BY

DR. AMERJIT SINGH A/L S. BHAG SINGH

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

The results of the  survey confirmed that more people feared the prospect of having to stand up and speak to an audience than the fear of dying. Such results further imply that people did rather die than to be asked to speak in public! Hence, it is essential to familiarize ourselves with some simple yet useful guidelines in public speaking.

The first and major question you need to ask yourself before you begin to speak in the public is :

                                 What do you want to achieve? How do I want my audience to

                                 think or feel or act as a result of my speech?

Thus, it is important to establish your principal objective. It is not what you intend to say but rather it is what you intend to achieve. So, what is the principal objective of your speech? If I were to speak on the theme of sustainable development, my intention would be to educate my audience on the importance of managing natural resources and conserve the environment. Rightly, it is the outcome I am interested in. It is the changes in attitude and behavior (in the context of natural resources and environment) that constitute the major focus of my public speaking. Indeed, a speech without a clear and concise principal objective, in my analysis, is like a ship without a captain – she would be heading nowhere!

Having crossed the first hurdle, we move on to another key principle in public speaking, that is knowing your audience. Ask the important question here:

What is of importance to them (audience)? What matters to them?

Audience analysis is important in crafting the pitch of your speech. Undoubtedly, a right pitch creates wonders. Personalize your speech to encourage the audience feelings and reactions. Once the audience can see a connection between themselves and what is being spoken, more than half the battle has been won! So, when you bring in comments and observations from your audiences in your speech, such as, “Those whom I’ve spoken to a moment ago about our limited natural resources… those who told me just now about the effects of climate change….” will make your speech meaningful and relevant to your audiences.

Next, be outcome-centered and audience-centered as you deliver your speech. Tell the audience your story. Make it as interesting and as informative as possible. Tell the audience what you need to achieve the desired outcome. Make them receptive to your message. How? Simple: Treat your audience with respect. Yes, do not talk down to your audience. Inject humor in your speech, where appropriate. Make audience feel relaxed and comfortable. Subscribe to the principle that people are diverse. And, of course, always stop before you’re stopped!

Your speech is a set of designed messages. Here lies the importance of effective communication. Once you have selected your topic or theme – sleep on it, sit on it, dream on it…. Look for facts and figures. Search for useful references and illustrations. You should also mind-map your speech. It is fun and interesting to mind-map rather than to be bogged down with scripting and essay writing that will add on to your nervousness. At the back of your mind, prepare an audience-friendly and yet dynamic presentation. Remember, don’t tell them everything you know- tell them everything they need to know!

When delivering your speech, be familiar with the opening and closing lines. Audience can size you up within the first 45 seconds of your presentation – so your opening is very crucial. If you fumble on your opening, the impact of your speech is lost. Likewise, should you fault at the end of your speech, all your hard work shall go down the drain. So, have a captive opening and end with the right note.

Use key points to assist you in delivering the body of your speech. Where appropriate, use idioms to sparkle your speech. You may use audio-visual aids to assist your presentation, but do so sparingly for fear such aids might distract attention from what you are telling (talking) to your audience. Write like a talker and think like a listener and you shall never go wrong. Speak loud and clear and stay in rhythm. Work towards reaching the hearts and minds of your audiences.

So, get polishing and start practicing (an effective way to conquer stage fright) for proficiency in speaking, because in my analysis, speaking in public is not a gift. Instead, it can be learnt and cultured.

“All the great speakers were bad speakers at first” – Ralph Waldo Emerson