Top public speaking tips – Are you preparing to fail?

Did you read last week’s article on ‘why public speakers shouldn’t seek perfection’?

Most of the responses I received sided with the idea that speakers should focus more on sharing something of value and connecting with an audience than the exact words they utter.

Others weren’t convinced.

Some felt I was suggesting that a presenter could be sloppy when preparing or delivering a speech.

Absolutely not – after all, public speaking is all about influencing others with our words and that won’t happen if you wing your speeches.

So, am I changing my tune?

No.

The notion that one can make a perfect speech is flawed.

Why?

Think about it this way: Who can assess whether a speech is perfect and what constitutes perfection anyway?

The answer to the former has to be your audience. And the latter is virtually impossible to answer, since the perceived value of communication received by each member of any given audience:

• Is necessarily subjective
• Will vary from person to person
• Is very difficult to measure.

So, what are a speaker’s responsibilities to an audience?

A speaker’s first and every thought should be grounded by a focus on his/her audience and what they get from a speech.

Do not begin to craft a speech until you take care of the following:

1. Research your topic – know what you are talking about
2. Research your audience and what they expect from you
3. Determine how you to make what you want to say meaningful, valuable and actionable for your audience.

Then, and only then, prepare and practice your speech in ways that:

1. Simplify your messages
2. Engage your audience (ideally through stories, analogies and interaction)
3. Motivate your audience to want to act as result of what you say

The key question you should ask yourself after a speech is not whether it was perfect, but whether your audience believed they were better off after hearing you speak than they were before you said a single word?

There is one more thing to stress – as Winston Churchill commonly reminded his peers – work on ‘practiced spontaneity!

What do you think?

Do you focus on making speeches perfect first or how your audience will benefit from your presentation?

 photo credit: Spigoo

Related posts:

1. Is perfection as a public speaker overrated?
2. Sarkozy & Merkel fail credibility tests – lessons for public speakers
3. What every one should know about the words you use in a speech – If you pack’em in, your audience’ll block ‘em out!
4. Wow Audiences Like Steve Jobs With Stories
5. What Steve Jobs taught us about public speaking and inspiration