The Art of Public Speaking
Does the idea of public speaking fill you with dread? If it does you
are not alone. 77% of the populations have what is known
Glossophobia (a phobia of public speaking).
A brief history of public speaking:
Public speaking is hardly a new thing. It dates back to the ancient
Greeks, who used public speaking as a political tool in debates
and assemblies. The main purpose of their speeches was to
persuade people, known as rhetoric. This use of rhetoric
continued in ancient Rome. However, the art of public speaking is
certainly evolving, even if some things remain the same.
The fear of public speaking:
Why do I have the fear of public speaking? It’s important to
understand why you feel anxious about public speaking. There
could be many reasons we are going to talk about them below.
First, you feel self-conscious, which is definitely one of the most
common reasons why people are scared of public speaking. If you
try to view the speech as a conversation between people rather
than a presentation to an unknown audience, you may be rise
above your self-consciousness.
Second. You are worried about appearing nervous. This is related
to feeling self-conscious, but often you get more scared. It is hard
to look confident while you are feeling anxious and faking it
seems like an impossible feat.
Third, comparing yourself to others. It is easy to compare yourself
to professional speakers. However, if all speakers were the same,
speeches would not be interesting. Your purpose is not to be a
great speaker, but to provide something to your audience.
How to deal with public speaking anxiety:
There are certain things you can work on. The first part, self-
efficacy is about the belief you have in your ability to succeed in
different situations. You can practice your presentation in front of
a small group of people for example, your family or friends. Then,
ask for a feedback in order to improve your self-confidence.
The second part, is establishing your locus of control, which is
about your belief that you are able to influence situations in your
life, internally and externally. Therefore, in order to cultivate an
internal locus of control, you should focus on the things in life that
you have total control over, and create goals that relate to those
things. This approach merely encourages you to think about what
you do have control over, and focus on that.
How to change your mindset:
Experts provided tips on how to rewire your thoughts into more
positive ones. When you are about to give a presentation and you
are feeling terrified, your inner critic might say things like “I
cannot do it and I am not good enough” at this point you will feel
nervous, and you will start to forget things while doing your
presentation or even stutter. If you acknowledge that it is just a
thought rather than a fact, you will become more self-aware and
less anxious. It might be beneficial to replace this thought with a
more considered statement, like “This is difficult right, but it will
get easier”
Mastering the art of public speaking:
Preparation is the key to succeed.
Before the speech
Research your topic in detail. You have to truly understand your
topic. You won’t need to memorise a speech, and you will be able
to improvise if you need to. Then, know your message. In the
planning stage, you should ask yourself, why are you giving this
presentation? Your idea should take center stage, and you are
simply the platform presenting that idea to an audience. After
that, understand your audience. Who are you talking to? Make
sure to target your speech towards them. Think about how formal
or informal you should be.
During the speech
Start and finish on time. This may sound simple, but it is really
important to start and finish on time. If you begin late, the
audience might get annoyed before you have even started, and if
it drags on for too long, the audience might lose interest.
Keep it entertaining. There are numerous ways to make sure your
speech is entertaining, and this does not mean it cannot be on a
serious topic.
Interact with your audience. If you ask the audience questions, be
prepared for jokey, irrelevant or inappropriate answers, and make
sure you have the tools to deal with that.
Storytelling can also be a great tool to create social change.
Improve your storytelling techniques and calm your presentation
nerves. You will identify the tools and techniques you can use to
build your confidence and improve your presentation. You will
learn storytelling skills to create a memorable presentation and
discover mindfulness tips for managing your nerves so you can
deliver your message with ease. To help improve your delivery
style, you will learn how to create effective slides that support
your message in what could be a high-stakes situation. Lastly, get
constructive feedback. Asking for feedback prepares you to the
idea that you are being judged, and allows you to correct aspects.
Public speaking skills in business world:
Public speaking is a soft skill that requires excellent
communication skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to engage with
an audience. Moreover, presentations help in career
development. Considering employees with public speaking skills
have more opportunities than those who do not. Their ability to
present effectively can be noted by their managers. Furthermore,
public speaking helps you to be experienced in time management.
There are many benefits to improving public speaking ability,
which are needed to succeed at work, because public speaking is
a part of all business communications. The ability to consistently
speak with clarity and authenticity is an advantage in meetings,
presentations, networking events, job interviews, and sales calls.
Working with a coach can improve your business speaking skills:
You need to consider public speaking classes, workshops, or
seminars. Practicing your speech while standing in front of others
can certainly help, but nothing replaces being put on the spot in
an environment of supportive feedback with a professional public
speaking trainer. A good public speaking trainer will understand
the nuances of all business communication scenarios and be able
to give you practical advice that will take your career to the next
level. When you realize that everything you say in business
requires public speaking skills, you will feel more comfortable if
you embrace it and leverage it; not fear it.
The head of TED-Talk, Chris Anderson, makes a very good point
about public speaking. “There is no secret formula that you must
follow to succeed, and there are countless ways to deliver a great
presentation”.
To recapitulate, audience members do not want a perfect speaker
with no flaws or mistakes. Instead, they respond well to honesty,
and you showing your personality. Even though confidence is
powerful, so is vulnerability, so do not be scared to slip up.
