Module 4. Oral communication and organizational skills

Lesson 18

PUBLIC SPEAKING

18.1  Introduction

The process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners is known as public speaking. It is closely allied to "presenting", although the latter has more of a commercial connotation. In public speaking, there are five basic elements, often expressed as "who is saying what to whom using what medium with what effects?" The purpose of public speaking ranges from simply transmitting information, to motivating people to act, to simply telling a story. Good orators should be able to change the emotions of their listeners, not just inform them. Interpersonal communication and public speaking have several components that embrace such things as motivational speaking, leadership/personal development, business, customer service, large group communication, and mass communication. Public speaking can be a powerful tool to use for purposes such as motivation, influence, persuasion, informing, translation, or simply entertaining. A confident speaker is more likely to use this as excitement and create effective speech, thus increasing their overall ethos. Professional public speakers often engage in on-going training and education to refine their craft. This may include seeking guidance to improve their speaking skills—such as learning better story-telling techniques, for example, or learning how to effectively use humor as a communication tool—as well as continuous research in their topic area of focus.

18.2  Importance of Good Public Speaking

Good public speaking skills also works at the time of the interview. It is compulsory to face an interview before getting a new job. Interviewer will not only judge your personality but also your communication and fluency in general. In this technology- savvy world, your presentation skills and public speaking skills are also counted along with your basic qualification.

It is not that we only require public speaking skills to speak in front of audience or to give lectures. Public speaking skills are an asset that is worth millions. These skills are counted not only in our professional life but are also useful when a person is college go-getter. For example, a student possessing good presentation skills and public speaking skills can do wonders in his grading criteria. It is important to have clarity of delivery element, which is the base of any public speaking skills because unclear speech and words will do any good in general speaking in front of audiences. It is common sense that on whatever topic you are speaking, clarity is a must because no one would be able to convey your message or whatever you are trying to speak. Unclear words will only show that you have not prepared the subject or you are scared of speaking. Those who cannot convey their ideas into words cannot transform their skills in professional life. Some scholars just pass away with their ideas still left with them just because of the inability to transform ideas. It is true that these scholars were intelligent and conveyed their message through writing. But the written scripts cannot convey the messages effectively compared to speaking. They simply were not able to put their messages in front of the people of what they actually think. They were unable to speak in front of the public. So, do not let go the importance of public speaking skills.

People also think that public speaking skills and communication skills are not inter-related. But they should know that they are inter-related to a certain degree of extent. However public speaking is a broader term compared to communication skills, because people with good public speaking skills have good communication skills. However, the vice-versa may not be correct. There are many reasons behind why people with good communication cannot speak in public. The reason behind why people are unable to speak in front of pubic is fear. Most of the people are scared and have fear while speaking in front of the public. They get nervous and their heartbeat gets fast resulting into unclear words and stammering. The common fear of public speaking is called gloss phobia (or, informally, "stage fright").

There are numerous ways to enhance public speaking skills. No doubt, apart from the practice you should have a great storage bank of vocabulary in your mind. You can practice public speaking skills by speaking in front of your family members, friends and colleagues. Gradually, your fluency will increase along with your vocabulary. Once you are able to come out of your fear, you can be a good public speaker. Do not forget that possessing good public speaking skills is a big asset.

18.3  Tips for Public Speaking

· Know the needs of your audience and match your contents to their needs.

· Know your material thoroughly.

· Put what you have to say in a logical sequence.

· Ensure your speech will be captivating to your audience as well as worth their time and attention.

· Practice and rehearse your speech at home or where you can be at ease and comfortable, in front of a mirror, your family, friends or colleagues.

· Use a tape-recorder and listen to yourself. Videotape your presentation and analyze it.

· Know what your strong and weak points are. Emphasize your strong points during your presentation.

· When you are presenting in front of an audience, you are performing as an actor is on stage. How you are being perceived is very important. Dress appropriately for the occasion.

· Be solemn if your topic is serious. Present the desired image to your audience.

· Look pleasant, enthusiastic, confident, proud, but not arrogant.

· Remain calm. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous.

· Speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and show appropriate emotion and feeling relating to your topic.

· Establish rapport with your audience.

· Speak to the person farthest away from you to ensure your voice is loud enough to project to the back of the room. Vary the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary. If a microphone is available, adjust and adapt your voice accordingly.

· Body language is important. Standing, walking or moving about with appropriate hand gesture or facial expression is preferred to sitting down or standing still with head down and reading from a prepared speech. Use audio-visual aids or props for enhancement if appropriate and necessary.

· Master the use of presentation software such as PowerPoint well before your presentation. Do not over-dazzle your audience with excessive use of animation, sound clips, or gaudy colors which are inappropriate for your topic. Do not torture your audience by putting a lengthy document in tiny print on an overhead and reading it out to them.

· Speak with conviction as if you really believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively.

· The material you present orally should have the same ingredients as that which are required for a written research paper, i.e. a logical progression from INTRODUCTION to BODY (strong supporting arguments, accurate and up-to-date information) to CONCLUSION.

· Do not read from notes for any extended length of time although it is quite acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently. Speak loudly and clearly. Sound confident.

· Do not mumble. If you made an error, correct it, and continue. No need to make excuses or apologize profusely.

· Maintain sincere eye-contact with your audience. Use the 3-second method, e.g. look straight into the eyes of a person in the audience for 3 seconds at a time. Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience, and every now and then glance at the whole audience while speaking. Use your eye-contact to make everyone in your audience feel involved.

· Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adapt.

· If what you have prepared is obviously not getting across to your audience, change your strategy mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so. Remember that communication is the key to a successful presentation.

· If you are short of time, know what can be safely left out. If you have extra time, know what could be effectively added. Always be prepared for the unexpected.

· Pause. Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think. Don't race through your presentation and leave your audience, as well as yourself, feeling out of breath.

· Add humor whenever appropriate and possible. Keep audience interested throughout your entire presentation. Remember that an interesting speech makes time fly, but a boring speech is always too long to endure even if the presentation time is the same.

· When using audio-visual aids to enhance your presentation, be sure all necessary equipment is set up and in good working order prior to the presentation. If possible, have an emergency backup system readily available.  Check out the location ahead of time to ensure seating arrangements for audience, whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen, sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.

· Have handouts ready and give them out at the appropriate time. Tell audience ahead of time that you will be giving out an outline of your presentation so that they will not waste time taking unnecessary notes during your presentation.

· Know when to STOP talking. Use a timer or the microwave oven clock to time your presentation when preparing it at home. Just as you don't use unnecessary words in your written paper, you don't bore your audience with repetitious or unnecessary words in your oral presentation. To end your presentation, summarize your main points in the same way as you normally do in the CONCLUSION of a written paper.

· Remember, however, that there is a difference between spoken words appropriate for the ear and formally written words intended for reading. Terminate your presentation with an interesting remark or an appropriate punch line. Leave your listeners with a positive impression and a sense of completion. Do not belabor your closing remarks. Thank your audience and sit down.

· Have the written portion of your assignment or report ready for your instructor if required.

The objectives of a public speaker's presentation can range from simply transmitting information, to motivating people to act, to simply telling a story. People who speak publicly in a professional capacity are paid a ‘speaking fee’. Professional public speakers may include ex-politicians, sports stars and other public figures. In the case of high profile personalities, the sum can be extraordinary.

Public speaking and oration are sometimes considered some of the most importantly valued skills that an individual can possess. This skill can be used for almost anything. Most great speakers have a natural ability to display the skills and effectiveness that can help to engage and move an audience for whatever purpose. Language and rhetoric use are among two of the most important aspects of public speaking and interpersonal communication. Having knowledge and understanding of the use and purpose of communication can help to make a more effective speaker communicate their message in an effective way. The speeches of politicians are often widely analyzed by both their supporters and detractors.