

    One’s comfort level with presenting will be high if he/she knows almost all there is to know about the topic. After all, the audience is looking to the speaker to be the expert. Nonetheless, one should not overwhelm the audience with his/her complete knowledge of the topic. Three to four key points are just enough to keep the crowd interested, giving them space for inquiries if they are interested to know more about the topic.

    In many presentations, the speaker reads from notes or even reads from his/her slides! Such acts will cause the audience to lose interest in the presentation. The audience doesn't need the orator to read to them, they can do this on their own. They came to be part of an active act. They want the speaker to share with them questions to challenge their minds and imagination. They want some sort of a “group conversation.” The slide show is merely visual aid; it is not the main focus.

     One should keep the audience's attention with images rather than wordy bulleted slides because a picture tells a story better than words. Usually, one effective picture says it all. That is the reason for the saying: "a picture is worth a thousand words."

     Additionally, podiums are not for professional speakers. Podiums are support for newbie orators. For one to be engaging with the audience, he/she has to be able to freely walk, preferably amongst them, or at least vary his/her position on stage. This will help the speaker seem approachable to everyone in the room, thus encouraging audience engagement. Also, one should try using a remote device to change slides on the screen without having to be stuck behind a podium with a computer.

    Finally, one cannot have excess rehearsals. A presentation should be like auditioning for a role in a play or a movie. One should practice his/her “role” on stage as if his/her career depends on it. The presentation is like a show, so a person must take time to rehearse. Rehearsing in front of a mirror helps, but rehearsing in front of many people will show the speaker which actions and phrases are more effective with the audience.  Rehearsing will make one become more comfortable with the material and the live show will not come off as a recitation of facts; rather, it will come off as a delivery of a message.

   Communication is probably not something people would instantly equate with creativity. It's something that they do throughout their lives, but often don't give much thought to how they are doing it. However, communication is a skill, maybe even an art, and like any other skill, people can improve it. With better communication skills, humans can enhance their relationships. Since everything in life is based on relationship, the impact of improved communication can be great.  The question is: how is it possible to improve one’s communication methods?

   One of the primary factors in good communication is listening. Listening is hearing, but with the added component of seeking to understand what the other person wants to deliver. This is achieved by listening with the intention to understand, rather than to think about means of replying or reacting to the communication. The result is that the other person feels that the former is interested in him/her and what he/she is saying. By paying attention, humans can pick up clues about the person they are addressing, and what he/she is saying that will forward the conversation and help promote better relationships.

   It is also important to note that communication is a two-way street. Speaking is only half the picture; the message needs to be acknowledged in order to be complete. When someone else is speaking, people can let him/her know that they are receiving his/her communication by focusing their attention on him/her.  For instance, by adding an occasional nod or saying "uh-huh" to let him/her know that they are focused and attentive. If they find their minds wandering, they should pull it back and refocus on the message and its meaning.

   In addition, people should, from time to time in the conversation, rephrase or paraphrase what the speaker said and repeat it back to him/her. This was the speaker can acknowledge that the audience understood what he/she said or if not, provide clarification. It's as if the orator is communicating in code, and the audience are decoding the message and sending it back to his/her for verification. By doing so, the audience can confirm that the communication has been received accurately.  Moreover, the audience should ask questions to ensure perfect understanding.

    On a more advanced level, speakers can become aware of whether the audience’s primary sensory system is auditory, visual or kinesthetic. He/she would connect more with an auditory person by asking, "Do you hear what I'm saying?" rather than "Do you see/feel what I'm saying?" the orator might get through more easily with a visual person by drawing a diagram. A kinesthetic person would learn more easily if he/she does the work, rather than watching a demonstration or hearing an explanation.

    Some people might say that the basis of an effective speech is strong content. Others might argue that a speech has to be humorous. Still, other people might contend that a speech is superb as long as it is concise. As a matter of fact, all these factors are essential; however, they are invaluable if they are forgotten. This leads us to the certainty that a speech is only effective if it is memorable. The question is “How can any speech be unforgettable?”  The answer to that question lies in, not one, but three factors: visuals, emotional appeals, and wording style.

    Robust visuals aids are pivotal to help the audience in remembering an oration. Visuals are not necessarily pictures, videos, or diagrams. They can be concrete props. For example, if one is talking about science and chemicals, he/she should have a couple of flasks and tubes to conduct a live, exciting experiment. Simply showing a video of someone other than him/herself carrying out the experiment is blunt and monotonous. This is exactly like seeing a shooting star or a comet in real life and on screen. One of the most memorable TED talks is that of brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor, who used a real brain with the spinal cord still attached to it as a prop on stage. She wanted to be noteworthy and bring more to her speech than simple pictures.

    In addition, a speaker has to be able to stir emotions in his/her audience. People are most likely to recall what they felt, as said by Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” They speaker has to be passionate. He/she has to address the audience’s emotions and trigger the sentiments within the crowd. This is similar having a dispute with a friend; after a couple of days or weeks, one will not be able to fully remember the details of the argument but will still be sure of  his/her negative feelings towards his/her friend, maybe even for the years to come.

   Withal, the spokesperson has to shrewdly choose his/her word choice and wittily deliver them to the audience. Emphasis and repetition have a humungous impact on the human brain. This is like surrounding the brain from each direction so that it cannot escape the orator’s “main point.”When the brains hears or sees similar or connected words, it is forced to process them. Processing means storing, and thus remembering. Also, using concise analogies and catchy phrases such as “You are what you eat.” or “What goes around comes around.” will help the audience to easily recall the topic being discussed. Likewise, transmitting the information to the crowd in the form of a story helps greatly because as humans we naturally communicate using stories. This is exactly why a person can recall almost all of what his/her friend told him/her about a trip to the Maldives but cannot remember even twenty percent of the chemistry class he/she just attended fifteen minutes ago. The flow of an informative “story” is more delicate on the brain than is “a bulk” or “a list” of information. This is just how human brains function.

    In culmination, a speech id not in any way effective if it is not notable. A person can only know if his/her speck was successful if one of the audience can point out the most memorable moment to him/her. That moment has to not only stands out, but also sums up the entire topic.

   Kids are the most creative of all. But why is that ? Do they have something that grown ups don't have? On the contrary, they are the adults who have something that children lack: rationality. Kids' imaginations are not bound to anything. Their dreams are of no limits because they believe that anything is possible. 

Looking Good :)