How to Become a Public Speaker Who Wows Your Audience

by Brazen Life

 

Much like being forced to go into work during a polar vortex, many people detest public speaking. While a lot of great information on how to approach your fear of public speaking is available, there’s less focus on improving said skills once the fear of public vomiting has passed… mostly.

What are career-driven professionals to do when they want to enhance their rudimentary rhetorical skills? Well, here are a few places to start:

Maintain your rhythm

Pacing is an essential component of any good public speaker. Although you probably hated when your mom kept pumping the brakes during your first installment of “How to Not Make My Insurance Skyrocket,” audiences detest monotonous, un-engaging speeches.

Variety and emphasis provide a healthy flow, allowing listeners to join you on your riveting

rhetorical journey, rather than slyly logging on to Facebook to see which politician is leading the “Race to Be Racist” competition.

Speech patterns are developed over time and can be difficult to self-assess. Often, working with another person or videotaping yourself helps reveal monotonous (a.k.a. boring) speech patterns that may be hindering your effectiveness as a speaker.

Similar to driving, you don’t want to slam on the brakes; stops and starts can confuse audiences about where your concepts begin and end. Ease in fluctuations of rhythm and pattern smoothly, just as you would gently lean into a turn on the highway.

Strategic sounds

Before anyone gets overly enthused about the sound effect button on Windows PowerPoint, this tip references volume. Contrary to some parents’ opinions, shouting is not always the most effective way of making your point heard. (We get it, you love us.) 

A multitude of emotions can be conveyed through the simple application of sound and strength. For instance, if you want people to focus on a certain point, lower your voice and slow your pace, as opposed to shouting your assertion.

A well-placed pause can hold immeasurable power, both in establishing your point and showcasing your self-confidence. The change in tone and volume will catch the audience’s ears and draw them in to hear what you’re about to say, rather than turn them off.

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