When it concerns oratory skills, even if you don’t have a speech disability, you may find it challenging to speak in front of a group of people. In a meeting or during a presentation, you might sometimes find it difficult to speak up and share your opinion right away. Hence, whether it’s stage fright or the occasional stuttering, you’ll need to refresh some skills to become convincing and confident at the podium if you're giving a presentation at work.
There are 4 crucial elements we must keep in mind to become an effective speaker:
Dress accordingly
In front of an audience, you automatically put yourself and your image on display. Make sure that you look presentable because all eyes will be on you. Ensure that you have covered off the finer points—hair brushed, shoes cleaned, clothes ironed, nails cleaned and clipped. Of course, what you wear and what you look will to a certain extent be driven by the sector you work in, the job you have, your age and background etc. But do make sure you look presentable within your business context.
Understand the topic
When preparing for a test or exam, reviewing what you have learned and otherwise prepping yourself is essential. Well, that is also what you need to do to be a good speaker. You must know the subject material backwards and forwards. This is so simple — your audience wants to make sure that you are an expert in a particular field.
Don't complicate things
We’ve all heard speakers drone on and on and completely miss the point. Just like you learned at school and in college, you should discuss the topic concisely and clearly. In that way, your message becomes easy to understand for your colleagues and managers. Concentrate on a limited number of main points and ensure they are related to your central theme.
Address all aspects
This means preparing yourself and your speech for potential holes before presenting it. Know your audience and prepare your presentation based on that knowledge. If your responses are ready, you will be able to quickly and efficiently dismiss critiques.
Final words
Use all of these elements to look confident and sound very convincing. In addition, one other critical factor in being an effective speaker is the most simple to attain: Don’t forget to smile!
