How to be a better speaker

Bill Gates

Speaking before an audience is not as easy as you might think. Most people will tell you that speaking in public is one of their greatest sources of anxiety. In the past few weeks I’ve thought a lot about speaking in public.  I’ve never really wanted to be a professional speaker, but I know the importance of being able to speak in public, and it’s something that I would like to do in my spare time. Here are some pointers for people like me who are looking to sharpen their public speaking skills.

1. Do it for fun – Most people want to speak for two reasons: money and\or reputation. If you are the person who is looking to be paid for speaking, be aware that you must be familiar with how the industry works before you start asking for money. As I see it, most of the people who speak for free do so for only one reason: to leverage their reputation.
2. Speaking is like having something to speak about – Most of the time speaking supports a product or a business. If you have a product for which you’re trying to gain exposure, you’ll need to speak in public to promote it; it’s a great idea. If you are a consultant or you offer some service to the public, speaking can help drive business to your customer base.
3. Speak a lot and speak for free – Unless you have professional experience, you must build a track record of provoking audiences successfully.  In the beginning, you will do it for free, but over time you will be able to ask for expense reimbursement, and, later on, to be paid for the actual speaking. You will have to subjugate your ego for the first few months and speak for fun. Volunteer at social events, promotional events, and coffee-chat events to gain experience and confidence.
4. Speaking is not profession – People who speak for a living, do so while maintaining a professional career.  The ability to share some of your own experiences in your speeches is very important.
5. Speaking is not only for fun but is also valuable too – Yes, there is an undeniable thrill of being on the stage before 100 people trying to deliver your message in 30 minutes. The skills you learn over time are very valuable, and, most of the time, you will enjoy the experience.

photo by loritingey