The Best Call to Action Speech Examples

The Best Call to Action Speech Examples

Jun 28, 2021 | Public Speaking

It is important to have a strong call to action in your speech. It can be difficult to know what should go into a call to action; the best call to action speech examples are those that inspire. They motivate people to take the next step and do what they need to do. 

The best speeches are also those that evoke emotion and make it easy for the listeners to connect with them. But there are some examples that you can look at. The following are the best call-to-action speech examples!

Action Item

Use different words than you did with the doers since they’re not the ones that are going to be hitting the ground running to complete tasks.

Best call-to-action speech examples!

Call to Action Speeches are one of the most popular types of speeches. The goal is for the speaker to encourage and inspire listeners, motivate them into taking an action that benefits both themselves or others. 

Call To Action Speech Examples are a great way for speakers to find some inspiration as they write their own addresses. Here are some of our favorites:  

Best call-to-action speech examples

"We're not just a company; we're a community."

Apple CEO Tim Cook 2014 Keynote Address

"You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes; you can steer yourself any direction you choose."

Dr. Seuss' Oh! The Places You'll Go! (1990)

"Now go and get them. I don't want to see you again until they're done."

The Shawshank Redemption

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. So go ahead and dream, big boy!"

Dr. Seuss' You'll Be A Hero! (1975)

"I have a vision for this country where people are judged not by what they look like but by who they are; where opportunity knows no color lines, achievement has no gender or ethnic barriers, and economic security will be as important as physical security."

Senator Barack Obama 2004

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."

Peter Drucker

"Money doesn't talk; it swears."

Bob Dylan

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Franklin D Roosevelt

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

Alexander the Great

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)

Life isn't about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself! You can always find others that will tell you how to live your life and what path you should take in order for them to approve or be happy with your decisions, or you can make your own decisions and be the person you want to be.

"Don't try to live up to a standard that someone else has set for you because then you're living their life, not yours."

Gareth Cliff

The only thing we have is right now, so don't wait until tomorrow or next month!

"Decide what it would mean if everything in your life was going exactly as you wanted."

Jim Carrey

"Every day I get out of bed, I tell myself: Today's the day! You don't know which one will bring success, but that achievement starts with just getting into action today. So what are YOU waiting for? Get moving already!"

Kevin Hawkes

"You can't be too careful about what you wish because when your wishes come true, they just might go the way of all flesh."

Joss Whedon

"No matter how bad a day is going, no matter how many people are trying to bring me down or make it hard for me, I say, 'you know what? It's my decision.' The only thing that matters is this moment right now and decide if I'm happy with myself or not. And if I am, then everything else falls into place in some form or another. If not, well, there's always tomorrow! Such an easy choice, really."

Gareth Cliff

"I mean, what does anyone get from making somebody else sad? What are we getting out of that other than seeing them hurt, which isn't an uplifting feeling anyway? It's not satisfying at all because there was no gain for yourself."

Hugh Laurie

"The best call to actions speeches are ones that inspire, empower and motivate the audience while addressing their concerns or needs for change. They focus on the benefits of following through with what is asked rather than dwelling on any potential negative consequences."

Joss Whedon

"What I want you all to know is just because something doesn't go our way at times and we don't achieve our goals on this round of things, that's not an excuse because life goes on; keep working hard. That's my message: If you work hard enough as long as you're willing to put forth the effort - anything can happen."

Serena Williams

No matter how bad a day is going, no matter how many people are trying to bring me down or make it hard for me, I say, "you know what? It's my decision." The only thing that matters is this moment right now and decide if I'm happy with myself or not. And if I am, there's no one to stop me.

The best call to actions speeches inspire, empower and motivate while addressing any concerns or need for change from our audience’s perspective. They focus on the benefits of following through with what was asked rather than dwelling on any potential negative consequences. 

How to improve your speech call action

  • Start with a clear and concise goal for your speech.
  • Make sure that the audience knows what you want them to do at the end of the call to action.
  • Offer tangible benefits like incentives, such as discounts on products or free time off work so people can participate in an event like a voting day or volunteering opportunity.
  • Acknowledge any reservations or concerns about taking immediate action and encourage attendees to overcome those barriers together by focusing on shared values and common goals.
How to improve your speech call action

Pro Tip

Start with a clear and concise goal for your speech.

Call to Action Speech Examples can be a powerful tool in directing your audience towards an intended goal. 

Include these tips when crafting your next speech! The best Call To Action Speech Example is the most well-researched and persuasive speech.

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How to Get Public Speaking Experience in Any Economy

How to Get Public Speaking Experience in Any Economy

Jun 24, 2021 | Public Speaking

Public speaking is a skill that people can be afraid to develop, but the truth is it’s an incredibly useful and valuable skill. The problem for many would-be speakers is where to start. There are so many opportunities in public speaking, yet they all seem out of reach. 

This blog post will help you find your way into the world of public speaking with five steps that will leave you feeling confident, knowledgeable, and excited about what lies ahead! 

How to get public speaking experience in any economy

Join Toastmasters

If you want to get better public speaking skills and gain experience in a low-stress environment, consider joining Toastmasters. 

The best way to improve your speech is by practicing it with a group of people who can give constructive feedback on what you’re doing wrong. And that’s exactly what Toastmasters does for its members – they provide an opportunity for meeting new friends while getting the chance to practice giving speeches (and even potentially winning awards). You’ll also meet other budding leaders and find inspiration from their stories as well.

Toastmaster clubs are located all over the world, so no matter where you live, there will be one close by!

For help finding local groups near you, you can search on the Toastmasters website.

In a low-stress environment, consider joining Toastmasters.

"Powerful, impactful leaders know there is not a monopoly on intelligence."
Carla Harris

Ask your company or organization if they need a speaker for an upcoming event

If your company or organization is in need of a speaker, you are already ahead of the game. You may be able to do this for free (check with management), and it will give you experience, which makes other speaking opportunities more likely down the road. 

If not, there is another route that can also get you some valuable experience without costing anything: Ask friends who have an interest in public speaking if they would like to trade services one time and speak at their event instead. 

Ask your company or organization if they need a speaker for an upcoming event
  • Trade services by having them speak at yours.
  • Speak on behalf of someone else's nonprofit organizations.

Neither option costs money, but both options provide excellent practice! What about when we’re looking beyond paid gigs? How does someone get started with volunteering? 

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for public speaking at nonprofits. Just do a quick web search, and you’ll find dozens of organizations that could use your help. 

Speak about something you're passionate about at a local meeting, such as the neighborhood association or church group

These groups are usually looking for speakers and would be more than happy to have someone with fresh ideas. Just ask the person in charge if they need a speaker at their next meeting. It’s always nice when someone who isn’t known locally offers something new. 

Public speaking experience can also come from public service announcements on television or YouTube videos that one creates as an individual freelancer. If you’re not sure where to start, visit some of these sites: The National Speakers Association (NSA) website or googling “public speaking opportunities,” which will yield many results, including message boards and volunteer opportunities where people offer services such as facilitating workshops or hosting webinars on topics like freelance writing!

The NSA also offers a training program for speakers that covers everything from public speaking skills to marketing yourself, and they don’t charge any fees.

Some other ways you can get experience are by volunteering with your local Toastmasters Club or community theater group. Volunteer opportunities will also be posted on these organizations’ websites as well as the NSA website, where one of their programs is networking.

Regarding social media, it’s always best to start small before diving into more challenging platforms such as Twitter which has 140 character limits per post! Starting off slowly then building up confidence in what you’re doing is just fine because there are no deadlines and timelines when utilizing social media; remember, this medium isn’t about perfectionism but rather an authenticity!

Action Item

Search on the internet for speaking events.

Start teaching English to students in your country and begin with basic phrases like "hello" and "goodbye"

  • Teach English to students in your country and begin with basic phrases like "hello" and "goodbye."
  • Make it fun! Have a competition between classes. Whoever can say the most words without making any mistakes wins!
  • Videos are great for this activity, too: put up two videos on a screen side by side or have one of them projected onto the front wall in class while everyone else watches from their seats. The videos could be about greeting someone you just met, introducing themselves at an event they're speaking at, etc. Ask questions throughout so that students will use sentences with different tenses (present tense vs. past tense). This way, we'll also reinforce concepts like question word order and direct/indirect questions.
  • Have students do this activity in groups of three or four, rotating between partners every few minutes so that everyone has a chance to practice their skills with different people and use different tenses as well.
  • Take turns speaking for the group: if you're working with your partner one minute and someone else's partner the next, make sure you have something interesting to say about yourself! Remember--especially when it comes time to speak aloud--show don't tell! Make eye contact with each person in turn and give them an opportunity to respond while they are talking (this is good modeling too). If anyone does not want to talk due to shyness or fear of making mistakes, ask them what they would like instead: "Do you want to draw a picture of what we're talking about?" or "Do you want me to read this article and then tell the class what I think is happening in it?"
Start teaching English to students in your country

Offer to speak at schools, churches, libraries, or community organizations

If you have a speaking topic that’s appropriate for schools, churches, libraries, or community organizations (or just want to talk about something in your area of expertise), offer to give a presentation. Some people do this once and never again; other speakers enjoy giving talks regularly at different venues. It can be lots of fun and offers excellent practice! 

  • Identify the type of venue — school, church, library, or community organization
  • Find out who is responsible for booking presentations
  • Get permission from the person in charge before sending an email offering to speak
  • Offer your services: identify what date(s) are available if they're flexible on when it happens + how much time commitment will be required by you
  • If they're interested, have a preliminary conversation over the phone to talk about what is expected from you for the presentation
  • Follow up with an email confirming your date and time availability + any other details that may be important for them (PowerPoint slides, length of speech)
  • Send follow-up emails as close as possible to the event, so it's on their mind but not too much in advance either. In some cases, this is okay because people might want to review or ask questions before then. But if there are no requests, just send one reminder closer to the day itself—or even call when appropriate. This will keep you top of mind without being intrusive!

Pro Tip

Gear your content to your listeners’ knowledge, experience, and interests.

Volunteer to speak on behalf of charities that are important to you

If you want to volunteer and get public speaking experience, but don’t have the funds for classes, find a charity that is important to you. If it’s not too much trouble, offer your skills in exchange for free services they provide like homesteading or landscaping. 

You can also offer pro-bono consulting work if you’re an expert on certain things like marketing or accounting; just make sure their needs are aligned with what you do well, so both of you benefit from this arrangement. For example, “Marketing mavens” could consult some small businesses about how to attract new customers while receiving valuable public speaking practice at the same time! 

Volunteer to speak on behalf of charities that are important to you

Final Words

I’m sure you didn’t think there was a way to get more speaking experience in any economy. But, it turns out that if you want public speaking practice without shelling out money for the privilege of doing so, then these are some ways you can do just that. There may be other things too! 

Try them and see what happens-I bet they work for you as well at no cost or very low investment upfront. Remember this old saying? “A penny saved is a penny earned”? Well, when your goal is to save money by getting free public speaking experience (or anything else), “a penny not spent is still one less than before”–so don’t let those pennies stop rolling in! 

I hope you enjoyed this post. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know in the comments.

Action Item

Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points.

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Body Language Presentation

Body Language Presentation

Jun 21, 2021 | Public Speaking, Publicity

Many people think that body language only matters when you are in person talking to someone. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. When you give a presentation, your body language can help or hurt your message depending on what it is and how you use it! 

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for presenting, which can help improve your body language and increase the impact of your presentations. 

Body language presentation

What is body language, and why does it matter

Keep in mind that body language is an unspoken conversation. It communicates 70% of the message, whereas speech only communicates 30%. 

Body language tells us what a person really thinks about their topic, how they feel, and what kind of attitude they have toward you and your presentation. When someone’s posture or expression changes from positive to negative, it has been scientifically shown that people are more likely to conform with their opinion than when those emotions were originally neutral. 

In other words: if you make them laugh at the beginning, then tell them something serious later on – chances are they’ll still find it funny! This can be used as a powerful tool for persuasion because most people don’t want to go against public consensus, even if they disagree.

It can be used to build rapport with the audience, it can highlight certain parts of your message and shield off others, and it can help you maintain a positive mood throughout – all without having to verbally speak at all! But there are also some pitfalls that body language presenters need to watch out for: negative body language will distract from your main points; too much smiling might make people think you’re insincere or arrogant (unless this is what you want); crossing your arms may convey hostility; being animated but not moving around enough could show boredom or indifference on stage; overly enthusiastic movements may seem like desperation. 

When in doubt, tone down those gestures before giving your next presentation.

“Your body language shapes who you are.”
Amy Cuddy

How to read others' body language

“How can you interpret body language?” I ask. “There are a few things to watch for,” he says. “Eyes, hands, and gestures – they all say something different.” 

I nod in agreement as he continues: “If someone’s looking at the ground or their feet, it could mean that they’re shy or embarrassed.” He pauses before continuing with his next point: “But if someone is moving around constantly and shaking their head while talking, then chances are there might be some anger going on.”

The most common interpretation of hand movements includes crossing one’s arms to signal disagreement, shaking one’s head, or pointing while talking in order to disagree with a point being made.

Some other hands and arm gestures that can be interpreted as negative are grabbing the back of one’s neck (to show frustration) or tapping their fingers on something repeatedly when they’re bored.

An open palm is also usually considered an inviting gesture that signals openness for conversation, but it could just mean that someone is waiting for you to say something more. Flat palms facing down most likely means “no” if used quickly – but if someone is telling a story and pantomimes with their hands, it might mean “but that’s not the end of the world” or “I’m getting to something important.”

In particular, nodding one’s head while talking can be used as agreement. But many think they’re lying when in fact, they are just polite because there could also be disagreement behind what you say too.

It has been said that people unconsciously mirror each other during a conversation which means you may notice others’ gestures on your own – so keep an eye out for body language clues.

Action Item

Watch some speaking events and take note of how the speakers act and move.

Tips on how to improve your own body language in a presentation

Practice in front of the mirror. 

Stand up straight with your shoulders back and look directly at the audience without staring down anything that could distract you. – Smile, but don’t force it if you’re not feeling genuine happiness or joy for what you are saying. 

Your body language should match how you feel inside to project authenticity when presenting on stage. If necessary, use humor to lighten things up a bit, so people will remember your presenters’ personality better than how they felt about the topic being presented!

Don’t slouch or allow yourself to slump forward while talking; this can be interpreted as laziness by those watching from afar. It may seem like common sense, but good posture is key to every presentation and should be practiced before your presentation as well.

When you are presenting on stage, keep eye contact with the audience – not the screen! This is a good chance to know if they are engaged in what you’re saying or simply reading about it behind their computer screens.

Make sure that when speaking from an outline or other written script, you emphasize important points without sounding like you’re being read off of the paper. Be deliberate but natural; this will help make people feel more involved in the topic at hand and less distant by comparison to where they would have been had there been no demonstration whatsoever.

If you have slides accompanying your speech, try not to look down too much while talking. You should only be looking down at the slides for an occasional glance, not a full sentence or paragraph.

If you have trouble with public speaking in general and feel that it is having a negative impact on your work life, there are many courses available to help address this issue. Remember that being able to speak well in front of others will make you more successful both personally and professionally!

Tips on how to improve your own body language

Reasons for using body language in presentations

  • It can help make a connection with your audience.
  • It shows the speaker is confident in their message.
  • Body language can show how an idea is being received by the listeners, allowing you to adjust your presentation accordingly.

Pro Tip

You can study their body language and see how they use facial expressions, movement, and gestures to help them convey their ideas.

Examples of bad and good use of body language in presentations

Bad: says “I’m sorry”
Good: [smiles] 

The first example shows a speaker who is apologizing, and the second one shows someone smiling. Good body language, such as smiles, reflects enthusiasm or confidence in what they are saying. On the other hand, bad body language can lead to mistrust with your audience due to things like nervous ticks, tension-filled jawlines, etc., which distract people from listening to you speak because they’re distracted by trying not to stare at them. 

This could be seen when an individual says ‘sorry’ while gesturing apologetically with their hands – this gesture could come across as genuinely remorseful, but it also signifies weakness of character that might make some participants feel uneasy.

Should you use hand gestures or not during a presentation

There are two schools of thought on how to use hand gestures during a presentation. 

Some people feel that it is important to continually move the audience’s focus back and forth between the visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint slides) and themselves, while others believe that gesturing too much will distract listeners from what they’re saying. Which camp should you join? 

It all depends on your goal for your talk: Are you trying to entertain or inform? If informing, then limit movements; if entertaining, then don’t be shy about getting some movement in there!

Some people think it’s important to make sure the audience pays attention not only by using verbal cues but also with their body language — namely through eye contact and occasional hand gestures.

Eye contact matters as a general rule of thumb — but many speakers gesture with their hands during presentations without realizing how distracting this can be. Gestures are great for emphasizing key points visually but try not to overuse them, so they don’t become distracting.

“Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words.”
Deborah Bull

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How Anyone Can Gain Confidence in Public Speaking

How Anyone Can Gain Confidence in Public Speaking

Jun 17, 2021 | Public Speaking

Do you feel nervous speaking in public? You are not alone. Many people find giving a speech or presentation to be an anxiety-inducing experience. 

However, there are ways to gain confidence in public speaking, no matter how big the audience may be! If you are struggling to build your confidence in this area, try the following tips that have helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. 

How Anyone Can Gain Confidence in Public Speaking

Start with a personal story

I remember the first time I was on stage to speak at a conference. It was terrifying. My palms sweat, my heart raced, and all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole and hide. The worst part? Someone just asked me how many people were here! 

There’s no such thing as natural-born speakers. Sure, there are some people who naturally have a talent for speaking, but they’re few and far between – most of us need to learn how to speak in public. And when you stop and think about it, we all face the same fears: we want to be confident that what we say is going to make sense; that our points will stand up under scrutiny from an audience or panel; that our verbal skills won’t desert us at just the wrong moment.

If you’ve never given a presentation before, start your speech with an interesting personal story. It’s the best way to make people know that it’s okay for them to take their time while listening and relax because they’re not in any kind of competition. “Don’t be afraid of silence,” he says. 

“It’ll happen naturally if you give yourself enough time between points; don’t rush into the next one too soon.” Silence is a natural pause like taking a breath or raising your hand when speaking – but how many speakers do we see who are so intent on getting everything out at once? Remember: this isn’t about us as much as it is about letting our audience understand what we mean by sharing our thoughts, knowledge, and experience.

“When you have a lot of confidence and you feel like nobody can beat you, it’s game over for everyone else.”
Jason Day

Talk about your experience and what you learned from it

How did you get over your fear of public speaking? 

I had an experience where I couldn’t speak in front of a group. This made me realize how important it is to learn how to do it well because there are many opportunities for people to present themselves and their ideas, such as interviews or lectures. It was difficult at starting, but with more practice, my confidence improved tremendously.

What would be the best advice that you can give someone who has difficulty speaking in public? One way might be practicing by talking into a mirror for about fifteen minutes every night before bedtime while wearing clothes one wears on stage – this helps overcome any self-consciousness when looking yourself in the eye after all these years (or months) without witnessing your own reflection.

I also recommend finding a mentor who is skilled in public speaking and ask if they will speak with you for fifteen minutes every day to help build up confidence – this can be done on the phone, Skype, or Google Hangouts. If that person agrees, make an appointment each morning at ten o’clock (or another time of your choice) where you talk about whatever comes into mind so as not to worry too much about what’s going to happen next. The more comfortable we get, the better our talking skills become!

Action Item

Find a member of the audience that is: engaged, nodding or smiling in each section of the room.

Practice your speech in front of a mirror to get used to the sound of your voice

The sound of your voice is a large part of how confident you will feel when speaking in front of people. Practicing the speech in front of a mirror can help you get used to hearing yourself speak, which may make it easier for some shy individuals. 

This is a good way to help you get comfortable with how your voice sounds, but it doesn’t really substitute for practicing in front of people. It can also help you notice how your body language affects the way people perceive you. 

I’ll start with a disclaimer: I am not a public speaker. Now, this doesn’t mean that I can never work up the nerve to talk in front of people; it just means that when faced with an audience, my heart starts racing, and I get sweaty palms. What’s worse is if there are cameras or recording devices pointed at me because all of those lights make me feel like everyone is watching me.

Practice your speech in front of a mirror to get used to the sound of your voice

Find a friend or family member to listen and give feedback on how you sound

Do you have a friend or family member who will listen and give feedback on how you sound when speaking? This person can help provide support during your speech, as well as offer constructive criticism. Ideally, this person should be someone close to you but not too closely related – they need to know enough about the topic that they’re able to understand it in order for them to offer helpful advice. 

When practicing, try reading aloud from a script or trying out an idea without any text at all: start by just saying what’s going through your head. You’ll quickly find where things are unclear or sentences don’t flow right, and therefore adjust accordingly before presenting in front of others! With time, practice (and patience), these skills will get better, and you’ll be able to speak confidently, even if your voice cracks now or then.

Pro Tip

Deal with any negative past public speaking experiences.

Some more tips on how to overcome anxiety in public speaking

  • Take deep breaths. Taking slow, controlled breaths will help you relax and focus your energy internally rather than externally where the pressure is coming from.
  • Focus on what you want to say, not what others may think of it. If there are any doubts about a point or statement that you're making, then just stop talking! That's okay because nobody is perfect at everything they do - we all make mistakes. And remember: if someone disagrees with something that was said, then it won't be long before they disagree with other things too! Be open-minded enough to take criticism no matter how harsh it might seem and use feedback as an opportunity for growth. People who can't do this are the ones who stay in their comfort zone and never try anything new.
  • Don't be afraid to do things outside of your comfort zone - you'll grow from it. We all have times when we're uncomfortable with a certain situation, but that doesn't mean that we should avoid doing those activities at every cost! And after we've done something new for a while, not only will our confidence levels go up as time goes on, but so too will our ability to handle difficult situations more effectively than before because now they don't seem quite as bad.
  • Ask questions if you need clarification during an event or presentation. A lack of understanding can easily make someone feel like they aren't intelligent or good enough; however, this is a great chance to show how listening and learning are important in any situation.
  • Don't rely on others for your personal validation - you're the best person to judge that! When we focus too much on what other people think of us, it can make us feel so insecure about ourselves. It's always better to have a more realistic view of yourself - even if there were negative comments made by someone else, remember that they weren't talking about YOU when they said them; instead, they only spoke from their own perspective or experience with respect to themselves.
Some more tips on how to overcome anxiety in public speaking

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What Is Public Speaking?

What Is Public Speaking?

May 25, 2021 | Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of giving a speech or presentation to a live audience with a goal to inform, persuade, or entertain. 

Many people cite public speaking as one of their biggest fears, but with practice, you can learn to build confidence and improve your skills to enjoy public speaking for any situation.

Being a good speaker is often critical for leadership positions in the world of business, community groups, government, and other settings.

What is public speaking

Professional speakers combine critical thinking, a well-organized narrative, reasoning, research, and more to help communicate his or her ideas. Proper rehearsal techniques can help improve the flow of your presentation for your audience too. 

These ideas can be taught to help you reach new heights with the art of public speaking.

Action Item

Make a list of two to five main points that you want to present. Write out each point in one or two sentences.

Jobs in Public Speaking

According to Indeed.com, there are currently 1,224,016 open full time jobs that you can get with a communications degree. 

Whether you have a job in communications or not you may find that you are required to speak in public. In many organizations for example, you might be expected to speak during company meetings, events, or gatherings.

In other settings, such as community events, family get together, and other social events, you might need to get up in front of an audience as well. Whatever the circumstance is, public speaking is a great skill level to improve for your personal development.

Some ways to deliver great speeches and great presentations to an audience is with effective speech writing.

"You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart."
John Ford

Public Speaking Classes

A communication degree or certificate can help advance your career. Develop your skills by taking classes in Public Speaking. 

The person in responsible positions must be good speakers as there are many occasions when they are called for addressing the audience. Being able to speak well is an asset in any profession. Speaking skill can be cultivated and developed with approximate knowledge of the formal aspects of public speaking, and with practice.

The most significant requirement for public speaking is its preparation. Even persons who have natural skill in speaking need preparation to convey a good speech.

Discover how to be a top speaker

Characteristics of Public Speaking

Some of the characteristics of good public speaking or good speech are mentioned below: 

  • Clarity
  • In the manner of an informal talk
  • Speech should be vivid and concrete
  • Makes the speech brief
  • Speech should be interesting
  • Audience-oriented

Pro Tip

Keep a positive tone and attitude.

Clarity

Clarity is the first main feature of a good speech. Your speech should be successful in conveying to the audience the ideas, emotions, facts or arguments, you want to express. 

In the manner of an informal talk. A good speech is closer to a personal and informal chat between two close friends. When delivering a speech, there should be an impeccable rapport between you and the audience.

Speech should be vivid and concrete. The speech should be vivid including concrete facts easy to perceive and visualize.

Makes the speech brief. The concentration of an average audience does not last more than twenty or 25 minutes. Hence, an ideal speech should not exceed that time, unless the audience is motivated by certain interesting facts during the speech. TED discovered and popularized shorter speeches.

Speech should be interesting. Quotations, anecdotes and humorous touches often make a speech very interesting. The quotations should be familiar and accepted by experts. Anecdotes should be novel, brief and in good taste. Humor should be typical, spontaneous and gentle.

Audience-oriented. A good speech is always audience-oriented. For delivering an audience-oriented speech, one should study:

  • Whether the audience is the general public or specialized?
  • How large is the audience?
  • What is the age group of listeners?
  • What are their social, religious, political and economic views as well as prejudices of the listeners?
  • What would be the response of the expected audience?

Public Speaking Techniques

Speeches are hard for most of us. The public speaking techniques can be adopted to improve the public speaking. 

  • Selection of the topic for speech
  • Preparation of the speech
  • Guidelines for the introduction of the speech
  • Guidelines for organizing the body of the speech
  • Conclusion remarks of the speech
“There are two types of speakers: Those who get nervous and those who are liars.”
Mark Twain

Selection of the topic for speech

Your first step in formal speechmaking is to decide the topic of your presentation. 

In some cases, you will be allotted a topic, normally one within your area of specialization. In fact, when you are asked to make a speech on a specified topic, it is probably to be because of your knowledge of the topic.

In your search for a suitable topic, you should be guided by three basic factors.

  • The first is your background and knowledge.
  • The second basic factor is the interests of your audience.
  • The third basic factor is the occasion of the speech. Your selection should be justified by all three factors.

Preparation of the speech

After you have decided what to talk about, you collect the information you need for your speech. 

This step may require searching through your mind for experiences or ideas, final research in a library or in company files, collecting information online, or consulting people in your own company or other companies.

Although variations are sometimes appropriate, you should commonly follow the time-honored order of a speech: introduction, body and conclusion.

Pro Tip

Finish with a strong and motivating appeal for action. Inspire your audience!

Guidelines for the introduction of the speech

The introduction of a speech has much the same goal as the introduction of a written report, to gear up the listeners (or readers) to pick up the message. But it usually has the additional goal of arousing interest. 

Unless you can arouse interest at the beginning, your presentation is probable to fail. The techniques of arousing interest are limited only by the imagination.

One possibility is a human-interest story, for storytelling has a strong appeal. Humor, another possibility, is probably the most widely used technique. In addition to arousing interest, your opening should lead to the theme of your speech.

Guidelines for organizing the body of the speech

Organizing the body of your speech is much like organizing the body of a report. You take all and divide it into comparable parts. Then you take those parts and divide them. You continue to divide as far as it is practical to do so. 

In speeches, nevertheless, you are more likely to use factors rather than time, place, or quantity as the basis of division as in most speeches; your presentation is likely to build around issues and questions that are subtopics of the subject. Even so, time, place, and quantity subdivisions are possibilities.

You need to stress the transitions between the divisions because, unlike the reader who can see them, the listeners may miss them if they are not emphasized adequately. Without clear transitions, you may be talking about one point and your listener may be relating those ideas to your former point.

“There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.”
Jean de la Bruyere

Conclusion remarks of the speech

Like most reports, the speech normally ends by drawing a conclusion. Here you bring all that you have presented to a head and accomplish whatever goal the speech has. You should consider together with these three elements in your close: 

  • a restatement of the subject,
  • a summary of the key points developed in the presentation, and
  • a statement of the conclusion.

Adding the speech to a climactic close—that is, making the conclusion the high point of the speech—is usually effective. Present the concluding message in strong language—in words that gain attention and will be remembered. 

In addition to concluding with a summary, you can give a suitable quote, use humor, and call to action.

Importance of Public Speaking

  • Individual
  • Organization
  • Society

Individual

When you apply for a job, the employer evaluates you based on certain characteristics. Your capability to communicate is one such characteristic, and it comes across clearly in an interview. 

Your ability to communicate not only influences whether you are employed but it determines your progress in the job.

Employers realize that it is the ability to communicate that often separates an exceptional employee from the ordinary ones. Being able to organize your thoughts and give a public speech is another substantial determinant of your personal and professional success.

Being able to give an efficacious public speech enhances your self-esteem; you feel good about yourself.

Organization

It has been said that an organization is only as good as the individuals who constitute make it. It could also be said that an organization communicates only as effectively as do its individual members. 

There is a need in business for people who can effectively present the organizational viewpoint to the public. The average business organization does a poor job of acquainting the public with its contributions to society.

From a communication viewpoint, it does not matter how clean the motives of the organization are. What matters are, what the public knows about such things and how the public responds to this knowledge of a company’s activities.

Unless the public is made aware of what the business is doing and why, the purposes on the part of business will be of no use. Only through effective external communications can business present the information that is most likely to result in a desirable image.

One of the most crucial and effective formats in which to present that information is public speech.

Society

We live in a society in which the free expression of ideas is not merely tolerated but encouraged. Issues are analyzed and viewpoints are presented in many different formats. 

Newspaper editorials, town hall meetings, and discussions (or arguments) are a few settings in which opinions are aired on those subjects about which the participants feel strongly.
It is often through public speaking that ideas are presented for public evaluation.

This was as true in the prelude to the Declaration of Independence as it is today in election campaigns at all levels. It is as evident at an annual meeting of stockholders’ as at a monthly union local meeting.

For lack of an effective speaker, a good idea may fail to get consideration. A lack of articulate opponents may allow the passage of legislation of little merit. Free society requires willing and articulate people of different viewpoints.

Pro Tip

Practice your speech at least three times, and practice in front of a friend for feedback.

Modes of Delivery in Public Speaking

There are four main modes of delivery used in public speaking:

  • Impromptu
  • Extemporaneous
  • Memorized
  • Manuscript

Impromptu

The impromptu speech is delivered with little opportunity to prepare. Its main virtue is that it is spontaneous; its main shortcoming is that it is usually not well planned. 

When you are urged “say a few words” without any advance warning, what leads is an impromptu speech. This often leads to the most authentic talks.

Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous speaking is somewhat more formal than impromptu speaking. You have an opportunity to plan, and the resulting speech is better organized than an impromptu speech. 

You will normally rely somewhat on notes, but you will not read to the listeners. Most public speeches are delivered extemporaneously.

Memorized

A memorized speech allows for a well-planned expression of ideas. When presenting a speech from memory, how, speakers have tendency to lose a certain amount of naturalness and sometimes sound and look quite wooden. 

The possibility of forgetting the speech is another negative aspect of the memorized speech.

Manuscript

Manuscript speaking is relied on for more formal occasions. Speaking from a manuscript, you can be very precise, and you can carefully control the exact message the listeners receive. 

Naturally, it in general takes longer to develop a manuscript speech, and often the manuscript becomes a barrier between you and the listeners.

Public Speaking Checklist

The ability to speak effectively depends on some trades and qualities. It is also dependent upon communication situation. 

The following is a checklist of features that are often associated with effective public speaking skills.

  • Self-confidence
  • Knowledge of the topic
  • Understanding of the audience
  • Proper articulation
  • Pleasing voice quality
  • Sincerity
  • Emotional control
  • Fluency
  • Friendliness
  • Reasoning
  • Sympathy
  • Open-mindedness
  • Humility
  • Responsiveness
  • Awareness
  • Humor
  • Forcefulness
  • Spontaneity
  • Tactfulness
  • Intelligence

Need of Public Speaking

The best presenters and speakers speak in a usual way that invites you to make some modifications in your life, no matter how small. 

Thus, there are three vital purposes of public speaking which are explained below:

  • Informative Speaking
  • Persuasive Speaking
  • Entertaining Speaking

Informative Speaking

Informative speaking is regarded as one of the most common types of public speaking. The main purpose of informative presentations is to share one’s knowledge of a subject with an audience. Reasons for making an informative speech differ broadly. 

Example: Let’s say, you might be asked to teach a group of co-workers on how to use new computer software or to report to a group of managers how your latest project is coming along. It is incorporated into various different works.

Therefore, learning how to speak efficiently has become an important skill in today’s scenario.

Action Item

Tell your audience what you’re going to tell them, tell them it, and then summarize what you’ve told them.

Persuasive Speaking

Another reason for speaking to an audience is to persuade others. In our everyday lives, we are often called on to motivate, convince, or otherwise persuade others to take an action, change their beliefs, or reconsider a decision. 

Persuading customers to purchase your firm’s products, advocating for music education in your local school district, or inspiring high school students to attend college all involve affecting other people through public speaking.

Whether public speaking is something you do every day or just a few times a year, convincing others is a challenging job. If you develop the skill to convince successfully, it can be professional as well as personally rewarding.

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