Good public speaking skills are essential to career success and social effectiveness. Thankfully, there are sure-fire ways to improve speaking skills.
Anyone wishing to advance their career or improve their personal effects should improve communication skills. Articulating one’s thoughts, ideas, proposals, and suggestions in writing and speaking will go a long way toward ensuring professional success. Like Martin Luther King Jr. or William Jennings Bryan, an excellent public speaker is well-positioned for success. Fortunately, there are ways virtually guaranteed to improve general speaking skills. Ten methods to improve your public speaking:
Study great speakers —
Those hoping to become better speakers should study great speakers. There are numerous examples of great orators in history, from Demosthenes to Winston Churchill and Frederick Douglass to Billy Graham. Read their speeches. Study the context of their most important lessons (who was their audience? what were they trying to get the audience to believe or do? what were the obstacles to that goal?) and how they spoke within that context (how did they tap into the minds of their listeners? how did they address the obstacles? what was their strategy?). Learn from the greatest if you want to be the best.
Speak with a goal —
It is an excellent principle for public speakers. Never get up in front of an audience without a clear objective. Is the goal to inform or entertain or both? Is it to persuade? Is the goal to inspire action? If so, what action do you wish the audience to take?
Speak with enthusiasm —
No one likes to listen to a dull speaker. The key to holding an audience’s attention is to speak with passion and enthusiasm. Legendary orator William Jennings Bryan described eloquence as “thought on fire.”People want to come and see you smoke,” observed the renowned Methodist preacher John Wesley. So allow your enthusiasm to pour from you as you speak about the aims of your presentation.
Know your audience —
Your speaking style will be different (or at least it should be different) when speaking to elementary school students instead of Fortune 500 chief executives. Your presentation’s content must be adjusted (vocabulary, illustrations, etc.), but you’ll also need to match your personality and style to that of your audience. One should be more enthusiastic than their audience. After all, enthusiasm is critical and contagious (see the previous point). However, a hand-clapping, cheerleader style presentation designed to thrill pre-teens might not go over well with well-heeled business executives.
Know your topic —
Knowledge breeds confidence. Ignorance breeds nervousness and fear. Never go into a presentation unprepared.
Smile —
One of the most important things a person can do to achieve likability is smile. A smile conveys happiness, confidence, and enthusiasm. It helps the person wearing the smile to think positive, happy thoughts, and it tends to draw those same thoughts out of others as well. There are, of course, times one should not smile, but smiling should be the default facial expression. Not a forced, exaggerated smile, but a relaxed, natural one.
Practice regulated breathing —
This tip is especially for those who struggle with public speaking fear. Before you get up to the podium or stand in front of the group, regulate your breathing. Make sure your brain gets enough oxygen, and utilize breathing to be calm and deliberate.
Expect the best from yourself —
Banish worries and fears. Don’t allow doubts to undermine your self-esteem. By doing your homework (knowing your audience, topic, and objectives), you have every reason to be confident.
Understand the audience wants you to succeed —
While there may be a rare, strange person in the group (or perhaps a personal enemy), most of your audience wants you to give a great speech. They are rooting for your success. The reason why is because they’d rather listen to a great speaker than a bad one. Draw confidence from the fact that you and your audience have a shared, positive goal.
Develop a servant’s heart —
The audience isn’t there to serve you. Rather, you help them. Make a conscious decision to like and respect your audience and to want to give them your very best. Be a servant. Serve your audience. If you’re giving a comedy presentation, your goal is to help them laugh, not for your sake but for theirs. Many of them had a bad day or are facing a complex scenario. They need a humorous break. That’s your job. If you’re giving a persuasive presentation, try to persuade them, not so it benefits you, but because you believe that what you have to offer will genuinely help them. Serve your audience.
Anyone can become a more effective and successful public speaker by doing homework, establishing clear objectives, and developing the proper perspective and attitude. Improving one’s general speaking skills takes time, work, and patience, but it can be done. And it’s well worth it.