Excellent communication skills can go a long way in business. Strong communication influences decision-making, informs, educates, and motivates change. Being a great public speaker isn’t easy. However, it is crucial in business. Leaders must be able to effectively communicate important messages both inside and outside of their organization. Business leaders are also frequently engaged in presentations, conferences, and speaking engagements in which they much speak convincingly in front of large audiences. A poor public speaker can cause listeners to lose interest and can lead to missed opportunities. Follow the following tips to become a better public speaker:
Practice
Practice is key to feeling more comfortable with the information being presented and the delivery of the presentation. The more comfortable you are with your message and speaking it aloud, the better it will be translated to your audience. Speakers will be able to connect with their audience better, and likely won’t get flustered as easily if they have gone through their content several times. Practice may not always make perfect, but it does go a long way in preparing for public speaking.
Engage with the audience
It is vital to know who your crowd is and speak to meet their needs. When the audience isn’t actively engaged, they may lose interest or tune out. To keep your listeners interest, try engaging by having them do something. Answering questions, offering advice, or helping to distribute materials are just a few ways to get people involved.
Watch your body language
Poor body language can be enough to distract audience members and ruin a presentation. For many, actions speak louder than words. Because of this, speakers should pay close attention to their body language. Dress appropriately for the occasion, and make eye contact with the people whom you are speaking to. Avoid bad habits and mannerisms, such as speaking too quickly, fidgeting, and pacing.
Be yourself
Lastly, it is important to be yourself and have fun. The more relatable you are, the easier your audience will connect with you. Forget about trying to be the perfect speaker, and instead focus on your audience, as they are the most important. Your audience wants to be on your side, and it is up to you to deliver.