How I Became A Better Speaker

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares nine practical tips for becoming a better public speaker. He emphasizes the importance of getting out of your own head, speaking with a smile, avoiding a robotic or formal tone, and letting your personality shine through. Other tips include using humor and stories, avoiding reading from a script, speaking louder and slower, and embracing public speaking games to build confidence. These insights, drawn from personal experience, are aimed at making public speaking more natural, engaging, and enjoyable for both the speaker and the audience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Get out of your own head: Public speaking often triggers self-doubt, but it's crucial to remember that the audience is more focused on what you can offer them, not on judging you.
• 😀 Speak through a smile: Smiling while speaking helps create a more engaging and enthusiastic tone, making your message sound more lively and captivating.
• 😀 Avoid the 'British Airways' voice: Don't over-exaggerate or speak in a formal, robotic tone. Aim for a more natural, down-to-earth voice to connect better with your audience.
• 😀 Let your personality shine: Public speaking doesn't have to be stiff. Be casual, quirky, and authentic to engage the audience and make them feel comfortable.
• 😀 Add humor, banter, and stories: Spice up your speech with anecdotes and jokes. This helps make your talk more enjoyable and keeps the audience interested.
• 😀 Don't read from a script: Reading directly from a script can make your delivery sound robotic and disconnected. Use talking points instead to keep it more conversational.
• 😀 Speak louder: Adding a little more volume to your voice can inject energy into your speech, making it more dynamic and engaging for the audience.
• 😀 Speak slower and pause more: Slowing down your speech and using pauses allows the audience to absorb your message and creates a more confident and impactful delivery.
• 😀 Play public speaking games: Practicing with games like the Ultraspeaking Simulator can help improve your ability to think on your feet and speak more fluidly.
• 😀 Keep practicing: The more you practice public speaking, the more comfortable and natural you will become. Constantly challenge yourself to improve.

Q & A

What was the speaker's experience with public speaking when they were younger?

The speaker was very shy and struggled with public speaking, especially when talking to pretty girls.

What is the first tip for becoming a better public speaker?

The first tip is to 'get out of your own head.' This means focusing less on how you appear or how you're being judged and more on the value you're providing to the audience.

Why does the speaker suggest that public speakers should not focus on themselves during a presentation?

The speaker emphasizes that the audience doesn't care about the speaker personally, but rather the value they provide. Focusing on the audience's needs helps improve delivery and reduce nervousness.

What is the benefit of speaking through a smile, as mentioned in the video?

Speaking through a smile makes the speaker sound more engaging and enthusiastic, which helps in keeping the audience interested.

What does the speaker mean by 'British Airways mode of speaking,' and why should it be avoided?

The 'British Airways mode of speaking' refers to the overly formal, sing-songy voice that many people adopt when speaking in public. The speaker advises against it because it sounds unnatural and disengaging. Instead, they recommend speaking more naturally and aiming to speak in a grounded, conversational tone.

How does the speaker suggest public speakers should handle their personality during a speech?

The speaker encourages public speakers to let their personality shine through. By being casual, quirky, and unapologetically themselves, speakers can connect better with their audience and create a more enjoyable experience.

What role does humor and storytelling play in public speaking according to the speaker?

Humor, banter, and storytelling help make the speech more enjoyable and less formal. They allow the audience to connect with the speaker on a personal level and maintain engagement.

Why does the speaker recommend not reading from a script during a speech?

Reading from a script tends to make the speech sound robotic and disengaging. The speaker suggests using bullet points or an outline instead, to keep the delivery natural and avoid the 'British Airways mode.'

What is the significance of speaking louder during a public presentation?

Speaking louder adds energy to the presentation and ensures that the speaker's voice reaches the entire audience. The speaker suggests increasing the volume from a normal conversational level to about a 7 out of 10 for public speaking.

What advice does the speaker give about speaking slower and using pauses?

The speaker suggests speaking slower and incorporating pauses to allow the audience to absorb the message. Pauses also make the speaker appear more confident and the content more powerful.

What is the value of public speaking games, and how do they help improve speaking skills?

Public speaking games, like the 'Triple Step' game mentioned, help improve a speaker's ability to think quickly and adapt to unexpected situations. They also provide a fun way to practice and build public speaking confidence.