No one is born a talented public speaker. For those who prefer to head for the exit when there is even a suggestion of speaking in front of a group, this truth should feel like a comfort; regardless of your level of enthusiasm for public presentations, you CAN become a competent speaker. I’ll go a step further and say that if you want to become successful as a leader in your organization, this is a skill you must master. But keep in mind that none of your professional role models stepped up to the podium and delivered a great speech the first time they tried. Here’s the truth: just like any other skill in life, the more you practice public speaking, the stronger your skills will become. Strong speeches are preceded by preparation, practice, assessment, and revisions.
I encourage you to consider the following:
Topic Choice: Stick with topics on which you have considerable knowledge. Questions to ask yourself might include: can I speak with authority on this topic? Do I feel reasonably confident that I could provide effective answers to questions from my audience?
Do not allow yourself to be put in a position of speaking on a topic in which you have only limited knowledge. I can remember two occasions on which I was pushed into speaking on subjects with which I was only marginally familiar – and the results were two of the weakest speeches I ever delivered.
Preparation: If you have ever been the type of student to cram for a test just before its date, listen closely: excellent speeches require much more than last-minute preparation. Set aside plenty of time to prepare your talk. I have found that notes in bullet point format on key topics provide a solid road map for covering the essential components of my speeches.
If possible, include interesting stories in your message— stories tend to be the most memorable takeaways from speeches. Make sure the length of your talk is consistent with the agenda. End five minutes early and you’re beloved; end ten minutes late and you’ll be far less popular.
Practice: Practice is key to successful public speaking. Unfortunately, there is no worthwhile shortcut available here. Practice speaking out loud, whether to yourself or to a small audience. If practicing with others, listen to their feedback and take it to heart. You may also try recording yourself; I found that watching video of myself speaking was the single most effective tool in my personal learning process.
Know Your Audience: It is critical that a speaker understand the audience they will face. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: how many people will be in the group? What is their level of interest in the topic you’ll be presenting? Will they have heard speakers on this topic previously? The more you know about your audience, the better you can prepare your remarks.
Venue: Arrive early to become familiar with the surroundings. If there is a microphone, check to make sure it works and that you know how to use it. Get comfortable with the podium. Make sure the lighting is adequate. The goal is to have no surprises when you stand up to speak.
Professional Coach: When we took Tractor Supply Company public, our leadership team spent a full day with a coach who helped us completely re-write our sales speech – the result was an oversubscription of the stock by a factor of six. In short, the coach’s services were more than worth it.
I guarantee that becoming an effective speaker will really build your self-confidence. And although you may not realize it, you will also earn further respect and admiration from your peers. I did leadership research with 25 CEOs several years ago and heard repeatedly that one of their biggest issues was getting their upwardly mobile, high-potential leaders to become effectivepublic speakers. Take the time to make public speaking one of your strong suits and you might just see big opportunities follow.
published: Nashville Business Journal
