Public speaking — a practice that has caused more sweaty palms and nervous giggles than a horror movie marathon perhaps! But, fear not! In the wild world of public speaking, where words coalesce and ideas waltz, you can always catch a breathe of quick wit, and add a sprinkle of humour to transform any speech from a snooze-fest into a stand-up special.

But, How Do You Even Get Started?

Becoming a good public speaker starts with becoming aware of who you grow into as a person:

1. Mind your mindset. Your thoughts decide how you come across as a speaker, irrespective of topic and audience.
2. Read and learn. There’s absolutely no substitute for continuous upskilling, not only as a speaker but also as a well-aware-of-the-world-around person. Refer to the T-model of upgrading, i.e., you have in-depth knowledge of your core skills and working knowledge of as many associated skills as possible.
3. Listen with patience and compassion. Listen to your audience. Listen to the human community. Listen to the world around you. You don’t need to agree with everyone. Simply acknowledge what you listen to.

And, How Do You Leave the Audience Bewitched?

Exuding warmth as a public speaker on any stage starts with the following three reminders to self:

1. Address everyone in the room, in the institution in fact, by designations if not by names, across the hierarchical structure of the organisation.
2. Include moments of gratitude in your speech.
3. As far as possible, end with hope and solutions, and not with problem statements.

At its core, public speaking is about communication. It’s the art of conveying a message with clarity, conviction, and connection. In a world where effective communication is paramount, public speaking stands out as an essential skill. One way to make the most of every opportunity you get to hone your public speaking skills is to embrace the comedic potential of public speaking. After all, who says you can’t educate, inspire, and have a good laugh all at the same time?

P.S. : This post is inspired by a collaborative article on the same topic found on LinkedIn.

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