The Art of Public Speaking
Public Speaking is rated to be among the top fears of people. Leaders have no choice but to be good at it. Actually everyone has to be good at it. Or else resign yourself to say, “I am always ignored because I don’t have the gift of the gab.” (that one reeks of jealousy!).
If you are a leader you are constantly communicating with different across on different topics across different platforms to get different kinds of impact.
You are also doing the same. Think of the various platforms you use every day to communicate with friends, family, colleagues, strangers …
Can one get better at public speaking?
Everyone is constantly communicating. It is in our DNA. Being a good communicator opens up opportunities for the person. So it is important to learn how to be good at it. Think of the people a CEO is talking to investors, employees, team members, analysts, media … and they are doing it across various media. From Press Releases to addressing conferences and inaugurating new offices, the occasions are plenty. Communication often triggers images of people speaking to others. Writing and listening are often under-emphasised.
I tuned in to the podcast from a16z Live. This is a series where they are bringing recordings of chats done on Clubhouse. I have added my own commentary to the ideas and tips I picked up.
Structure helps the audience to remember what you said.
Structure your thoughts
Many training programs on public speaking focus on improving your delivery. I often start by helping my clients build a structure of the talk. Storyboarding is a great tool you can use.
Build an emotional connect with the audience
Public speaking is much more than about conveying information. It is about building an emotional connection with the audience. That tells them that you care about them and not just about your talk.
Leverage your strengths
If you are good at answering questions, structure your talk to answer questions that the audience may have.
This sketchnote also has tips on how to be more impactful on Zoom calls.
“The best speakers practice for days and months”
Listen to the complete podcast here. If you like the sketchnote and the podcast, do leave a message for me. Thanks.
