Public speaking article : Effective public speaking.

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Public Speaking

Public speaking is for many a very challenging and even frightening task. You will be surprised to know that the best of best orators had some time or other (in the beginning of their public speaking careers) stage fright. Communication one to one is very different from public speaking and hence it requires a specific skill set and immense practice to perfect the art.

It looks simple – but is it?

Effective public speaking involves the five basic principles of communication:

1. Clear message: You may be an expert in your field and for you things may be extremely clear and basic. Keep in mind that not everybody in your audience has the same level of understanding as you do, not they may share your depth of interest in the subject. Hence, you should aim to make your point with the least possible technical jargons; the message should be sent out in easy digestible sentences so the audience does not get tired trying to interpret what you wanted to say.

2. Preparation: It does not matter how well you know the subject; when you are supposed to present something you will need adequate preparation. You will need what type of audience you have (students/ peers/ lay persons/ any other) so your presentation should be tailor made for their orientation.

You will also need to prepare in the way the public speaking should be delivered – lecture style, visual presentation, participatory presentation and so on.  Without adequate preparation you are bound to make mistakes in delivery and when you do so, you will loose the attention of your audience. There have been many instances when impromptu speeches were a success, it is true; but this is more an exception to the rule than the other way round. 

3. Keep your sentences crisp and short: It is easier to write a paragraph long sentence and even read it. But when you hear it, this can be a pretty painful experience.  Many times, you will forget actually what was it actually meant to transmit. Short sentences keep the mind tuned in to the topic and it is more difficult to maintain the audience focused on the subject.

Those who use short sentences in  public speaking will vouch for the fact that the audience is able to follow and pay attention to the subject till the end because it does not take too much effort to digest what it is communicated.

4. Be as eloquent as possible: Good public speaking will involve pictures in words. You do not need to be bombastic, or use technical jargons. All you need to capture your audience is to have a picture-book speech. Your words should be able to conjure real picture in the minds of your audience; when the speech is eloquent; the audience is relaxed and able to capture the essence of the speech.

5. Your attitude should be natural and relaxed: It has been observed that a nervous speaker begets an uncomfortable audience. Somehow the tension gets transmitted to the your listeners through body language and the audience stops listening to you, because of the discomfort it creates.

Others tend to act so much that the audience is distracted from the essence of the speech by the dramatics they are shown. Either way, your audience is lost to you. Hence, the best way to present yourself at public speaking is the natural way.