Question

A summary how to become a public speaker.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (1) Consider your audience – The first step is to consider your audience and its demograph. One might deliver a speech to an audience of children very differently from that of professional businessmen. The delivery style, the language and the contents are mostly determined by the audience who will receive it.

(2) Enrich your content – The second step to focus on, once the audience is determined is to build content that is befitting to them and that explores the subject optimally. The content for a speech should be concise, illustrated with examples or stories and must have comprehensible language. Furthermore, the speech should not be unnecessarily long. This might be boring for the audience and even take a toll on the orator.

(3) Enunciate – One of the most essential qualities is to speak clearly. This is in context to clear pronunciation and short sentences that are easy to understand. Creating paragraphs and forming stages from the introduction to the conclusion will help structure the speech. Also, it is essential that the speaker does not digress too much unless it is really necessary.

(4) Listen – If the session involves a “Q and A” or audience interaction, it is essential to listen and understand well. Do not be afraid to admit when you can’t hear someone well enough or might need them to repeat what they have said. It is better than answering or addressing the wrong question or topic.

(5) Focus on the words and not the nerves – It is natural and common to be nervous when public speaking. However, it is helpful to submerge oneself in the topic that they might talk about. This helps shift focus from nervousness.