3 key considerations for good public speaking
As communications professionals, public speaking is a very important part of our careers and professional development.
There are several universal tips for relieving tension and nerves during a presentation, whether it’s to a client or a group of clients, coworkers, or in a training setting.
The presentations They place high demands on the speaker, and this is an area that is not widely covered in training programs.
The secret to a memorable speech lies in connecting with the audience, captivating listeners, and providing added value to those who are listening to us. It is important for the public to understand why it is so important to pay attention to the information we are conveying, and sometimes this is a complex task.
To properly prepare for a public presentation, you should ask yourself these three questions, which you should address throughout a good presentation:
- What impact will what you're about to say have on the lives of those who will hear it?
If you can't answer this question, you're not ready for the presentation yet. That's because if you can't grasp the main message of your presentation, how can you expect others to understand it? Clarify what you want to convey, simplify it into a few words, and learn how to answer this question.
- Assume that your audience is wondering what the relevance of the information you're conveying is: why should they pay attention to it?
Suppose your audience is thinking about issues like these:
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“How will this message affect me?”;
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“What do I gain by listening to and putting into practice what I’m being told?”;
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“What’s the problem if I don’t follow these guidelines?”;
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“What benefit will I get from paying attention to this message?”
Now try answering these questions so you'll know how to address your audience if you're not feeling much empathy or connection with them.
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What do your listeners think? How should they feel, and what should they do?
Put yourself in your listeners' shoes and consider the relevance of the information you're trying to convey.
Being able to answer these questions throughout your presentation is essential to avoid feeling that it was a waste of time and that you failed to reach your audience and listeners.