Four Essential Elements of Successful Public Speaking

Dale Howe, Leadership Meme

Twenty years of public speaking experiences have taught me four essential elements of successful public speaking: clarity, accuracy, relevance, and enthusiasm. These four elements will ensure your success, whether you speak to large audiences or small, whether you speak in your hometown or internationally.

1. Clarity: know your outline.
   
   Clarity is the ability to convey information in a way the audience can follow your line of thought. It requires the speaker to communicate in complete thoughts.
   
   A clear presentation begins with the introduction. The introduction may be inductive or deductive.
   
   
   • Inductive: "Today, I am going to talk about four elements of public speaking,"
   • Deductive: "Today, I am going to talk about four elements of public speaking, which are clarity, accuracy, relevance, and enthusiasm."
   
   The difference between inductive and deductive introductions is that the inductive style tells the audience the subject of the talk but not the complement(s), while the deductive style states both the subject and the complement(s). Deductive presentations are more clear because the main idea is stated. Inductive presentations can be more suspenseful because the audience is waiting to hear the complement.
   
   A clear presentation ends with the conclusion. The conclusion may summarize the main points of the speech or challenge the audience to take action. A summary does not introduce new material, for example, it does not offer a solution to a problem presented in the speech.
   
   A clear presentation includes transitions. Transitions provide the structure that the audience needs to follow the speaker's unstated outline. Three examples of transitions are:
   
   
   • ordinals (first, second, third),
   • sequences (let's begin with, next, last), and
   • repetition ("a clear presentation [begins]," "a clear presentation [ends]," and "a clear presentation [includes]").
   Transitions are especially vital for inductive speeches because the audience does not know the complement(s) of the presentation. They are the road signs that tell the audience they are following the map that you suggested in the introduction.
   
   Clarity is the first essential element of public speaking. Inexperienced speakers underestimate the importance of providing a clear introduction, conclusion, and transitions; therefore, the audience is not able to follow the logic of the speaker and may become restless or bored.
   
   
2. Accuracy: know your material.
   
   Know your subject. Talk about what you know. A great speaker talks from the overflow of knowledge about the subject. If you use someone else's idea in your presentation, give them credit. For example, Carmine Gallo offers is a great internet video about Steve Jobs' presentation style at http://www.bnet.com/2422-13722_23-192173.html.
   
   Know your argument. An accurate presentation consists of a main proposition with supporting evidence. Accuracy is being honest with your audience.
   
   Know your material well enough that you can speak without notes. Speaking without notes demonstrates to the audience that you know your material. Freedom from looking at your notes also allows you to maintain eye contact with the audience.
   
   Know what to leave out of your presentation. Inexperienced speakers want to tell it all. Unfortunately, a single speech cannot covey all that you know about your topic. Knowing your audience determines what you should keep and what you can leave out of a particular presentation.
   
   
3. Relevance: know your audience.
   
   Knowing your audience allows you to know their need(s). An audience gathers to hear a speaker because of a perceived need. The need may be to gather information, to gain skills, to be entertained, or to be motivated.
   
   Knowing your audience allows you to connect with your audience. Connecting with an audience is accomplished by identifying with their values. This can be expressed through vocabulary (technical or nontechnical), attire (casual, semi casual, or formal), ideology (conservative, moderate, or liberal), and a variety of other qualities. In general, the presentation should be consistent with the audience. For example:
   
   
   • Tribal audiences relate to speeches about their heritage.
   • Warrior audiences relate to speeches about victories over an enemy.
   • Expert audiences relate to speeches about morality and knowledge.
   • Achiever audiences relate to speeches about personal accomplishments.
   • Egalitarian audiences relate to speeches about acceptance and restoring justice.
   Knowing your audience allows you to find and use the proper anecdotes. Anecdotes help the audience to visualize how abstract information can be applied in their own lives. They also build a bridge between the speaker and audience through the vicarious experience. The appropriate humorous story has the benefit of increasing the audience's receptivity to the speaker and the presentation.
   
   
4. Enthusiasm: know yourself.
   
   Enthusiasm is communicated in your voice. Enunciation, inflection, speed, pauses, and timbre can add enthusiasm. Slurred words and low volume can imply a lack of enthusiasm.
   
   Enthusiasm is communicated in your body language. Raise an index finger when speaking about "point one," stretch out your arms when you say "this big," and move to the right or left when you talk about "this or that." Begin with a smile.
   
   Enthusiasm is communicated in your confidence. Enthusiasm overcomes the fear of public speaking. (Public speaking consistently ranks high in the list of phobias.) A speaker who is consumed by the presentation is not concerned about whether he/she might look foolish in front of the audience. Consider how the following intense emotional drives would convey enthusiasm for the subject matter and the audience.
   
   
   • enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity
   • passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable
   • zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause
     
   • (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

Summary

Four essential elements of successful public speaking are clarity, accuracy, relevance, and enthusiasm. The acronym CARE (Clarity Accuracy Relevance Enthusiasm) serves as a memory aid for speakers that want to strengthen these skills. Omitting an element will result in a presentation that is confusing, inaccurate, irrelevant, or uninspiring.