3 Key Elements for Talking in Public
If in the past knowing how to hold the stage and fascinate the crowd was an added value, the prerogative of politicians, theatrical actors or television presenters, today it is a fundamental asset in every working context. Public speaking is one of the most sought-after skills in the professional world, as current business settings put requirements such as good speaking skills at the forefront.
Considering the growing number of events organized in each sector – festivals, conferences, lectures or seminars – it becomes increasingly important to speak into the microphone with ease, express one’s thoughts with the right words, move convincingly on stage, as well as interest and conquer different public in different situations.
Now you are thinking: “Since my work takes place exclusively behind the scenes, why should I learn the art of public speaking? It wouldn’t do me any good! "
We answer this objection by saying that sooner or later it will happen to you too that you will have to give a speech in front of a large audience, perhaps at the explicit request of your employer, then pretend nothing has happened, postponing the "problem" to a later date, we think it is not the most convenient solution. We are sorry to disappoint you, but sometimes it is really impossible to avoid this arduous and uncomfortable task, so we suggest you run for cover immediately. Don’t be reluctant and find the courage to get involved once and for all!
Public speaking is an effective form of communication that is particularly difficult to learn and which represents an almost insurmountable obstacle for many people, but we can assure you that nothing is impossible at the level of interaction: the fear of speaking in public can be overcome in a big way!
Public speaking is not an innate gift, but a skill that can be developed through two main stages:
- The work on oneself: Before you go on stage you need to work effectively on their thoughts, because only through a right mental attitude can improve their performance. In this preliminary phase you will have to focus your attention on the aspects concerning self-esteem, anxiety management and positivity. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal is your thoughts, so try to make the most of them.
- The experience: the second step relates to the field work. After having processed your thoughts in an orderly way, you will have to find an effective confirmation in reality, overcoming all the obstacles initially put in the estimate. Set a series of small goals and try to achieve them step by step. Do not think that you will be able to speak easily in public immediately, as it will take some time to achieve the desired results.
And now we come to us: do you know in detail the "3 key elements" of winning public speaking? We will analyze them point by point below. We hope you can draw interesting food for thought from my analysis.
Communication Skills
Let’s start immediately with some positive news: each of us has the right potential to communicate effectively in front of the audience. We have seen many entrepreneurs initially in deep crisis turn into great professionals in a short time. To make this happen you must first believe in yourself and in your abilities.
The presentation of the speech should be experienced as an event that is close to our heart and to which we must dedicate the right technical preparation. The material prepared well in advance will be more easily absorbed by our minds, progressively enriched with details and insights, up to foreseeing any questions and objections from the public. Metabolizing the contents that will be displayed in the right time means acquiring greater confidence, confidence and familiarity with the topic in question. On the contrary, whoever prepares a report hastily, or even has it written by third parties, will be awkward and uncertain. JF Kennedy said:
The best speakers give the impression of improvising, but in reality they prepare everything.
To acquire good communication skills and achieve maximum results we must give maximum emphasis to non-verbal communication. Those with little experience in public speaking tend to focus a lot on words and little on body language, following the traditional teachings of the school of rhetoric. According to the old rhetoric, a true speaker had to assume a rigid posture and exhibit a refined speech, rich in sophisticated terms. To wipe out this belief was a study by the psychologist Albert Mehrabian, from which truly surprising data emerged. He observed that communication effectiveness depends 7% on words, 38% on tone of voice and 55% on non-verbal language.
The Personality
Your personality, displayed naturally and with respect for others, is one of the trump cards of a self-respecting speaker. To speak in public you don’t need to develop a new personality or wear a mask, but simply to be yourself. The audience loves to see spontaneous, casual and engaging people on stage. Only through the naturalness and the participatory spirit will it be possible to remove the barrier between the speaker and the audience.
If our goal is to convince, we must be more concerned with stimulating emotions than seeking the solution in cold rationality. (C. Sansavini)
Every person who speaks in public must distinguish themselves from others by their individual traits: humor, sympathy, optimism, creativity and intelligence are qualities that should be valued, not repressed. When we adapt to certain standard rules of behavior, thinking that we must appear composed and emotionally detached at all costs, we end up losing the uniqueness that distinguishes us.
Change only the aspects of your personality that hinder the achievement of effective communication: if you are introverted no one will ask you to suddenly become expansive, but you could still work to improve your posture, your voice setting or eye contact.
Stress Management
The fear of giving a speech in public is one of the most widespread in society. The sensation you get is that of feeling helpless and vulnerable under the inquisitive gaze of the audience in the room. This unpleasant emotion triggers an inevitable state of anxiety in the speaker.
We feel stressed every time our mind relives negative situations. If in the past we have experienced a traumatic experience in public speaking, perhaps caused by an objection to which we have not been able to answer or by a lack of memory, every time the same occasion occurs, our brain will send us a signal of alert and stimulate the production of adrenaline. The same stress will also be felt by those who have never had negative experiences before, because the brain reacts the same way in any dangerous circumstance.