What frightens you? Ask people what they fear the most, and the answers may surprise you. Individuals may have a fear of heights (altophobia), of water (hydrophobia), or even a fear or hatred of poetry (metrophobia). Invariably the one fear that is always at the top of the list for a sizable portion of the population is the fear of speaking in public or to a group (glossophobia). At one time we have all seen an inspirational speaker. Perhaps we heard one who was able to reach us or who motivated us. Maybe there was a speaker who was able to evoke from you an emotional response through their ability to hold and captivate your attention. Perhaps we heard a speaker that we connected with, or one we felt did a suburb job in delivering his message to you. Truly inspirational speakers will tell you that it takes time, patience and practice to get to the point of feeling comfortable when addressing large groups of people. A public speaker is part entertainer and part salesperson. One just has to listen to the likes of world class motivational speakers like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra or Sir Winston Churchill; they will tell you that their abilities are honed through practice, time and patience. So what does it take to become a professional public speaker? Let's look at some common traits that are prevalent in the most professional and highly successful public speakers. Interest An audience is very adept at determining if you are passionate and motivated about what you are speaking about. Speak from the heart and "sell it"! Communication Enunciate and speak clearly. When people first begin public speaking they have a tendency to rush through their speech making it difficult to be understood. This is a giveaway of beginners and newbies to the world of public speaking. Positivity Whether you are trying to motivate people or simply convey information, you must stay positive and upbeat. Knowledge Know your subject by heart. Be informed and prepared for unexpected questions or deviations in the topic. The audience likes to surprise you on occasion. Organization Keep your notes and audio-visual materials organized and working properly. Nothing brings an address to a grinding halt than when the speaker has lost his notes and has to search about frantically for them during the awkward silence. Respectfulness Be sensitive to your audience. Do not use inappropriate humor, language or slurs of any kind. Humor Levity plays a huge role in helping to crack the ice at he beginning and throughout the address. It also has a way of endearing you to the audience. Anecdotes Relate personal experiences and stories that help to drive home the subject matter. This also helps to convey a sense of wisdom and credibility to your message. Openness Be approachable both when speaking and in body language. Make yourself available for questions and comments from the audience. Dynamics Vary your tempo, rhythm and volume while speaking. Speaking in monotones will only bore your audience causing them to loose interest. Final Thought Give the audience something they can take with them. A question or bit of advice they can take with them and that they can apply to their daily lives. There are as many techniques to improve your speaking capabilities as there are speakers that employ them. Some speakers employ very eclectic and unconventional techniques to improve their performances! Most will agree that the following are very common techniques and are applied almost universally by public keynote speakers. - Sing well, speak well If you practice singing, it will help develop your breathing, your confidence and the dynamic range of your vocal abilities. - Social groups Groups such as "Toastmasters" are created to help people develop their public speaking capabilities in a friendly and supportive setting. - Breathing Breathing techniques will help you to keep your heart rate down and keep you more relaxed. Breathing properly will also allow for a better verbal delivery. - Visualization techniques Some people like to practice in front of a mirror. Others will picture the audience naked, or even pretend that they are not there at all. - Practice, Practice, Practice Find a mate or colleague to practice your speeches in front of. Ask for constructive feedback and be prepared to accept it. As with any new skills you learn or develop, there are certain caveats that you will want to observe. These "pearls of wisdom" are passed down from others in the field that have gone through what you are going through now.
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What frightens you? Ask people what they fear the most, and the answers may surprise you.
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