When it comes to public speaking, the ideal scenario would be you engaging your audience the moment you take the floor. However, not all speakers are blessed with the same charm and eloquence as Abraham Lincoln or Barack Obama. In reality, speakers tend to be overcome with nerves and lose focus when stage fright kicks in.
The great news is that, just like many other skills, speaking in front of many people can be studied and excelled at. If you see yourself being compared to people who achieved milestones in the public speaking arena, here are the skills you need to learn and develop to perfection.
1. [/b]Engaging appearance[/b].
It pays to look good. This is something you will realize when you take the public speaking path, although it's also possible you already know this by now. Having an engaging appearance automatically makes you the center of everybody's attention, which is what you need until the end of your speech.
Now, this doesn't mean that you have to wear Prada from the neck down. It would help though if you wrap your gift for speaking with nice packaging. While there are speakers who stick to dressing as sharply as they can, others go as far as establishing a signature-they wear funky neckties, plain turtlenecks, or printed shirts. You too can embark on an original getup, as long as it's age-appropriate and relatable for your message and audience.
2. [/b]Charming personality[/b].
Blessed are those who were born with charm for they will inherit their audience's undivided attention. When speakers have infectious charm, listeners do not find it hard to stay glued on their seats and pay attention. And when the audience concentrates on listening, that's when they absorb the message well.
The thing is, not everybody was born equal in the charm domain. However, this is an asset you can develop through consistent practice. Just remember that the chief component of charm is confidence. And for you to have confidence, you need to arm yourself with knowledge on the subject, which now brings us to the next tip
3. [/b]Adequate knowledge[/b].
Looking great and having an infectious charm may be important to being a speaker, but it isn't the be-all and end-all of the job. Appearance and charisma will be futile if you're ill-informed of what you're talking about.
Gain the right kind of confidence by knowing everything you can about your topic. Read related books and articles, and watch videos of good speakers and observe how they move and act when on stage. If the audience feels that you're well-versed with the subject, they will trust you easily and look forward to hearing what you have to say now and in the future.
4. [/b]Storytelling skills[/b].
More often than not, the audience finds it easier to relate with your presentation when you're able to share a relatable story. It's easier to prove a point when you're able to tug at your audience's heartstrings. After all, it's not only because of the information that they're listening to you-it's also about the emotion between the lines.
To be able to share a story, make it a habit to recall your experiences and learn how you can tailor these depending on what your lecture is about. Anecdotes work practically all the time, since many listeners appreciate that the people they look up to have also experienced what they are going through.
5. [/b]Sense of humor[/b].
It's one thing to have charm but when you also have sense of humor, you're nothing short of a jackpot. You have probably seen your share of speakers who go about their talk as straightforward as they can, not bothering whether they still have listeners. If you want to become a great speaker, this is not something you should emulate.
Just like charisma, it would be a lot better if your sense of humor comes naturally. But in case you need to work on it, don't fret. Being a fun speaker requires a pretty active imagination, as this will help you find amusing things about your topic and your audience.
You can also read comic strips and share funny stories with friends and family to improve your taste for humor. When you have many experiences rolled up in your sleeves, they will kick in once you need to share one (or two) with your listeners.
6. [/b]Good manners[/b].
What some speakers fail to realize is that they don't need to make fun of other people to be funny and effective. Aside from this being stale, it also shows disrespect for your audience and can backfire pretty badly.
Therefore, make sure that you stay ethical throughout your talk. If you must require your audience's participation, be careful not to embarrass them or force them to do anything they don't want to. This way, you won't lose the connection and respect you worked so hard to earn from them.
7. [/b]Cool confidence[/b].
Listeners who have mastered the art of listening to good speakers tend to discern whether the person in front of them is nervous. They watch out for signs to prove their theory, and this can take their focus off the message.
Public speaking is a confidence game, so it's imperative that you give off an aura of self-assurance and stay poised no matter what. So before the big day, rehearse your speech until the words come naturally out of you. You can also enjoin your friends, family, or a full-length mirror during practice so that you can imagine the event better.
If what you're doing right now requires you to be articulate regardless of how many people you are talking to, try out these tips so that you too can be an effective speaker. Also, if you have tips that can help fellow presenters, don't think twice about sharing it with us in the comments box.
About the author: Vincent Sevilla is a marketing consultant for Piton-Global.com, a call center in the philippines. The company offers lead generation, customer service and helpdesk support.