'You too can be a good speaker!'
Dr. Ali Khwaja ---- A speaker, listener, learner, and observer.
EFFECTIVE SPEAKING
Speech is like a baby -- easy to conceive, hard to deliver. Yet it is a fact that every day of your life you are speaking without preparation. So why get flustered when asked to speak in front of new people?
Learning to speak effectively is useful not only for giving speeches, but to get your way anywhere anytime. Remember that first opinions are formed within 10 seconds, and final opinions are formed within 4 minutes. Also, every individual, however shy and reserved, CAN build up communication, presentation and speaking skills with a little training and lots of practice.
Effective speaking needs the following qualities:
- Generating interest
- Giving information
- Explaining
- Ending with goal, summation, question, etc.
The most important factor is to relate to the people who are listening to you, generate their interest, make them feel that what you are saying is beneficial to them, and to get the pulse of the audience and their expectations.
To be an effective speaker you need to understand how people listen.
People WILL listen to you if:
- You make a good beginning
- You are animated and graphic
- You have enthusiasm, sincerity, vitality
- Your voice is modulated, and at right speed
- You maintain eye contact
- You are interested in your own talk
- You in turn listen to others
- Smile warmly, without pride or fear
- Break monotony with joke, anecdote, even silence
- Involve the listeners with questions
- Pause for dramatic effect after making a point
- Summarize, ask for action, and end on a high note
People will NOT listen to you IF:
- They anticipate what you are going to talk
- They are planning what to say when it is their turn
- They are tired or worried
- If the voice of the speaker is dull and monotonous
- Topic is difficult to understand
- Topic is too simple and basic
- Speaker lacks credibility or confidence
- Environment is bad -- uncomfortable chairs, too hot, noise disturbance, etc.
- If you start with a long resume about yourself
- If you are reading out from prepared text or narrating memorized paragraphs
A mother has trouble putting one child to sleep, but a bad speaker can easily put a hundred persons to sleep.
REMEMBER THE PITFALLS:
- Writing cannot be converted into talking
- Be clear whether you want to inform/motivate/persuade/explore or entertain
- Be sure about the background of the audience
- Mould your thinking and ideas to the audience
- If you start by saying "I am going to convince you about..." you defeat the very purpose
- Unlike in reading, listeners cannot rewind, fast forward or change the speed of intake
- Do not try to take others' proverbs/anecdotes as your own, except in a lighter vein.
- Avoid jargon, detailed figures (eg: 48.27%), technical abbreviations
- If your voice drops at the end of every sentence, it shows your lack of confidence & clarity suffers. Voice modulation is a skill that needs to be inculcated systematically.
- When interrupted irritatingly, scold, smile and continue
Be aware when questions should be encouraged
-- do not allow interruptions to disturb your flow
-- answer may be contained in latter part of your talk
-- only one person may be interested in that question.
Don't allow one person to interrupt, and you also do not interrupt a question midway
If attention is slipping, CATCH ATTENTION of audience by:
- Asking a question (start with very easy questions that most can answer)
- Calling out someone by name or by pointing out
- Using quotes and proverbs (which are topical and relevant)
- Jokes (it must be funny!) -- of the level of listener
- Telling them something personal about yourself, or an interesting anecdote
- Changing your position, moving around, using your arms
- Doing something unusual and unexpected (think, be creative about what you can do)
BODY LANGUAGE: plays a vital role
- The way you enter or get up to talk, how you face audience in the beginning
- Give a warm smile, indicating -- "I am happy to be here with you"
- Maintain eye contact -- many emotions are expressed by eyes
- Avoid eye contact with one person or segment in a group, let your eyes roam
- Hands should avoid -- fiddling, patting, clutching, scratching, hiding, pointing, resting on table by leaning down
- Hand gestures should be moderate, from arms, relaxed, and not half hearted
- Do not hide your body behind lectern, bag etc. Be visible
- Feet -- do not shuffle, shift from one to another, rock to and fro, rise on your toes
The best way to get attention span in a long talk is to say:
"Finally let me conclude by saying......"
The best tool that ensures that you make an impact and leave a lasting impression is – be genuine. Speak only on topics you actually believe in, be passionate about the topic, talk from your experiences and beliefs, respect the audience and their sensitivity. And – adhere to time limits, be brief and complete before they expect you to close.
You too can be a good speaker!
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