4 Qualities of Amazing Public Speakers
By Desiree Moore
Whether you are an experienced
public speaker or just flirting with the idea of sharing your message with the
world, you probably know that giving a great presentation involves much more
than just reading from cue cards.
The good news? Learning about the
essential qualities of other great presenters is an easy way to
become one yourself. The following four essential qualities of all public
speakers, in particular, will ensure you are delivering presentations that will
influence, inspire, and make a meaningful impact on your audience.
1. Introspection & Self-Awareness
To be an effective speaker, you
must first understand who you are as a speaker—and as a person. What are
your strongest interpersonal qualities? How do you best connect with others?
What qualities do you need to work on? The most effective
speakers are constantly working to capitalize on their strengths—whether that’s
great storytelling or a talent for getting the audience to participate—and also
to improve upon their weaknesses. Tapping into your most powerful interpersonal
qualities is an excellent way to make yourself accessible, engaging, and
unique.
To start, make a list of your
best traits and the areas in which you excel. Then, think about how each of
these traits is expressed when speaking or presenting in front of others. For
example, if you’re great at explaining complex concepts in simple terms or if you
have a dynamic, engaging personality, make sure you’re incorporating and
highlighting these qualities throughout your presentation. (Need help
identifying your interpersonal strengths? StrengthsFinder 2.0 is an
excellent resource.
2. The Ability to Tell a Story
Audiences show up for
information, but they stay for the stories. Told well, stories can be the
key to a compelling presentation that excites, energizes, and truly engages the
people sitting in front of you. As my friends and mentors at Story Leaders™ have
told me: “Others may not think what we think, but through a shared story, they
can feel what we feel.”
So, consider sharing a story of
struggle or triumph or your personal path—ideally at the start of your speech.
Don’t be afraid to reveal information about yourself and demonstrate your
vulnerabilities—this will capture people in a way that fact and
information-sharing alone never will.
3. Generosity
Simon Sinek changed the lives of
many thousands of people when he shared his brilliant TED talk, “How Great
Leaders Inspire Action.” What stands out about this presentation above all is
the generosity with which Sinek shares information. He holds nothing back and
instead, gives everything to his audience, including his secret to success in
business and in life: “Start with why,” he says. "Tell
people why you do what you do before you tell them what you do or how you
do it." Simple. Brilliant. And in return for sharing this insight, he has
built an undying, committed tribe.
The best communicators understand
the value in sharing information openly, honestly, and generously. The more you
give, the more an audience can connect with you and the more they will take
away. To do this effectively, you will have to truly understand your
audience: Who are they? How do they learn? Would they respond better to a
high-energy motivational speech, for example, or one that is more subtle? The
better you know your audience, the more likely you will deliver the information
in a way that is meaningful to them. And then show a true commitment to your
audience by revealing everything and holding nothing back.
4. Confidence
Finally, when you’re speaking and
presenting in front of others, confidence is key. An unsure or timid
presentation will not capture or engage an audience, and it certainly won’t
motivate a tribe. But, of course, for many of us, public speaking and anxiety
tend to go hand in hand.
If you find yourself feeling
intimidated before a presentation, consider this: Your nerves do not show. What
you’re feeling is primarily internal, and others can’t sense your fear if you
don’t let on. Also, your audience is rooting for you—they want a great
presentation, so they want you to succeed. Finally, and most importantly, you
are in control of your nerves. If you have practiced your speech again and
again, as any great speaker must, the confidence will flow naturally. In
addition, mental visualization exercises, such as envisioning applause as you
near the end of your speech, and physical exercises such as deep breathing and
stretching, can also relieve stress so that you can deliver a powerful,
engaging presentation uninhibited.
Brilliant public speaking is not
an easy task. But with some practice, and with these key principles in mind,
you can master it, without question.
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