How to Improve Public Speaking Skills during Business Events

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, Powerful Executive Communication (74-slide PowerPoint presentation). Communication skills have consistently been identified as one of the key skills that you need in order to thrive in senior management. Clear writing and persuasive presentation skills are required by employees in all roles to convey their ideas and concepts. The skill is especially important [read more]

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American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Speech is power:  speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” Public speaking is an important life skill that allows you to communicate effectively with others. It gives you credibility, positioning you as an expert in your industry that  will translate to more clients, as more people will consider doing business with you. Good public speaking skills also improve your reputation and boost your self-confidence.

Understand Your Audience

One of the first things that you can do to improve your speaking skills is to identify whether the event will take place online or in-person.  Virtual events offer several advantages, such as reduced costs, accessibility and time savings. It can also reach an unlimited audience. On the other hand, in-person events offer the benefit of forging personal relationships with clients. In other words, it has the human connection. Regardless of how events are hosted, it is vital to determine who the audience is. Try to imagine why people are going to attend it. Are you going to speak to an older or younger group? Will they be local or international attendees? This is vital since you will want  to tailor your speech so that everyone can relate to it and engage.

Know What You Are Talking About 

It helps a lot, too, if you genuinely know what you are talking about. Therefore, you should know the topic very well in order to sound convincing. People should be interested in what you say because you are authoritative. Good content will not only explain the subject to your audience, but also educate them. Hence, a deep level of knowledge, if not a good understanding of the subject, will give you confidence when the floor is open to questions.

Good Content Is Tied To Delivery

Not only do you have to sound confident and knowledgeable; you must also deliver your speech in  a personal and engaging manner. Assign faces to facts in your presentation, tell stories about other people and even yourself, not only to hold your audience’s interest, but also to put you at ease. You might have the best written speech in the world, but if it is not well delivered, no one will remember or realize how great it is. Conversely, even if a speech is delivered brilliantly, a discourse that has no coherence and unity will not be effective in captivating an audience.

Speaking in front of an audience, big or small, is always a challenge. To do it effectively, ensure that you know who your listeners are, speak as an expert, and deliver your speech in a personal and pleasing manner. Doing so will improve your client base and bottom lines.

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