Public Speaking Skills

Shyam .S .Salim* and Irene Elizabeth Joy

Senior Scientist, SEETTD, CMFRI, Cochin
Email*: [email protected]
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Introduction

Public speaking (sometimes termed oratory or oration) is the process or act of

performing a presentation (a speech) focused around an individual
directly speaking to a live audience in a structured, deliberate manner in order to
inform, influence, or entertain them. Public speaking is commonly understood as the
formal, face-to-face talking of a single person to a group of listeners. It is closely
allied to "presenting", although the latter is more often associated with commercial
activity. Most of the time, public speaking is to persuade the audience.

Relevance

Even if you don't need to make regular presentations in front of a group, there are
plenty of situations where good public speaking skills can help you advance your
career and create opportunities.

For example, you might have to talk about your organization at a conference, make a
speech after accepting an award, or teach a class to new recruits. Speaking to an
audience also includes online presentations or talks; for instance, when training a
virtual team, or when speaking to a group of customers in an online meeting.

Good public speaking skills are important in other areas of your life, as well. You
might be asked to make a speech at a friend's wedding, give a eulogy for a loved one,
or inspire a group of volunteers at a charity event.

In short, being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost your self-
confidence, and open up countless opportunities.

However, while good skills can open doors, poor ones can close them. For example,
your boss might decide against promoting you after sitting through a badly-delivered
presentation. You might lose a valuable new contract by failing to connect with a
prospect during a sales pitch. Or you could make a poor impression with your new
team, because you trip over your words and don't look people in the eye.
Make sure that you learn how to speak well!

Strategies for Becoming a Better Speaker

The good news is that speaking in public is a learnable skill. As such, you can use the
following strategies to become a better speaker and presenter.

1. Plan Appropriately

First, make sure that you plan your communication appropriately. Think about how
you'll structure what you're going to say. When you do this, think about how

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important a book's first paragraph is; if it doesn't grab you, you're likely going to put
it down. The same principle goes for your speech: from the beginning, you need to
intrigue your audience.

For example, you could start with an interesting statistic, headline, or fact that
pertains to what you're talking about and resonates with your audience. You can also
use story telling as a powerful opener.

Planning also helps you to think on your feet . This is especially important for
unpredictable question and answer sessions or last-minute communications.

2. Practice

There's a good reason that we say, "Practice makes perfect!" You simply cannot be a
confident, compelling speaker without practice. To get practice, seek opportunities to
speak in front of others. If you're going to be delivering a presentation or prepared
speech, create it as early as possible. The earlier you put it together, the more time
you'll have to practice.

Practice it plenty of times alone, using the resources you'll rely on at the event, and,
as you practice, tweak your words until they flow smoothly and easily. Then, if
appropriate, do a dummy run in front of a small audience: this will help you calm
your jitters and make you feel more comfortable with the material. Your audience
can also give you useful feedback Add to My Personal Learning Plan, both on your
material and on your performance.

3. Engage With Your Audience

When you speak, try to engage your audience. This makes you feel less isolated as a
speaker and keeps everyone involved with your message. If appropriate, ask leading
questions Add to My Personal Learning Plan targeted to individuals or groups, and
encourage people to participate and ask questions.

Keep in mind that some words reduce your power as a speaker. For instance, think
about how these sentences sound: "I just want to add that I think we can meet these
goals" or "I just think this plan is a good one." The words "just" and "I think" limit
your authority and conviction. Don't use them. A similar word is "actually," as in,
"Actually, I'd like to add that we were under budget last quarter." When you use
"actually," it conveys a sense of submissiveness or even surprise. Instead, say what
things are. "We were under budget last quarter" is clear and direct.

Finally, avoid reading word-for-word from your notes. Instead, make a list of
important points on cue cards, or, as you get better at public speaking, try to
memorize what you're going to say – you can still refer back to your cue cards when
you need them.

4. Pay Attention to Body Language

Pay attention to your body language: stand up straight; take deep breaths, look
people in the eye, and smile. Don't lean on one leg or use gestures that feel unnatural.

If you can speak you can influence thereby changing lives

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If you're nervous, you might talk quickly. This increases the chances that you'll trip
over your words, or say something you don't mean. Force yourself to slow down by
breathing deeply. Don't be afraid to gather your thoughts; pauses are an important
part of conversation, and they make you sound confident, natural, and authentic.
Many people prefer to speak behind a podium when giving presentations. While
podiums can be useful for holding notes, they put a barrier between you and the
audience. They can also become a "crutch," giving you a hiding place from the dozens
or hundreds of eyes that are on you.

Instead of standing behind a podium, walk around and use gestures to engage the
audience. This movement and energy will also come through in your voice, making it
more active and passionate.

5. Think Positively

Positive thinking Add to My Personal Learning Plan can make a huge difference to
the success of your communication, because it helps you feel more confident. Fear
makes it all too easy to slip into a cycle of negative self-talk, especially right before
you speak, while self-sabotaging Add to My Personal Learning Plan thoughts such as
"I'll never be good at this!" or "I'm going to fall flat on my face!" lower your
confidence and increase the chances that you won't achieve what you're truly capable
of. Use affirmations Add to My Personal Learning Plan and visualization Add to My
Personal Learning Plan to raise your confidence. This is especially important right
before your speech or presentation. Visualize giving a successful presentation, and
imagine how you'll feel once it's over and when you've made a positive difference for
others. Use positive affirmations such as "I'm grateful I have the opportunity to help
my audience" or "I'm going to do well!"

6. Cope with Nerves

How often have you listened to or watched a speaker who really messed up? Chances
are, the answer is "not very often."

When we have to speak in front of others, we can envision terrible things happening.
We imagine forgetting every point we want to make, passing out from our
nervousness, or doing so horribly that we'll lose our job. But those things almost
never come to pass! We build them up in our minds and end up more nervous than
we need to be.

Many people cite speaking to an audience as their biggest fear, and a fear of failure
Add to My Personal Learning Plan is often at the root of this. Public speaking can
lead your "fight or flight" response to kick in: adrenaline courses through your
bloodstream, your heart rate increases, you sweat, and your breath becomes fast and
shallow.

First, make an effort to stop thinking about yourself, your nervousness, and your
fear. Instead, focus on your audience: what you're saying is "about them." Remember
that you're trying to help or educate them in some way, and your message is more
important than your fear. Concentrate on the audience's wants and needs, instead of
your own.

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7. Watch Recordings of Your Speeches

Whenever possible, record your presentations and speeches. You can improve your
speaking skills dramatically by watching yourself later, and then working on
improving in areas that didn't go well.

As you watch, notice any verbal stalls, such as "um" or "like." Look at your body
language: are you swaying, leaning on the podium, or leaning heavily on one leg? Are
you looking at the audience? Did you smile? Did you speak clearly at all times?
Pay attention to your gestures. Do they appear natural or forced? Make sure that
people can see them, especially if you're standing behind a podium.

Last, look at how you handled interruptions, such as a sneeze or a question that you
weren't prepared for. Does your face show surprise, hesitation, or annoyance? If so,
practice managing interruptions like these smoothly, so that you're even better next
time.

SUMMARY

Key Points
Chances are that you'll sometimes have to speak in public as part of your role.
While this can seem intimidating, the benefits of being able to speak well
outweigh any perceived fears. To become a better speaker, use the following
strategies:
 Plan appropriately.
 Practice.
 Engage with your audience.
 Pay attention to body language.
 Think positively.
 Cope with your nerves.
 Watch recordings of your speeches.
If you speak well in public, it can help you get a job or promotion, raise
awareness for your team or organization, and educate others. The more you
push yourself to speak in front of others, the better you'll become, and the
more confidence you'll have.

If you can speak you can influence thereby changing lives

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