There are many qualities that make a great public speaker, but you might be surprised by how many of these qualities are not innate traits, but learned ones. Here are eight must-have traits for a public speaker. (Hint: Most of them aren’t even about the talk itself!)
Confidence
One of the essential characteristics of a public speaker is confidence. It will be challenging to connect with your audience if you appear timid or nervous during your presentation.
Because some nervousness is unavoidable, you must devise strategies to deal with these emotions. The best way to do this is through practice — knowing the material and spending time practising your speech will make it easier to show up confidently.
One great positive, your mind can’t tell the difference between a visualisation of an activity or the real event. This means you can imagine success in your mind over a number of scenarios, and your mind will gain the belief you have the experience to reduce fear and be more confident.
Concise
Effective communicators understand how to convey their messages concisely. They know how to speak clearly and avoid perplexing their audience. This allows the audience to absorb and act on the information shared more easily.
Breaking up your presentation into smaller chunks of information is one way to be more concise. Also, resist the temptation to over-explain yourself and restate your points in different words.
The ability to read a room
Excellent public speakers are adept at reading the room and picking up on nonverbal cues from their audience. For example, you can adjust your presentation if they appear bored or disengaged during your speech.
Reading a room takes time to master, because you must first stop focusing internally on the words you will say. Maintain your focus on the audience and the purpose of your presentation. With experience, you will learn to read your audience’s micro-expressions to understand their level of engagement and understanding of your content.
Enthusiasm
People can tell when you’re enthusiastic about the topic and when you’re just going through the motions. And because enthusiasm is contagious, it’ll be more likely to rub off on your audience if you’re enthusiastic about the information.
If you don’t naturally speak with enthusiasm, this is a skill you can learn. Work on displaying confidence in your voice, body movements, and speech delivery pace.
Self-awareness
To be an effective speaker, you must first understand your strengths and weaknesses. Understand your best qualities and how you can use them to improve your presentation skills.
You should also be aware of your weaknesses and look for ways to mitigate them. Great speakers constantly look for ways to improve their presentations and make them more engaging.
Authenticity
During your speech, authenticity allows your audience to connect with you. If your speech comes across as inauthentic, your audience will be less likely to trust you and take your message seriously. Concentrate on being yourself and telling honest and vulnerable stories.
Understanding how to dress
As a public speaker, your appearance is far more important than you think. You want to dress in a way that is both comfortable and appropriate for your sense of style, while also striking a chord with the audience. For example, the demographic you’re speaking with will influence your clothing selection.
Adaptability
Whatever you do to prepare for a speech, there is always the possibility of something going wrong. Perhaps your slide deck failed halfway through your presentation, or you forget what you were going to say.
As a speaker, you must be adaptable and prepared for the unexpected. This attitude will allow you to remain calm, concentrate on the audience, and decide what to do next.
It’s important to be prepared, and have faith in your preparation, and your capabilities. Circumstances may cause you to deviate from the ideal plan you made, but a self-aware public speaker will always be able to adapt to the situation and keep their composure, even if they have to rearrange their presentation on the fly.
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Author Bio
As a coach, Deborah aims to create an inclusive and respectful space where individuals and organisations can do the work necessary for growth and change. She is also passionate about helping women be valued for themselves while also contributing and being successful.
Apart from her company which she is deeply passionate about, Deborah also loves bushwalking, reading, travelling, and learning new things.
For any coaching or organisational support enquiries Deborah can be contacted via email: info@xseedlead.com.au or via her company website which is www.xseedlead.com.au.
