5P’S OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
5P’S OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
If you’ve been asked to give a public speech, you’d know how
nervousness and anxiety can get the best of you. Many of us dream of presenting
so flawlessly that the audience erupts in a standing ovation but fear of
forgetting a line or stumbling on stage can quickly dampen any excitement.
The good news is that, with thorough preparation and
practice, you can overcome your nervousness and perform exceptionally well
in public speaking.
Just the other day I was having a conversation with my
colleague Alex about moving audiences with great speeches.
“I used to get so nervous when I was asked to give a
speech”, said Alex.
“You recently gave a powerful speech at the conference. How
did you manage to do that?” I asked him.
“It is very simple, a public speaking expert gave me 5p’s of
public speaking and it has served me a long way in delivering speeches,” he
said.
Pulling from years of public speaking experience, Alex
identified the 5Ps of public speaking that you can take to dial down anxiety
and stage frights.
1. Planning
Planning ahead allows you to stage and craft a presentation
that is creatively engaging, entertaining, and informative. Creating such a
presentation is completely possible but it just takes a little bit more
planning. Your speech will be most effective if you plan your opening and
closing statements and key transitions down to the last word.
For example, organize the speech logically with a beginning,
middle, and end. Tell your audience what you’re going to tell them, tell it to
them, and then summarize what you’ve told them.
2. Preparation
Preparations involve knowing your audience, visualizing the
surrounding on how the event will look like, then outlining the main topics
you’ll focus on, practicing and having someone review your speech, and lastly
anticipating questions and answers you are likely to be asked.
3. Passion
The power of passion in public speaking beats the physical
mechanics of the speaker. The origin of a great speech is a strong desire to
motivate or change something or someone. A person who has feelings of great
intensity about a topic has a greater propensity to deliver a powerful message
that connects with the listener.
Great orators like Barack Obama had a burning desire to
deliver ideas and information that touched people’s lives. His speech left an
important mark on the world’s narrative.
4. Practice
Practice is the answer to so many of the worries about poor
presentations and the reason so many presentations are great. There’s a good
reason that we say, “Practice makes perfect!” You simply cannot be a confident,
compelling speaker without practice.
“To feel confident onstage, you need to know your material
inside and out. You can also try practicing in front of friends who can
simulate worst-case presentation scenarios and offer honest feedback,” Alex
suggested.
Practice it plenty of times alone, using the resources
you’ll rely on at the event, and, as you practice, tweak your words until they
flow smoothly and easily. For instance, you can record yourself using your
phone to perfect your speech.
5. Performance
Performance is about engagement with the audience, reacting
to issues, and being real. These are valued more highly than being word
perfect. Performance is the culmination of the other p’s of public speaking.
“Pay attention to your body language: stand up straight;
take deep breaths, look people in the eye, and smile. Don’t lean on one leg or
use gestures that feel unnatural,” he advised.
Also, positive thinking can make a huge difference to the
success of a public speaking session, because it helps you feel more confident.
Conclusion
An understanding of the importance of each of the 5 p’s of
public speaking will transform any piece from just being one of the many
average presentations delivered to something of value that will have a lasting
impact on the audience as evident with Alex.
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