Whether you are addressing colleagues during a presentation or as giving a toast to the bride or groom at a wedding, it’s hard not to feel nervous when speaking in public. There are many who consider public speaking to be among their biggest fears, mainly because they are afraid to make mistakes, be judged, or embarrass themselves in front of other people. According to trainer, speaker, and content creator Doreen Cooper, many people want to learn to become better public speakers, but only a few actually do what is needed to get better at it.
In an episode ofBreaktime Breakthroughson Plus Network, Cooper shared some tips on how one can get better as a public speaker. Contrary to what others may believe, being a good public speaker does not only depend on one’s pronunciation or their mastery of the English language. Instead, being a good public speaker consists of three important factors: content, organization, and delivery.
1. Content – One cannot be a good public speaker if what they are saying doesn’t have any substance. The content of your speech is important, and it has to say something relevant. You need to know what you are talking about, because if you don’t, your listeners and your audience will notice.
2. Organization – While the content of one’s speech is important, it’s also important to organize what you will be saying so that it will be clear to your listeners. Cooper compares speaking in public to taking your listeners on a journey. If your speech is disorganized, how will your listeners arrive at your destination and undershot what you are saying? The organization of your speech will go a long way in helping your readers understand the message of your speech.
3. Delivery – This refers to how you say your speech. One thing to consider is the language that you will be using and whether it is appropriate to your audience. Does it have to be in fluent English? Will it be appropriate to use Taglish? Will it be understood by everyone if you speak entirely in Tagalog or Filipino? Additionally, delivery also includes pacing or how fast or slow you delivery your speech, pronunciation or how you speak the words, and the facial expressions and gestures that you use when you speak.
In the end, Cooper says that while it may not be easy to improve as a public speaker, it is not impossible and can be done with constant practice. She compares developing your public speaking skills to going to the gym. You can’t see the improvement after just one day. It needs to be done regularly, and when done right, the results will be satisfying.
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