What Makes A Good Public Speaker?

Public speaking is not for everyone. It takes a range of qualities and skills in order to be a good public speaker, but, if you can  master the skills, it can also be a lucrative earner. Many famous figures supplement their income with public, after dinner speaking, and there are a wide range of roles that you can use your public speaking skills in, from addressing conferences in your specialist field, talking to students in both school and college settings, even acting as a toastmaster for a wide range of formal dinners and occasions.

I have had my own experience of being a public speaker. I have addressed students talking about what it takes to be a blogger and how they could start and use their own blogs. I have also spoken to a women in business conference about how my own personal journey had become. I have to say it is daunting to talk to a room full of people who are also strangers, it takes you right out of your comfort zone, but it is also a rewarding and exhilarating experience.

Kruger Cowne, who specialise in providing black history month speakers in London, have asked me what makes a good public speaker, so, in the rest of this post, I am going to share some of my thoughts on this.

Confidence

Confidence, and a real belief in yourself and what you are saying, are the absolute key features of a memorable public speaker. Your audience has to believe in you, and what you are saying, and that will only happen if you believe in yourself. Remember, you have a message to deliver, and your confidence will allow others to trust you, and to be engaged by what you have to say.

Delivery

Delivery of your message is so important. You need to stand tall and look comfortable on your stage or platform, but you also have to look and sound friendly – no one wants to be shouted at, and there is a clear difference between a clear, mannered delivery which can still be heard by your whole audience, and actually coming across as strident and shouty. You also need to get your points across without boring your audience with details that they really don’t need to hear. Keep it relevant, and keep it to the point.

Passion for your topic

In order to both entertain your audience, and keep them onboard with your ideas, you need to be passionate about the topic. Real passion shines through when someone is public speaking, and it is passion which often inspires others to follow a lead. Passion comes from knowledge of your subject area, so you also need to ensure that you do your research beforehand.

Know your audience

When you deliver any public speech or talk, you should clearly research your audience. Would they appreciate humour in your speech, or would be ultra formal work better? Would your audience prefer bare facts, or would the ability to tell a story work better for them? Your audience is key to any public speaking engagement, so make sure you rehearse, and seek feedback from others before embarking on your speech.

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