Public Speaking is not a birth trait. It is an art that can be learnt, practised, and improved every day. Your chances of becoming a powerful public speaker depend on the virtues listed below, which we in our training call competencies. We have to convert these competencies into skills. Say, for example, you are a painter and I am also a painter. But, you can paint portraits, sceneries and what not and that too within minutes. On the other hand, I can only rub the brush on a palate to make a hut and a tree. What do you think? Who is more skilled. You or me? Of course YOU. That, however, doesn’t mean that I cant become a good painter. I will spend my time practising art and will one day achieve success and be an awesome painter. Likewise, if you want to become a better public speaker, you must work on the following listed competencies to become a skilled speaker. Note them!
1. Greeting – Why is greeting important in Public Speaking?
Always be ready to greet your audience!
When on stage, the way you smile and greet your audience plays a major role in the way you’ll be accepted by them. You smile, the audience will become positive. You frown and shake, the audience will become disinterested and nonchalant. Do you want this to happen to you?So, rather, if you wish to strike the first chord with your audience as a public speaker, carry a big vibrant smile on your face when you go to a stage(of any dimension) and make sure that you greet them with a warm smile. For instance, when you say a “Good morning” – it should be loud, warm and audible to everyone.
2. Empathy – How to generate empathy as a speaker?
Allow your audience to think and reflect on the learning given by you.
Easily said than done – put yourself in your audience’s situation. Why do you think they are there? To listen to a cry baby or to listen to someone who can transform them, change them, make them a better person? Remember, your audience is as nervous as you are. Just that they are seated and are in a comfortable position but you are standing on a bed of thorns.So, pull up your socks and make sure that when you exit the stage, your audience sits back and goes into deep thought to think and reflect on the learning given by you.
3. Probing Skills – What is “probing” while speaking in public?
Probe deeper and ask questions.
Can you ask the right questions? What are these right questions? Probing is a skill that most speakers miss out on. Because of this, they start to defend themselves during QBDs (Question-based discussions) and then they fumble on further questioning. Remember, every question does not require an answer.The majority of the times, the person asking a question has an answer. He/She just needs clarity from a more researched or learned person i.e. you. But if you start to answer all questions, it would directly imply that you know everything on earth. TRUE but NOT TRUE. Rather, probe deeper and ask questions to the person asking questions to you and lead him to find the answer than answering the question directly.
4. Accentuating Positives – Why should you appreciate?
Appreciate.
“Well done! Kudos! Amazing! Loved it! Voila! Awesome! You are a champ! I love your energy! I love the way you speak! You are a rockstar buddy!”What do you think these are? They are all the positives that you as a public speaker should keep handy. Positivity is everything in this world. Its usage gives power to the most mundane and boring public speakers on earth. So what are you waiting for? Use them and don’t judge yourself when you compliment others. One compliment given fetches one good wish! That’s enough.
5. Rapport – Strike the first chord and be a charming public speaker.
To keep your audience hooked, build rapport!
Do you believe in creating a relationship with your audience while speaking in public? Haven’t you seen the way Indians try to seek out the similarity in the very first-stranger communication? Why do you think we try to say – “Oh, I belong to the same place. In fact, I live in the same neighbourhood.” That’s nothing, but rapport building in creation. If you are a public speaker and you cannot build rapport, then you are not going to keep your audience hooked to yourself.
6. Energy– Why should you be charged up always?
Be pumped up when you speak with your audience and create an energetic environment.
Do you find it difficult to raise your voice? Do you ensure that the last person in the auditorium is able to listen to you? Do you have to guts to ask your audience to stand up and do a Mumbai Salsa – 5-step dance with you? I have seen some very strong and sturdy Public Speakers who fail in establishing the right amount of positive energy in the room. I asked them – “Why was the session so dull?” All they have to say is that the participants were boring! Uhh-uh! Participants are never boring. It’s always the host. If the host(public speaker in our case) cannot make the audience get charged up, the show will always be a dull show. So move around and create a space where people can open up, share personal stories openly and help them be fearless. All you can do is with your own energy that you emit while presenting or speaking.
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There are 14 more competencies that can make you a whole-package powerful and entertaining public speaker. For now, work on the pointers I have shared above. I hope you’d see some change in your own style and presentation. May the force be with you.————————————–
Manish Pandey This article has been developed by Manish Pandey. He is the Founder and Communication Skills Coach at LearnAtELAN Education. Although his time is spent handling the day-to-day working of his company, he spends his free time penning his thoughts about life, skills and language learning. You may feel free to reach out to him at manish.elanacademy@gmail.com
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