“My dear f-f-friends, when I arrived here this evening, only God and I knew what I was going to say. Now - Only God knows!” - a Nervous Speaker
Well, as it happens I couldn’t have given a better introduction for this topic than this anecdote (courtesy Harry Lorayne). But amazingly, most of us have, at some point, been in the same situation. The experience is really a humiliating one. Public speaking is considered as an aspect of personality by most people these days. That is why it is gaining so much of importance in present day scenario. Companies too, when they call for recruitment, check this particular aspect with care. So said, few people are born orators, others are not.
Effective public speaking is an art which can be learnt. Anyone can master the basic techniques for making an audience sit up and listen.
Before that let’s see the few things that affect even the best of speakers:
1. Nervousness: Standing in front of an audience and delivering a speech on a subject is an activity over which people would normally lose their lunch. If you are feeling nervous, just think this-if anyone in the audience knew the topic better; it would be him on the podium, not you!! So reasoning logically, you have been asked to speak because, hypothetically at least, you know the subject. Hence, it is important that you are not completely ignorant about any topic.
2. Length of speech: Most important thing in giving a talk is timing and knowing when to stop. If you talk too long it s sure to bore the audience. If you talk too less, you can’t make your point. A balance between the two can be made according to the situation and the number of speakers after you. Whatever you say, state it forcefully and exit the stage with grace.
3. Preparing and delivering: Collect data about the topic, eliminate everything you don’t require for the present context and then arrange whatever points you are left with. Even for an extempore, you would have certain points which you want to get across to the audience. But if you don’t make any preparation most of them will be forgotten. Remember your speech not word by word but thought by thought. That way, even if you forget the exact sentence, you can make one since you still have the points intact. Keep the points as notes. Prepare a strong conclusion because that’s the last they will hear you say.
4. On stage performance: Remember, you are more important than the speech. The way you speak makes an impression on the audience. Best thing to do is be natural. Neither be stiff at one place nor speak in a monotone. Both are boring. Make the speech entertaining but don’t be a comedian. Make the audience laugh occasionally and they are sure to pay attention to the serious parts of the speech. Maintain eye contact with the audience. Be flexible, dynamic and considerate.
Now lets see how we can be an effective public speaker.
Be friendly: switch the audience ‘on’ with your smile. Be warm amiable and happy looking. Then you are off to a flying start.
Relax: Even experienced orators like former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher admit feeling nervous before the speech. But never let your stage fright show. You are here to win their interest not their sympathy. Breathing deeply or counting silently will help you relax. Pretend you are a very good speaker and go forth.
Take command: Its you who is holding the floor and hence you deserve full attention. Come out in to the open and let the audience feel you and your speech.
Stand Confidently: Stand straight, use your hands as well as your brain when you deliver a speech. Make slight movements so that the audience get a chance to shift their eyes.
Plan what to say: A forceful speech must be thought out beforehand. Structure your speech thus-Start with your reason for speaking (introduction), back up your contention with evidence (middle) and have an optimistic end (conclusion). Or use the preacher’s method - “first tell them what you’re going to tell them. Next, tell them. Then, tell them what you told them”.
Keep it simple: Resist the temptation to cram in as many points as you can into a speech. The audience may well remember none. A productive speech consists of up to five main points at most, leading to one main conclusion. Use minimum technical vocabulary. Don’t show how good you are in language; show how good you are at using it.
Seem spontaneous: This adds an attractive sparkle to the speech. Say it as if you are speaking to your friend, without any heavy literary artillery.
Use your voice to the full: Control the audience like a skilled musician; your voice being the instrument and the speech being the music. Raising voice stirs brain cells, speaking slowly in a deep voice impresses with solemnity of your utterance. Rapid, excited speaking imparts a sense of urgency. Always enunciate clearly, with lips, tongue and teeth, so your audience hears every word.
A ‘pregnant’ pause at appropriate moment is sure to attract the audience.
Include everyone: A speaker who avoids looking at the audience is sure to lose them. While speaking, let your gaze sweep back and forth across the audience like a beam of light so that none of them feel that their presence is being rejected. Look, in turn, briefly but directly in to all present, even those beside you.
Watch your timing: “PRAESTATE DICETE ET TACETE” (“Stand up, speak up and shut up”) is the best possible advice on timing. Speak only as much in demand, for the demand and to the demand. Be flexible according to the situation. Else people will be looking not at their watches but at the calendars when you speak.
Speaking skills can be honed by practice. Form groups with friends to do so. Your second speech will be better than your first, third better than your second and so on. You can only improve as you keep trying. For those who are like “I am too shy” or “I have never done it before” or “I don’t speak well”—well what to say, it will be a long time before all your excuses are overcome. If you don’t risk anything, you will never fail but you won’t grow or learn anything; you’ll just be another stagnant piece as time goes by. So YOU DECIDE!!!
I will leave you with the words of Dr. Leifchild:
Begin low, speak slow;
Take fire, rise higher;
When most impressed,
Be self possessed;
At the end wax warm;
And sit down in a storm.
