Public speaking essay
Public speaking is an activity like any other. It is an issue that can be of concern, especially for an individual who has not been involved in public speaking before. The challenge for public speaking can take different forms. One of the problems can be obtaining the right content for presenting during a public speech. Determining the correct dressing code for the occasion n could also be a challenge because different occasions will require different dressing codes. It is instrumental in matching the event in all aspects. A public speech is more of an activity because it does not involve just talking alone. The singing should be accompanied by the right or appropriate body language, tonal variations, and correct use of gestures to emphasis the main points of the speech. During public speaking, a well-organized process of preparation is responsible for the success of the address. The leading cause of distraction during speech is anxiety. It can hold the speaker back and compromise their effectiveness during the speech. Fear makes it had to deliver or even produce the right words.
The only way to eradicate anxiety is by preparing intensively. Proper preparation instills confidence in the speaker. Training is also important because it makes the speaker be in a position to concentrate as the speech is being delivered. Concentration improves the quality of speech because it allows for the coordination between the different aspects of public speaking. The elements of public speaking include body language, use of gestures, and tonal variations, among others. Concentration is the mediator between all the above. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
One aspect of preparing for public speaking is taking enough time to choose the topic to address. It is crucial to identify the issue to address because, in this way, you can collect the keywords and points that are necessary for the presentation. The knowledge of the topic that you will be addressing helps the speaker to carefully be aware of the nature of body language, gestures, and tonal variations to use during the presentation. On top of identifying the topic, it is also vital to identify the ways of making the presentation exciting and captivating to the audience. There are many ways of doing this, but the issue is identifying the most appropriate style that best suits or matches the topic and the occasion. Having prior knowledge of the nature of the event and also the kind of audience helps one to know what style of communication to engage in the speech. For example, when addressing children, is it essential to include short and exciting stories that attract the attention of the children and also break the monologue and monotony of the speech. The stories should be in line with the topic of discussion in context, and such stories could be used to introduce humor in the speech. Fun makes the audience lively and also captivates their attention. It could be discouraging to realize that you are addressing an audience that does not show any signs of concentration or interest in your speech. This step ensures that the speaker is well engaged in the topic. It also develops the motivation to research and prepare. Doing all that pertains to this step makes the presentation lively and enthusiastic, and thus the audience will be interested in the topic and presentation.
Another strategy to prepare for public speaking is researching about the venue and the audience to whom the speech will be presented. Where possible, you could visit the place of the speech presentation. A little rehearsing in the venue provides the actual feeling during the real performance. It gives the atmosphere for the real environment in which the speech will be presented. This is like conducting a reconnaissance that helps one to familiarize with the situation. It provides the opportunity to identify the location and positioning of the presentation aids such as audio and video equipment. The knowledge of the stage, its structure, and architecture are also essential for the speaker. A speaker who knows that the scene has only one fixed microphone will not need to prepare for a lot of movement because the fixed microphone does not allow it.
Similarly, where the microphone is mobile, the speaker has the opportunity for movements during the speech. A combination of the two means that movement could still allow for movement. Knowing the kind of audience that you will be addressing helps the speaker to tailor the presentation to match of fit the audience. Different types of audience will demand different kinds of performances.
Rehearsing for public speaking is critical for the success of the presentation. There are many ways of rehearsing. Rehearsing could involve gathering together a few friends and assume them to be the audience. But before then, I prefer to first put my content for presentation together and try it out by myself. This involves assuming that the presentation is real in every aspect. Dress like you do in the practical performance and move to the mirror, present the speech to yourself, and watch yourself all through as you do it. Make sure to notice what you like about your presentation and, most importantly, what you do not like. How is your voice? How is the flow of the performance? Does your dressing please you? Are you using the right body language, gestures, and tonal variations to enhance the speech? Answering the above questions determines whether you make corrections or proceed to the next step.
The other step of rehearsing for the presentation requires the gathering of a few friends who help you with the final phase of rehearsing. The friends form an excellent audience to whom you present the speech. After the presentation, they provide feedback on the performance that you just performed. The feedback is essential as it helps you know where you are not doing well and try to rectify or avoid during the final presentation. The above two steps of rehearsing can be repeated for several instances until you reach the proper level with the performance.
When moving to the final presentation, it is vital to have a defined objective or goal. The presentation requires some goal that you are supposed to achieve at the end of the performance. The purpose of this is to help you keep in check. It helps one to avoid wading out of the line of presentation. In that case, you concentrate only on what is essential. This is because the main aim of the exhibition is to pass a certain to the audience. The message should, therefore, be clear. The objective of the presentation facilitates the success of the performance.