What Makes an Excellent Public Speaker?

Did you know that effective public speaking involves 38% of your voice and 7% content? Who would have thought the quality of a speaker’s voice is weightier than the content? But indeed, these statistics are the results of some research conducted by Business Insider. Understandably, public speaking can be terrifying for most people. However, the few who succeed at it makes others question how they do it. Read on to discover what makes an excellent public speaker.

1. They have strong openings.

A strong opening is equal to a first impression that a public speaker creates in the audience’s minds. As a rule of thumb, the first two minutes are crucial to the entire delivery. Without it, listeners lose interest even before the end of the first ten minutes. Therefore, a powerful opening includes an appreciation of the audience, presentation style, and tone of voice.

2. A confident personality

Everybody is born with a unique personality, but not everyone has the inherent ability to show it on a stage or at a gathering. Excellent public speakers are a select few who learn the art of infusing a confident personality into their trade. A confident speaker is viewed as credible, knowledgeable, accurate, and proficient. That is not to say they do not feel nervous or anxious before a delivery.

The difference is, they can channel all these edgy emotions into a positive one that resonates with the audience. Because listeners crave a sense of familiarity with a public speaker, the latter can detect and permeate this need. The moment they get on stage, what matters most is to attract the audience with a warm and confident appeal.

3. Excellent public speakers connect with their audience.

If you have ever attended an event organized by a public speaker, you will have noticed their need to engage and connect with the audience. Communication is a two-way affair, and that is a concept that is well understood by public speakers. Without engaging your audience, the delivery becomes a boring monologue that listeners cannot wait to see come to an end.

This is why many employ questions, opinions, and suggestions from the audience to generate interest. At this point, a speaker will need to pay rapt attention to feedback from their audience. If you are a public speaker with a hearing deficiency, invisible hearing aids will help you overcome that limitation. Gone are the days of bulky hearing aids that many people found uncomfortable and quite demeaning. With such advanced technology, you will be poised to continue the public speaking session to a fruitful end. 

4. They practice their deliveries (not memorize)

Successful speakers always avoid memorizing their words before an event. Keep in mind that memorization creates a barrier, breeds forgetfulness, and creates a tendency to fail at this craft. Therefore, the best thing to do is first understand the topic and practice it many times before the event. This makes it easier to communicate to the listening audience without coming across as though you’re recollecting your lines.

Sometimes, a public speaker will commit specific quotes to memory to buttress a point. In certain circumstances, they will write it down on paper. That, however, is not an indication of an incapability to deliver extempore. As the saying goes, ‘practice makes perfect’ and creates the ability to speak in a natural voice and in a conversational tone.

5. They use creativity

A great public speaker weaves creativity into their speeches. In other words, they communicate ordinary things through stories, humor, and avoiding monotonous voices. These speakers make appropriate use of voice modulations and enunciations to infuse creativity in each delivery. Indeed, not all public speakers are creative, but those who tend to be are remarkably memorable.

With creativity comes ingenuity and originality. These are things audiences grab onto to sustain interest. It also builds a willingness to attend more events by a speaker considered as inventive. Contrary to what many others think, creative speeches do not divert focus. Instead, they create hooks that make the audience crave for more.

6. Adapt to change

It is expected that things will not always go according to plan, and this is a lesson public speakers acknowledge. Accepting this and the ability to remain calm in such circumstances makes an excellent public speaker. Being flexible to change and following through with the delivery without affecting performance is a vital trait. Remember, in these situations, the audience unconsciously assesses the speaker’s quick recovery time. In other words, being prepared for the unexpected makes an excellent public speaker.

As mentioned earlier in the introduction, not a lot of people are cut out for public speaking. The few who succeed at it rely on many important factors and constant practice to remain relevant. Hopefully, if you plan to become a public speaker, these guidelines will be useful to you.