What is public Speaking?
Public speaking is a common social practice and is a type of communication used to communicate a message that is important to the speaker and the audience. It is a practice done in a variety of settings, such as in a classroom, a meeting, on television, in a public service announcement, or even in a public speech.
Public speaking is a skill that is important for people who want to advance their careers or secure jobs. It is something everyone must learn to become a successful professional. It can be used for a variety of reasons, such as to sell a product, to persuade others to do something, or to get attention and much more.
How did the term public speaking originate?
The term public speaking originated dates back to the late 18th century. It was used to describe a person who spoke in a public forum, typically on a political issue.
In the 19th century, the term became more widely used to describe a speaker who is trying to persuade others.
In the 20th century, public speaking became more widely known as a profession,
In the 21st century, the term has become more widely known as the art of public speaking.
Tough Public speaking has been around for centuries, It is said that the term public speaking originated from the Latin word “publicus”, meaning “public”, and the Greek word “kēryxis”, meaning “to speak”. This term was coined in the late 18th century to describe the public speaking skill. It was used because the people who were public speakers were typically not just speaking for themselves, but for an entire group of people.
Why it is important to learn public speaking?
Many people lack in public speaking because it is often taught in schools and college courses. Public speaking is a skill that is necessary in many job positions, but it is also useful for personal development.
You will reach a stage in your career where you are going to speak in a public setting and you will have to have the ability to be confident (eg: Leader). To be confident, your mind must be clear and know your subject matter well.
8 Tips to improve the art of public speaking.
Public speaking is something everyone must improve to become a successful professional. This will help people who are beginners and want to excel their career in public speaking.
1. Think about what you want to achieve.
Public speaking is an art that requires a lot of preparation and is not only about delivering a speech but also about connecting with the audience, having a clear message, and achieving a specific goal. One of the fundamental aspects of successful public speaking is knowing what you want to achieve.
For example: You are a Motivational Speaker. Here you might want to achieve the following.
A. Creating your brand presence by letting People know who you are and your expertise.
B. You want to offer services to them.
C. You want them to share your services with their connections.
D. You want to share a social message.
2. Make a list of what you want to say.
When it comes to public speaking, the importance of making a list of the things you want to say is necessary. It is common to get nervous or forget your train of thought, especially if you lack experience as a public speaker. However, with a clear list of what you want to say, you will be able to maintain control of the conversation and deliver an engaging and informative speech.
Here are some benefits.
A. Keeping you organized.
When you create a list, it ensures you have a well-organized and structured presentation for your audience to understand the information you are delivering. Having a clear outline in your head makes it easier to speak confidently and avoid rambling or repetitive sentences.
B. Helps you stay on track.
When you are nervous, it is common to lose your train of thought, making it harder to keep to the point. By creating a list of what you want to say, you can easily refer to it throughout the presentation, ensuring that you stay on track and cover all the key points you want to make.
C. Increases confidence.
One of the main reasons people struggle with public speaking is lack of confidence. Creating a list will give you greater confidence and reduce your nervousness because you will know what to say next, making you appear knowledgeable and comfortable.
D. Help with time management.
When you have a list of what to say, you can divide your presentation into specific topics, each allocated a specific time. Having a timeline ensures that you stay within your scheduled time, preventing you from going on too long or rushing your speech.
3. Use visual aids.
A. Visual aids help presenters to convey their message more effectively and clearly.
Powerful visuals and illustrations communicate ideas better than words alone. For instance, graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams are effective tools that help demonstrate statistics and trends or explain more complex data in a way that is easier for the audience to understand.
B. Visual aids are useful to retain message in memory.
The human mind is wired to remember visuals better than words, which is why incorporating visual aids in a presentation can help convey important information in a more memorable way. When the audience has a visual representation of the message, they can grasp the information faster and retain it for a more extended period.
C. Keeps audience engaged.
Visuals are not just a tool for conveying information; they also add an element of entertainment to speeches, which makes them more enjoyable for the audience. Consider using engaging visuals like videos or gifs to make your presentation more fun and exciting for your listeners.
4. Practice Gesture, Body Language & Tone of Speech.
Gestures are non-verbal signals that convey meaning and emotions. Body language refers to the way a person stands, moves, and expresses themselves. Tone of speech is the manner in which words are spoken, such as the pitch, openness, clarity, and distinctness of the voice.
A. Build rapport with the audience.
A speaker’s movements and tone of voice can convey empathy, enthusiasm, confidence, and authenticity. When a speaker is able to connect with their audience emotionally, the audience is more likely to be attentive and receptive to what the speaker has to say.
B. Help the audience to understand the speaker’s message better.
People use more than just words to communicate, so if a speaker only relies on verbal communication, important parts of the message might be missed. Research has shown that up to 93% of communication is non-verbal, meaning that gestures, body language, and tone of speech are also crucial to effective communication.
5. Have a Good Story to tell.
Stories are universal in nature and can be used to express any message, no matter how complicated it will create active engagement. See below how it helps.
A. Connects the audience to the speaker.
A well-told story can inspire empathy, transmit values, and connect the audience to the speaker. You are sharing your experience, your emotions, and your perspectives with the audience. This personal touch adds authenticity and credibility to your message. It helps to build trust and establishes you as an authoritative figure on the subject.
B. It helps simplify complex topics.
Stories help to simplify complex topics and make them more accessible to the audience. A story can illustrate a point without getting down in technical details. For example, a speech on the impact of climate change can be enhanced by sharing a personal story about how it has affected the speaker’s life. This human connection helps to create an emotional connection with the audience and drives the point of the speech.
6. Focus on the audience.
A. Audience is the reason for the speaker.
The audience is the reason why the speaker is communicating in the first place. A speaker seeks to entertain, educate, persuade or inform their audience. The purpose of the speech is to benefit the audience in some manner. Therefore, it is imperative for the speaker to focus on the audience and ensure that their message meets the audience’s needs and interests.
B. Have to connect with the audience.
Focusing on the audience helps the speaker connect with them at an emotional level. Public speaking is not just about conveying information; it is also about how that information is delivered. A speaker who understands their audience can tailor their message in a manner that connects with their emotions.
C. Achieve the intended purpose.
A speaker aims to achieve a specific objective when delivering a speech. For example, wanting people to purchase a product, convincing people to vote for a candidate, or giving advice on how to take care of one’s health. Whatever the objective may be, it is accomplished only when the speaker can engage their audience effectively. Therefore, understanding the audience and focusing on them is critical in achieving the intended purpose.
7. Learn from other people’s mistakes.
Learning from other people’s mistakes allows us to avoid common pitfalls that can derail our speech. Mistakes can range from using filler words such as ‘uh’ and ‘um’, to stuttering, to not maintaining eye contact with the audience. These mistakes can negatively affect our credibility and make it harder for us to establish a connection with our audience.
Let us understand how it can help us.
A. Identify own self.
By learning from the mistakes of others, we can identify our own weaknesses and work on improving them. Observing the mistakes of other speakers not only helps to make us aware of our own mistakes but also provides us with a roadmap to avoid repeating them.
B. Prevent us from making same Mistakes.
Public speaking is a high-pressure situation, and it is easy to overlook small mistakes when we are nervous or when we are under pressure. By being aware of other people’s mistakes, we can avoid making the same errors.
C. Save our time and resources.
Avoiding common mistakes in public speaking means that we do not have to spend time correcting them later. Correcting mistakes can be time-consuming and can take away from the overall effectiveness of our speech.
D. Build a supportive public speaking community.
When we acknowledge and help each other to improve, not only will we improve our own public speaking skills, but we will also help build a stronger community of speakers. We can create supportive environments where everyone can learn from each other’s mistakes and grow in a positive light.
8. Practice your speech & stage presence.
Although public speaking can be anxiety-inducing, it is crucial to dedicate time to rehearsing your speech and improving your composure before delivering it to an audience. Here are a few reasons why this is necessary
A. Practice can improve your ability to communicate your message clearly and concisely.
People suffering from speech anxiety may experience stuttering, losing the train of thought or making errors during their speeches. Nonetheless, consistent practice can enhance your pacing, intonation, and comprehensive delivery, thus making your audience engrossed and attentive throughout your speech.
B. . Help you identify areas that need enhancement.
By concentrating on improving your flaws and enhancing your skills, you will prevent any uncomfortable situations on stage, where recovery would be a challenging task.
C. Build your confidence.
Practicing the content can give you a sense of ease and sufficient knowledge, thereby reducing any nervousness associated with public speaking. Consequently, this will boost your on-stage confidence and increase the impression of being refined and sure of oneself.
D. Prepare for Questions.
Through sufficient practice, you can predict all the queries and counterarguments that your audience might raise, and equip yourself with well-suited responses. Such an approach would exhibit your expertise and trustworthiness, fostering a profound connection with your listeners.
Conclusion
The art of public speaking is of utmost importance not only in personal but also in professional life. It is a skill that enables individuals to effectively communicate their ideas, opinions, and thoughts to a large audience, thereby influencing and inspiring others. The ability to share one’s views clearly and confidently can boost confidence, establish credibility, and enhance the individual’s professional network.
Improved public speaking skills can also lead to better job opportunities and promotions. Therefore, it is essential to invest time and effort in improving public speaking skills to achieve success in both personal and professional endeavors in today’s fast-paced and competitive world.