Why is public speaking an important skill to develop?
Business executives who are effective communicators make more money. Developing your communication skills and learning to speak in public has both professional and personal benefits:
· Professional Benefits of effective Public Speaking:
> Helps position you as a leader
> Provides opportunities for career advancement
> Positions you as an expert and an authority in your field
> Increases your professional network
> Establishes strong credibility
> Provides you global exposure
· Personal and Social Benefits of effective Public Speaking:
> Makes you feel empowered as you find your voice and express yourself freely
> Increases your self confidence
> Releases happy hormones and makes you feel good
> Greater social influence
> Increases your networking opportunity as more and more people get to know you
> Increases your ability to influence
> Gives you a better control on your emotions and improves your body language
There is an incredibly famous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”
What is public speaking and how is it different from other forms of communication?
Public speaking is defined as "the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners."
Presentation on the other hand involves speaking to a specific objective, coordinating that speech with a series of images or slides that are designed to reinforce that objective, and outcome.
Below is a table which compares the two forms:
Public Speaking goes back to the Greek period of 490-322 BC. Aristotle the teacher of Alexander the Great is one of the most famous ancient scholars to study public speaking. In his times, men were required to give speeches as part of their civic duties. It was an essential skill as speaking in the legislative assembly necessitated its’ mastery. Good speaking skills were also essential if you wanted to have a prominent social life. It was an important status symbol and the rich and famous excelled at it.
Aristotle propounded the 1st set of public speaking rules known to mankind. They are called the 3 pillars of persuasion. He knew that to rally the citizens into conformity, one needed to persuade them. This is also known as rhetoric, it's defined as the capacity to persuade people, and he broke it down into three strategies:
· Ethos - is creating an argument to win over people by emphasizing the speaker's credibility, expertise, experience, and authority. The speaker should emphasize his expertise to the audience so that he can build credibility. The process of doing so is called ethos. Ethos shares a root with the word "ethics."
· Logos – means logic. It is the art of persuading and convincing your audience by using logic. For example, “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”
· Pathos – means to stir up emotions of pity, sympathy, and sorrow. It is used for emotional appeal to be able to influence, compel or convert the audience.
Another prominent figure in history Marcus Tullis Cicero – a lawyer, politician, philosopher, was famous for being a great orator. Around 50 B.C. Cicero wrote his treatise called “De Oratore” where he explained his “Five Canons of Rhetoric” that are widely used by many public speakers up to this day. The five main steps are:
· Invention: refers to developing the key argument for the speech or the key text. It is the process of brainstorming where you decide what are the key points that you want to make and what will appeal to the audience.
· Arrangement: refers to ordering your points in a manner such that they are logical as well as create a level of pathos which is compelling.
· Style: refers to your style of delivery. Are you going to use humour, sarcasm or wit in your speech or are you going to use the form of storytelling to influence your audience? Is the opening going to be dramatic? These are individual choices that will define your style.
· Memory: As the name suggests is the process of committing the key points and the text to memory.
· Delivery: is the process of delivering the speech. It entails how you use your voice, your rate of speech and your body language.
As Plato said, “Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.” Gaining expertise in these 5 Canons of Rhetoric can turn you into an influencer with immense powers.
What are the components of a successful public speech?
Prework- entails analysing your audience to ensure your talk is audience centric. To do that ask yourself a few questions:
· How many people will be attending?
· What is the audience expecting from the talk?
· What is the gender ratio of the audience?
· What is the education and social background of the audience?
· Are there topics that you think your audience will be very sensitive about?
· What amount of time have you been allocated?
The more you will know your audience the more you will be able to customize your message so that it appeals to your audience.
Decide the purpose of your presentation. Are you intending to?
· Influence, convince or persuade
Once you are clear of the above you will proceed to preparing for the actual delivery which is divided into three parts. Introduction 10% of the total time, body of the presentation 80% and the conclusion 10% of the total time.
1. An introduction - The first thirty seconds of your introduction should make it noticeably clear to the audience what you plan on achieving in the talk today? Introductions can be of different types:
a. A brief description of your background qualifications, credentials, and experience.
b. Narrate an incident that establishes empathy with the audience
c. Use humour, tell a joke
d. Use an anecdote, quote, or personal experience.
f. Use a prop to intrigue your audience
2. The body of the presentation – This is the crux of your speech. Here is where you will deliver on the promise you made to your audience in the introduction. The key things to focus on in this part are:
o Before beginning the talk, take the time to adjust your microphone and arrange your notes. Preferably, avoid having notes and have it memorized. If you cannot do that then have an outline with key points or small cards.
o When your name is called out do not rush to grab the mike. Move purposefully and smoothly. The audience will view it as a sign of confidence.
o Do not forget to smile, especially as you begin your speech. It shows you are in command of the situation and relaxes the audience.
o Ensure you are moving around the stage in a purposeful manner. Take a step forward in a diagonal way and stop. Then, make eye contact with that part of the audience. Then, take a step again to the right and stop and look at the audience for some time. Then, continue this pattern. Walk slowly to the other part of the stage and stop and look at the audience. By the end, you should have covered the entire front part of the stage and made eye contact with all sides of the audience.
o Make steady eye contact with one section of the audience by locking eyes with someone and finishing a thought before you turn your attention to the next person.
· Vocal Tone – again the fundamentals of vocal tone remain the same for public speaking as for other types of communication. However, the most significant point that we want to call out that is different here is:
o Voice projection- remember in a public speaking even you will be talking to a larger audience in a bigger room. The acoustics will be different. Even with a mic you can sound soft. Though, the mic projects your voice. Best to test out the mic before you get on the stage. Have someone in your audience who will tell you to speak louder if needed. Hold the mic just below your mouth and not near your chest.
· The structure of your speech is based on same principles as that of a presentation and is covered in our presentation styles video. Here are some points that stand out for public speaking:
o Public speaking emphasizes the pathos a lot more. This means the emotions are activated or displayed more dramatically. That is usually done by using more storytelling, anecdotes, and personal life experiences.
3. The conclusion – the conclusion of your speech must be footprint on the listener’s mind. This is where you recap the key message and leave a lasting impression with the audience. Some tips to make a memorable conclusion:
1. Summarize the top 2-3 points from your speech.
2. You could conclude with a challenge for the audience which leaves them inspired to implement some of the ideas you suggested.
3. Using a quotation or an anecdote which summarises your key message can be very inspiring and leave the audience enthralled.
Make sure you always allow the time to make a memorable concluding statement. Your conclusion will be the final thought that you leave in the mind of your audience.
How to tackle the fear of Public Speaking?
“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than delivering the eulogy.”
-Jerry Seinfeld
The fear of public speaking is termed as Glossophobia. The word glossophobia derives from the Greek word glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread.
We perceive being attacked by the audience for: -
- Not being well informed
- Being judged to be a failure
- We fear being labelled a failure
When we speak, we are in a mode of fight or flight.
Mark Twain said, “There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars.” Being a little nervous is normal. Even the best of speakers with a lot of experience get nervous before a talk. The idea is to realize that it’s okay if you make some mistakes. You don’t have to be 100% perfect.
Contrary to the fight and flight syndrome your audience is not here to attack you. They want you to succeed.
What are the physical symptoms of feeling nervous?
Did you know that what causes your palms to sweat and your heartbeat to increase before a speaking event is the release of hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol? This is the same hormone that is released when we experience physical danger.
This implies that we perceive public speaking akin to a physically dangerous situation. In our head, we think we are going to be attacked.
Remember this fear is good. Accept it, embrace it, and then conquer it. You are not alone. Many famous celebrities and famous people suffered from extreme stress and anxiety when faced with the prospect of standing up and speaking on a stage.
Take the case of Warren Buffet one of the richest men in the world – once he dropped out of a public speaking course out of sheer terror. Another extreme case is Mahatma Gandhi. An incident is narrated, Gandhi was due to be speaking in a court and could only manage to say the first sentence before he was tight lipped and an assistant had to step in to rescue the situation and help Gandhi finish his speech.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave." — Mark Twain
Physical Symptoms of Glossophobia:
- shortness of breath or hyperventilating
What are the tips to overcome nervousness and anxiety before a public speaking event?
· Practise. Practise. Practise.
Practise makes a man perfect. This phrase is a hundred percent applicable to public speaking. Even people who are stage performers and have had highly successful public speaking events practise hard before every event. The more you practise the more you internalize the speech and every time as you speak it out keeping the perspective of the audience in mind you hone your ability to connect to the audience. Developing a genuine empathy and understanding of the audience each time you practise will give you fresh insights on how best to deliver your speech. Practise will also help you memorise and feel more confident.
· Deep Breathing
Breathing is a particularly important factor in overcoming the nervousness caused by the increase of adrenaline. Excess adrenaline makes us breathe shallowly which results in less intake of oxygen. To make up for it you start breathing rapidly that in turn causes your heart rate to go up. The solution to calming your nerves is to do some deep breathing exercises. That will increase the oxygen level in your blood, lower your heart rate and reduce the adrenaline level. Doing deep breathing exercising daily is recommended as an excellent meditation technique.
Another breathing technique is to exhale twice in a row without inhaling again. Then, breath in again and exhale twice in a row without breathing in again. Do this 5-6 times. You will feel relaxed in your mind. This technique clears out the carbon dioxide air in your diaphragm and helps your intake of more oxygen and send it to your brain.
· Visualization
Universe responds to your thoughts and mental images. This means whatever you visualize in your mind has a better chance of coming true. If you visualize success and positive situations you will have a higher chance of seeing it happen in your environment. Visualize yourself delivering your speech confidently and impactfully. See the audience in your mind smiling and engaging with you. Tell yourself you are well prepared and delivering confidently. Acknowledge the power of your words, your confident stage presence, and your articulate speech on the audience. As you make a habit of creating such positive images in your mind about your speech, it will reinforce itself in making you feel relaxed, good, and confident when you speak.
· Focus on your audience
Remember the key purpose of your speech. It is to convey a message to your audience. Don’t make the speech about yourself. You are not that significant in the larger scheme of things. What is of far higher significance is your audience. Think of the power of a group of people getting influenced, buying into a new idea or a thought. Think of the change that it can bring. That is the real purpose of you being on stage. Look at yourself as an instrument in delivering a message. This way you will remove focus from yourself. It will relieve the stress of being perfect but make you think of the bigger goal. It is okay if you end up making some mistakes on stage if you convey the message with genuine energy and passion you would have made a difference.
How to engage your audience?
Which are some of the most memorable speeches you have heard? And what do you think made them memorable. The characteristics of most famous speeches are that they engage their audience. Here are some tips for creating engagement:
· Know your audience: Obama who created history by becoming the first Black President of the Unites States of America is known for making the audience feel as if he is talking to each personally. He knows his audience closely and makes sure he talks to each one of them in their own language. An excerpt from one of his speeches:
“And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.”
· Narrate Stories: Storytelling is very powerful especially in public speaking. And if you tell the audience stories they can relate to you will take them with you through the highs and lows of the narrative and as their brains start to mirror yours you can drive the key point home easily. For example a story Obama narrated in one of speeches:
“She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons — because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.”
· Use words to paint pictures and make your audience visualize: Visualization is a great tool to engage. Use words in your speech to paint a picture in the minds of your audience and transport them to the place you are talking about. They will willingly go with you. Here is an excellent example of how Obama paints pictures through his words. Pay special attention to the words that have been underlines and bold and notice how they create a picture in your mind instantaneously:
“Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.”
“Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.”
“And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”
· Use voice modulation and pauses: Voice modulating and effective pausing at the right time keeps the audience listening in. Don’t be in a rush. Take your time as you navigate the audience through your stories and words. An effective pause can create suspense, allow the audience to process what you have said till there and make them anticipate on what lies next.
· Asking Rhetorical Questions: A rhetorical question is a question asked to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information. Example, “Do you know how this tip can benefit you?” or “How many of you have felt like the woman in the story?” You don’t need people to raise their hands. The reason they work is that any kind of question engages people mentally; we are programmed to respond to questions, even if it is just internally.
How to conduct an effective Q&A session?
Conducting a Q&A session for a public speaking event involves establishing the following:
· When can the audience as question- For a public speaking event where the gathering is usually large it is best to keep the Q&A session at the end of the speech? However, you might want to also bae it on sections of your speech and keep it at the end of every section. You should establish the “when” of Q&A right at the beginning.
· How can the audience ask the question- the most practised forms are a) raise your hand b) send a written note of your question to the speaker on stage? We recommend the former as it helps in creating more interest and engagement. However, for certain situation the second form might work better.
· How to answer- here are some tips on the best ways to answer:
o Demonstrate good listening
o Do not enter into any kind of verbal match back & forth
o Know when to deflect to the next question
o Do not get stuck on one question give others a chance to ask
How to handle mic and props and some dressing up tips?
· You should always check the sound system before the event and never test it in front of the audience
· Make sure the MIC does not cover your full face.
· Do not wear jewellery like danglers that will interfere with the mic.
· Make sure your hair is falling such that it does not brush against the mic
· Keep the arm that is holding the mic stationary
· Hold the Mic from the middle and keep it close to your mouth
· Use props only and if only you are every comfortable with them.
· If using the projector, make sure you don’t stand in front of it
· Deciding what to wear for the event dress up one notch above what you thin your audience will be dresses in. for example if they are going to be very casual you go semi casual and if they are semi casual you dress up formally
“The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.” Source unknown
“If you can speak, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives.” Source unknown
Public Speaking is an opportunity to change lives, grab it!
