Why is public speaking important?

Public speaking is an essential skill for university as well as everyday life. It developed throughout the years while people were sharing their stories and they travelled from mouth to mouth, country to country. Ever since people developed languages and different forms of communication, we transformed thoughts into words and then transferred them into our listener’s mind. This stuck with us until modern days and will always be how people interact. That is why we shouldn’t neglect basic and relatable storytelling while giving a presentation, pitch or speech. It is more powerful than you may think. In the core of any story and the purpose for any public speaking opportunity stands an idea.

Simple ideas and concepts are also worth it.

First you need to have an idea. What do you want to talk about? Each person goes through life with their own perspective which makes their experience of the world unique and absolutely worth sharing. That being said, do not exclude your seemingly unremarkable everyday ideas because to others they might be life changing. As Chris Anderson states in his book The official TED guide to public speaking (https://www.amazon.nl/dp/1328710289) - “You have always been you, and you only see yourself from the inside. The bits that others find remarkable in you may be completely invisible to you.”

Get inspired and inspire.

 “One of the most powerful things you can experience when watching a talk is inspiration” - Chris Anderson. Let’s think about that for a moment. Inspiration truly is the main reason of having something to say in front of a ton of people. A good presentation, pitch or “talk” is driven by you being truly passionate about what you are talking about and wanting to transfer that feeling to your audience.

Connect with your audience.

You have your idea. You find it fascinating and valuable. You think it matters. The next step is to shape that idea into your audience’s mind. After you are done, they should get up and leave holding on to what you just told them letting themselves be changed by it. Transporting your listeners into the world of your idea should be done with finesse, in a seamless manner, so that you are able to obtain engagement from the crowd. Transportation occurs when you read a good book, watch a proper movie. As a public speaker your main goal is to take your audience on a journey through verbal communication. That special bond between you and the observers, “vibrating” on the same level, is to be taken care of. Real connection is what makes this moment stronger, more alluring and effective. That can be done by the art of eye contact, a simple smile, presence, showing vulnerability, by which you are emphasizing the fact that you are indeed a human being, like them. Humour is a great tool you can make use of when it comes to building on that connection that we are aiming for.

Tell your story.

Stories are relatable and therefore, easy to follow. They let the audience empathise naturally which helps with the transportation I mentioned above. When it comes to good storytelling there are certain rules. There is a protagonist, with a goal, who meets an obstacle, which results in a crisis. Then a climax and the conclusion follow. On stage, you should focus on where you want to go with that story. Initially, base it on a character to whom the audience can relate and empathise with. Don’t make it too long or too short. Only add the details needed for the story to be interesting and easily understood. Build tension through making the crowd feel curiosity, or even fear, depending on what you want to achieve. Then finish it off with a moving, funny, revealing or just satisfying resolution.

Results.

That story will have caught the crowd’s attention and is now yours. You immersed your audience into your story, or you made a statement which the audience was able to understand by the simplicity of an easy to follow story. That strengthens your whole speech and provides some back-up to your statements further on. Moreover, you made your audience empathise naturally, making it easier for them to get inspired which, stands in the core of what public speaking is all about. The story helped you build a real connection, maybe you showed some human vulnerability without it feeling unnatural. I really hope that this article made you rethink the performance of storytelling and how it is certainly an extraordinary tool and skill which you can make implement when it comes to public speaking.

Boiana Aleksandrova