Are you a READY SPEAKER? These two things will help you become just like that! [Wednesdays: “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”]
Fluency.
In public speaking, this means being able to speak or express oneself easily, accurately, and articulately.
How can you achieve fluency in your speech or presentation?
One way is through preparation.
According to Dale Carnegie in the book, “The Art of Public Speaking,”
“Fluency is entirely a matter of preparation.”
This means when someone is a ready speaker, that person is prepared to deliver his or her talk and is fluent in sharing his or her message.
Take note that “fluency” here doesn’t only mean how clearly you pronounce and enunciate words. This also covers your overall presentation as a speaker and how effectively you communicate with your audience.
How can you practice fluency in your speech or presentation?
One important factor here is preparation.
… and when it comes to preparation, Carnegie says there are 2 important things you should keep in mind:
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Knowledge is essential.
In his book, Carnegie made comparisons between two speakers.
He said,
“Mr. Bryan is a most fluent speaker when he speaks on political problems, tendencies of the time, and questions of morals. It is supposed, however, that he would not be so fluent in speaking on the bird life of the Florida Everglades. Mr. John Burroughs might be at his best on this last subject, yet entirely lost in talking about international law.”
Carnegie’s point?
You can’t expect to speak fluently on a subject you know little or nothing about!
As a speaker, you have to know your strengths and weaknesses to get the most out of each public speaking engagement.
… but this doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself and just talk about topics you’re very much familiar with.
You may also challenge yourself to tackle a new or different topic, provided that you conduct thorough research and consult with experts or professionals in that particular field of knowledge.
One more thing: Knowledge and preparation go beyond the facts you are going to present.
These things also include your ability to arrange your thoughts, use precise vocabulary, and develop a proper manner of speech and breathing.
When you know your subject well, you’ll be more confident and prepared to deliver your speech or presentation.
… and the more confident and prepared you are, the higher the chance that you’ll effectively get your message across to your audience.
This will also help establish your credibility and authority in the field and at the same time, aid you towards delivering a fluent talk.
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Practice enables improvements in your talk.
“Forget everything but your subject.”
According to Carnegie, this advice says either too much or too little.
Why?
It’s because as you go up on stage to deliver your talk, you must also keep in mind a lot of things that are NOT part of your subject such as your gestures, facial expressions, voice modulation, etc.
Sure, we’ve talked about focusing on what you have to say at the moment but that doesn’t mean you should completely neglect the other factors that make your speech or presentation successful.
You must also take into account some public speaking techniques that you’ve developed through practice.
Carnegie believes a balance between these 2 kinds of attention (attention to what you’re saying at the moment and attention to non-verbal elements of your talk) is important.
So… how can you achieve this balance as a speaker?
PRACTICE. Rehearse and master your efficiency in speaking until it becomes second nature to you.
This will help improve your fluency in delivering speeches or presentations and sustaining your audience’s attention throughout your talk.
Knowledge and Practice.
For Carnegie, your fluency should be in direct ratio to these important factors that will come to your aid the moment you step out on stage to talk to your audience.
“The habits you have formed will be earning you a splendid dividend. The fluency of your speech will be at the speed of flow your practice has made habitual.”
Once you’ve mastered these points, you’ll be able to make a vibrant speech or presentation that your audience will always remember.
… and when you see your audience’s satisfied faces at the end of your talk, you’ll see―all the time you’ve spent gathering information and practicing in private or in front of a trusted friend will be worth it.
Take note of these tips in preparing for your next speech or presentation!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Wednesdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person
…a boardroom with five people
…or a huge venue with hundreds of people
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Wednesday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you’ve found this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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