PUBLIC SPEAKING

How to be a public speaker that will make others want to listen.

Some useful tips and tricks that I have learned the hard way.

Photo by Dan DY on Unsplash

I attended a wedding recently that I got invited too through a mutual friend of the bride. When it came to the time for speeches, I’m usually one that is keen on listening to them.

I especially like to listen to speakers not only to learn about their topic but also their delivery and engagement with the audience.

Whether it’s speaking about a wedding, event or in a public space, the way in which you deliver your speech is critical.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking in front of large and small crowds for a number of years now and here are some of the things that I’ve learned about public speaking.

1. Knowing your topic

There are many times I’ve heard incoherent speeches that say a whole lot of nothing. I would often ask myself after listening to someone, whether it’s online, podcast or an event, what did I learn or gather from this talk?

There are enough people out there talking about stuff they know nothing about. Don’t be one of them. Always do your homework. Ensure that what you are speaking on is something that you know enough about because you are experienced, have done it before or have done your research.

2. Keep Focused

Following the first point, keeping your topic focused on a few points will make a much more meaningful impact than trying to cover everything or a wide range of topics. It is much harder to keep your audience engaged if you don’t have

3. Be Authentic

Your audience can see through your bullshit. Try not to bullshit them. People’s time is valuable, and if you’ve got their attention, even for a few seconds, do ensure that you are making the best use of this opportunity.

Just be you! Don’t try to be fake, disingenuous or pretend to be someone that you are not. This will only make you lose your audience or cause people to tune out.

4. Talk, Don’t Read!

This one, I think, is most important of all of them. Speaking in front of an audience is not reading to them. The fastest way to lose the attention of your crowd and have them tune out is to be reading your entire speech from your phone or a sheet of paper. It’s ok to make or keep notes, and to refer to them, but in the end, you should be speaking to your audience, not reading to them.

5. Maintain Eye Contact

Making eye contact and looking at your audience is another important factor when speaking to an audience. This will help you to realize that your audience wants to listen to you and help you through the nervousness if any.

6. It’s OK to be Nervous

Being nervous to speak in front of a crowd happens to almost everyone. Just know that it is ok to be nervous, especially if it’s your first time speaking to an audience. Know that you would not be asked to speak to them if you didn’t have anything important to say. Your audience is there to listen to you, you should use this opportunity to make it count.

7. Practice, Practice, Practice!

The best and most useful advice that I’ve gotten, and I would like to share is to practice your speech. This can be done in front of a mirror, with family members, friends, even strangers (who are willing to listen). The key is to keep practicing and rehearsing your speech so that when it’s time to deliver, you’ve already built up the confidence to do so.

In conclusion, these are just some of the tips I would have like to share with some of the speakers at the wedding. I hope that these tips are helpful for you whether you are speaking at your family dinner, a wedding, or a large gathering.