We can all identify times in which we have been particularly affected listening to someone give a speech or presentation. However, while it may be easy to remember a moving speech or presentation, it can be much harder to identify and synthesize the elements that make them powerful. A presentation is made great by more than the myriad quanta of fact or opinion that comprise the bulk of its content; a presenter could be discussing the most interesting topic you can imagine but, if he or she isn’t engaging and authentic, no amount of fascinating material will prevent the presentation from coming across decidedly lackluster.
On the other hand, an authentic public speaker can be captivating in ways that transcend the context of their discussion, thereby lending their message a veracity and significance that it would have otherwise lacked. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to learn how speak and present authentically in order to convey to your audience that what you are saying matters. To that end, here are five tips and rules to help you channel your own authentic self into a great speech or presentation.
1. Be Yourself
Everybody is different. That means that there are no hard and fast rules for what makes an effective public speaker. Part of being an authentic public speaker is knowing how to be yourself when in the spotlight. Acting like yourself rather than trying to imitate someone else allows you to behave more organically, which is a boon when attempting to connect with an audience. In a 2008 article from Harvard Business Review, author Nick Morgan discusses the importance of gestures and body language when public speaking. Research suggest that the human brain places a higher degree of significance on physical gestures in conversation than it does on the material being conveyed by spoken words. Thus, a speaker can have a great message but be sabotaged by stilted or uncomfortable body language.
So, while it can certainly be beneficial to draw from people you admire, don’t try too hard to emulate the techniques and presence of others. Let your personality and your experiences guide you when presenting. Opening up and being comfortable with your audience encourages them to do the same with you. In so doing, you are taking steps to ensure that your listeners are receptive and willing to thoughtfully consider the content of your presentation.
2. Understand Your Topic
As we know, there are many different contexts for public speaking. Regardless of the circumstances, if you are going to speak in an attempt to persuade or inform your colleagues or peers, it is always wise to first possess at least a rudimentary understanding of the topic you intend to discuss. This will allow you to focus less on thinking about how to most effectively communicate the information and more on how to sincerely engage with your audience. In a formal setting it can be assumed that if you are trusted to develop and deliver a presentation you probably have some preexisting level of expertise. Even so, take the time to reexamine any content that is difficult to explain or understand. The more time you spend with your topic, the more authoritatively you will be able to speak at the time of the presentation.
3. Play to Your Strengths
Some people are storytellers. Others are adept at taking raw data and bringing it to life. Still others know how to use their mannerisms and body language to command the space around them. There are no right or wrong ways to give a great presentation; the best speakers are able to effectively identify their strengths and use those strengths as tools to create a presence that is authentic and relatable. When preparing a presentation, endeavor to determine ways in which you can use your talents and personality as the means to connect with your audience. By ensuring that you are in your element while in the spotlight, you take leaps and bounds toward presenting your listeners with an authentic speaker. Learning about yourself isn’t easy so consider checking out Gallup’s Strengthsfinder 2.0 for help zeroing in on your strengths!
4. Do Not be Afraid to Improvise
It is veritably axiomatic that not everything will go exactly as we planned in any given situation. As such, it behooves a public speaker to learn to improvise when something inevitably goes in an unexpected direction. Perhaps the presentation equipment malfunctions and you can no longer display visuals or maybe a listener asks a question that, despite your preparation, you aren’t quite sure how to answer. Don’t sweat it! Instead of misallocating the bulk of you mental resources fretting over whatever it was that went wrong, keep a cool head and adapt. Developing the ability to maintain composure and be flexible when plans go awry will translate directly into a comfortability when behind the mic.
5. Find Interest in Everything
Unfortunately for us all, we are rarely asked to present on whatever it is that we are the most interested in. That being said, it is possible, and indeed, useful, to approach every topic with a healthy dose of curiosity. Even the most dry and clinical information contains its nuances; grab hold of whatever small things catch your attention about your topic and run with them. Learning to find interest in anything and everything allows a public speaker to present with a sincerity that will not be lost on his or her listeners. Curiosity is contagious; if you can convey your interest in your topic to your audience, they will be much more willing to thoughtfully encounter your presentation.
There are many ways to be a great, authentic speaker and presenter. Following these five guidelines will help you begin to sincerely engage with both the topic of your speech or presentation and with your audience.
