We have all heard the saying, “If you can’t do great things, do small things in great ways.” Speaking to people is a very basic and small thing in a way. However, it is also the very thing that makes the most difference in a person’s life.
The way one speaks to others says a lot about his or her personality. Soft-spoken yet confident speakers are loved by everyone. That is how great speakers achieve their milestones.
If you are aspiring to become a public speaker, you need to consistently follow and implement simple things. These simple things will help you be a better speaker in the long run.
Here are 7 secrets that will help you become a great speaker:
- Simple is better:
Extravagant words and complex sentences are not the things that make someone a great speaker. On the contrary, a speaker is loved only when his or her words are found interesting by people of all ages and backgrounds. While learning how to conquer stage fright or skills of public speaking, you will be told that simple words and shorter sentences help you make your speech clearer and it reaches people effectively. Even in terms of ideologies and themes that you choose, not all of them need to be too deep or difficult to understand. What is important is that your topic is understood by the audience.
- Be a friend, not a mentor:
When you stand in front of any audience, it is obvious that you are on a different level. However, do not let the audience feel that you find yourself above them or different from them. From the moment you start your presentation, you should be more of a friend to them who is here to help them benefit from his knowledge. People like grounded and humble speakers a lot more since they feel a lot more approachable.
- Keep track of time:
When you start, make sure that you keep track of time and end accordingly. Keep looking at the time and ensure that you start concluding 5 or 10 minutes before the end time. This will give you ample time to conclude properly. If you lose track of your time, you may have to end abruptly, which is not a great end for any speech. The end of any speech is as important as its beginning.
While learning things like public speaking, how to conquer stage fright and other things, you will also learn about time management which proves very helpful.
- Keep your speech to the point:
When you are talking to any audience, you need to make sure that you engage them but do not bore them by deviating from the main point. Check with the audience occasionally to make sure that they are on the same page as you. You can make the session more fun by adding certain activities or questions that will refrain the audience from zoning out. Hence, keep track of where you are going with the topic and make sure that all your points come back and sum up your main theme in the end.
Your speech is a medium for you to give something substantial to your audience. If you want them to take your point home with them, you have to pack it in a way that it is more of a gift than a burden. If you stick to the point, you can make this gift very concise and compact. If you want variation, make sure that the aspects you add to it are related to the topic itself.
- Don’t throw too much at once:
We have all been through lectures at schools and colleges that went on for far too long and had too much substance in them, which made it difficult for us to concentrate and learn one thing properly. This is the case with every audience. May it be in a conference or a classroom. Too much data at once can confuse the audience, and they may stop paying attention altogether.
Hence, you need to make sure that you don’t bombard their minds with too much. Just focus on the topic they have come to know about. Like newspapers, people usually remember the headlines and the important things. Hence, make sure that they get what you wish to give them.
- Passion is more important than anything:
We go for various training camps and sessions based on public speaking to learn how to conquer stage fright. However, no amount of training or skill can equip you with a passion for speaking. If you are passionate about the ideology that you want to deliver through your speech, you will not be able to give it your 100% effort. Passion is what drives motivation and innovation. Hence, be passionate about whatever you are about to present in any session or speech. That way, you can deliver the most in the best way.
- Intonation, voice, and words:
These are basically the pillars of any public speech. The words you choose to say and the way you say them decide whether your audience will be willing to pay attention to you. The way you are talking to any audience says a lot about how you perceive their presence. If you talk too casually, you may not be taken seriously. If you talk too seriously, you may not have their attention since they will be bored.
It sounds too complicated when one looks at it. However, as a speaker, you gradually develop an understanding of intonation and choice of words. Seriousness and casual approaches are present in every speech. However, the levels on which they are used are different. Once you get how to use them to your benefit, you are sure to excel as a speaker.
Conclusion:
From learning how to conquer stage fright to learning how simple things affect speeches, you will go through many different stages in your journey of becoming a great speaker. Great speakers are never extraordinary. Yet, every topic they touch upon becomes golden advice due to their authenticity and knowledge.
These seven secrets are common for all speakers. However, if you really wish to improve and become a great speaker, consulting public speaking trainers like Orator academy can prove beneficial. All the qualities required for one to become a speaker are taught by their Coach, and with their advice and your dedication, you can surely become a great speaker.
