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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Public Speaking

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'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat…'Churchill.

It was said that Churchill practiced the use of proper postures and gestures before the mirror in the early days. When he was very famous, it was reported that one asked him about the great secret of his success as a speaker. He said that he considered his audience stupid and himself the single wise one.

Shaw another great speaker advises people to practice proper intonation and the throw of voice to make oneself heard.

The great Martin Luther King Jr. is well known for his ‘I have a Dream.’

Swami Vivekananda became the overnight favorite of the American public with the expression, ‘Sisters and brothers of America!’

When a great man was asked about speaking, he said that he was not speaking for anyone else but to himself. He was listening to every word he spoke and criticized them as objectively as possible. So he was in a position to give what the audience needed.

Everyone who takes up public life needs to be successful in attracting his audience. Today there are many training institutes and individuals to teach public speaking. These courses are becoming popular even as dance classes, as politics has become a 24x7 job.

A man may have fears on being seen on the dais and have doubts about what to present and how to present. Many are undecided about their acceptance. Even great speakers make the mistake of not learning about the audience who they are to address. To know their interests and the background beforehand will always help the speaker decide on the selection of materials and approach.

The audience expectations are many; some like literary tidbits, some emotions, some wise sayings, some simple anecdotes, some parables, and still others humor. All may not like all. But everyone expects to hear something he would like is true. So the Chruchill’s approach of considering them all stupid won’t go well with normal speakers. One may find halls emptying during his speech, unless one has become as popular as Churchill.

Adding some humor and introducing new bylines until the end will help maintain the interests of the audience. If you are going to share a platform, learn about other speakers and their interests and add something about their interests, for or against, so that they refer to you and become your unpaid advertisers.

It is advised not to get disheartened by the behavior of a few in the front line or try to appease them. This may distract the speaker and even make him disheartened. Addressing the audience in general will be a great advantage to the speaker. Talk, if you had committed to. I have read about G.B. Shaw speaking for more than an hour at Hyde Park in pouring rain to none but just six policemen in their overcoats and shining helmets, who were compelled by duty to stand there to listen to what the socialist said.
Finally don’t talk about something in which you don’t believe. Just read what these two advise:

To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks. - Ben Jonson

It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and resolve all doubt. - Abraham Lincoln

Image courtesy: Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Quotes: Churchill
Wish to see 'n' hear Churchill click here.

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1 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are some good tips. I also like the quotes - especially the final one from Lincoln. It's important to speak well when you speak to groups.

Great post,

James
http://blog.jvf.com

 
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