Becoming an Effective Public Speaker

Becoming an Effective Public Speaker

Being asked to speak before a crowd, whether before a small or large audience, is not an easy task. The thought alone of facing people can make you all jittery. But it takes talent to become a good and effective speaker. It is a skill that anyone can develop with constant practice and exposure.

What is the measure of a good speaker? They say when the audience is able to comprehend the main idea or the message of your speech, then you just made an impressive delivery. But of course other important factors are put into consideration and these factors, when summed up together, make someone an effective speaker.

Prepare Yourself

Physical, mental, and emotional preparation are needed before making a public speech. Always remember that you are the best visual aid of your own speech presentation, so get yourself ready for a remarkable delivery.

• Wear the proper attire suited for the event or occasion. As a general rule, always be in presentable attire to project a respectable look before your listeners.
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• Practice and keep on practicing. If you need to face the mirror while doing so, then go ahead. Rehearse your lines and work on eliminating flaws such as speech crutches and wrong pacing.
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• Choose your gestures and body language. Familiarize yourself with the proper gestures, facial expressions, and the right body language as these are very crucial in expressing your thoughts.
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• Work at overcoming fear and stage fright. Practice relaxation techniques. Nervousness is a natural feeling in every speech presentation but mask it with a smile and good facial projection.
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• Learn how to maximize your space and stage. Do not stay put when delivering your speech. Walk around. This also helps release nervousness.

Prepare a Good Presentation

Your speech presentation is the very meat of your speech. The success of your speech does not only depend on your overall manner of delivery but also on the content. The audience considers a public speaker effective if he or she is able to pull off a good, substantial speech that leaves a remarkable message.

• Choose a topic that fits your target audience. If asked to speak for a given subject, choose the content well by conducting a good amount of research.
• Structure your speech following logical thought organization. Focus on one or two main points, provide supporting opinion and explanation for your points, and wrap it up with a good closing.
• Learn how to use transitional devices for every shifting of your ideas and statements.

Get the Audience’s Attention

You can try different ways to capture your listeners’ attention. The use of humor is very effective in getting them into the idea of your topic. You can also inject a “wow” factor by presenting something interesting in the form of a story, a fact, a visual aid, or a dramatic element in your speech. Another technique is to leave your audience with something to ponder on. This is best done when closing your speech. Wrapping up your presentation with a question to think about or a line to reflect on will definitely leave an impact.