In-House Counsel

Flavors Of Public Speaking: What’s On The Menu For Your Speech?

When determining which 'flavor' of public speaking you’re aspiring to, it can be helpful to ask yourself questions about the speech you are making.

By  
on

When we think of public speaking, it seems rather straightforward. At its essence, public speaking is the process of delivering a speech in front of a live audience. However, there are as many styles of public speaking as there are speakers!

For every speaking event you participate in, it can be helpful to focus on the “flavor” of public speaking you are engaging in that day. By taking the time to focus on your purpose and style as a speaker, you will be more in tune with yourself as a speaker. This valuable self-feedback can help you learn and grow as a professional.

Not sure where to start? Several common public speaking styles include:

Interacting with the audience

During these speeches, your main focus is interacting with the audience, whether through question-and-answer, demonstrations, or conversation. It is essential to have the skills to win over the crowd as you deliver your speech. However, you should also have the knowledge of the subject in which you are presenting.

Public speaking workshops

Public speaking workshops are different from traditional public speaking events because they are more focused on improving your public speaking skills. During workshops it can be helpful to focus on word choice, grammar, syntax, and pronunciation.

Sponsored

Developing professional credibility

Some speeches are most valuable for the professional credibility you can garner. When you deliver the speech successfully, you will get a personal satisfaction that you have presented yourself as an expert. Moreover, a positive response from the audience can make you more confident as an expert. You can leverage this positive response into more speaking opportunities.

Improve communication skills

Public speaking is always related to good communication. However, if you deliver a speech in front of a huge audience, that does not necessarily mean that you have great communication skills. Make sure you are checking in with your audience through eye contact and other non-verbal cues to ensure that you are communicating well. Communication skills can also be helpful for when attending interviews or seminars.

Improve interpersonal skills

Sponsored

When you develop public speaking skills, you may also experience great improvement in interpersonal relationships. Public speaking skills can help you prevent miscommunication and resolve conflicts in your relationships with friends and family. This can be especially helpful for mediating disputes between friends or family members.

Boost self-esteem

One of the significant benefits of the public speaking is that it increases self-confidence. Making a conversation in a group of people can be intimidating on its own. Making a speech in front of an audience can be even more nerve-wracking! However, when you successfully make a speech, you will feel a fabulous sense of satisfaction from overcoming your anxiety.

Persuading the audience

Public speaking helps you develop the ability to persuade others. Speaking events are highly valuable when it comes to marketing yourself and your ideas. You can reach a wide audience with your initial speech, and through sharing a recording or list of highlights on social media you can continue to reap the benefits.

Develop ideas and messages

Furthermore, public speaking helps increase your critical thinking abilities. When you prepare for an event or a workshop, it improves the quality of your work. Presenting your work to others can help you view it with an objective eye. Public speaking also helps you to develop better ways to deliver your content and design.

When determining which “flavor” of public speaking you’re aspiring to during a particular speech, it can be helpful to ask yourself questions about the speech you are making. Who is your audience? What would a “successful” speech look like to you? Why did you accept the invitation to speak today? These questions can help refine your thinking as you head into making your speech. Asking the same questions after you complete your speech can help you evaluate what went well and how you could improve for next time. Identifying a “flavor” of public speaking is a valuable thought exercise well worth doing throughout your journey as a public speaker!

Olga V. Mack is an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor at Berkeley Law, and entrepreneur. Olga founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to serve on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. Olga also co-founded SunLaw to prepare women in-house attorneys become general counsel and legal leaders and WISE to help women law firm partners become rainmakers. She embraces the current disruption to the legal profession. Olga loves this change and is dedicated to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and inclusive than before. You can email Olga at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @olgavmack.

Topics

, , ,