ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

R. Jayachandran

Centre For Development Alternatives, Chennai, Indiacfda@lycos.com

http://cfda.in

91-9444902217

WORKSHOP HELD AT WOMENS ARTS COLLEGE, KUMBAKONAMJAN 07-08,2015

COMMUNICATION

Communication is:

• To either inform important matters, or influence persons towards pressing causes and or to provide entertainment.

• To evoke a response from the listeners.

• The complete unification of thoughts, expression and the understanding of both the sender and receiver.

In our thoughts, Message is lying in a subtle or latent form. When it is expressed through sounds, it is oral communication.Public speaking is a structured oral communication.

PUBLIC SPEAKING• A structured oral communication.

• It inherits all the qualities of ‘’Communication’’.

• It is unavoidable in the communication age

• It involves three elements: Collection, Assimilation and Dissemination of the intended information.

Public Speaking is an art of Persuasion- Aristotle

Collection Assimilation

Dissemination

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION

We can collect it by :

• resorting to wide reading,

• engaging in conversation with different people,

• asking critical questions and

• listening to others.

LISTENING- GATEWAY OF INTERNALIZATION

• Listening process begin even before birth. (example: Child starts listening to mother’s heart beat while in the womb)

• Listening is a co-ordinated function of both ear and mind.

• Intense listening makes any subject interesting to learn, understand and internalise.

• Careful listening is completely keeping the mind behind the ears. (Do not allow the mind to bring in related information and to make comparison; by the time you will loose the new information)

When mind is not fully engaged in Listening, it becomes just ‘’hearing’’

ROLE OF EARS IN LISTENING

• Sound enhances learning process. (Because, it adds emotional and memorable dimension to the communication)

• Mind receives sounds directly through ears.

• Mind has more capacity to absorb sounds (it can absorb 800 words a minute)

• The information coming to the mind through ears, is retained for a longer period. (Picture / word image fades away in one second, whereas in case of ears, 4 – 5 seconds)

• Ear can pick-up sounds coming from any direction (360 degree)

• Ear receives information faster

• Ear has enormous capacity of discrimination of sounds (It can differentiate 8 lakh varieties of sounds. )

ASSIMILATION OF INFORMATION

• Reflection is the process to assimilate

• Reflection, not during listening, but in the free time is the correct process

• Discussion with Peers and mentors

• Further reading

DISSEMINATION

• Dissemination of information in public speaking is made by the ‘expressions’ of the sender.

• Voice and body language are the expressions.

MESSAGE

CLEAR(Needs

extensive preparation)

IMPRESSIVE(Facts, real life situation, brief)

PREPARATION OF A SPEECH

SPEECH

WHO(is the Speaker?

Relationship between the Speaker and the

Audience))

WHAT(The message to be

delivered)

WHY(The purpose of the

speech)

WHERE(The venue,

Auditorium? Public place? Street Corner?)

WHEN(The timing of the speech, Morning,

Midday, Evening or Night?)

The above five will be the critical factors in the clarity of the Speech.

VOICE

voice

Lively Lovely Natural Assertive Accommodative

Voice Modulation’ plays an important role to convey the message impressively and to create the situation for Listening. Voice modulations could be achieved by exercises like reading aloud.

BODY LANGUAGE

• It is the movements of the face, fingers, hands etc.; coinciding with the talk.

• By means of regular practice, we may learn some good mannerisms.

• Practice before a mirror would be useful to shape up.

ROLES OF A PUBLIC SPEAKER

Author Performer

Producer Stage-manager

ESSENTIALS FOR A PUBLIC SPEAKER

1. Self-confidence – by striving to become what you feel what you are.

2. Self-esteem – what do you feel about yourself?

3. Clarity of mind – by monitoring / regulating your thought

4. Thorough knowledge of the subject – by listening / reading

5. Good mannerisms – by practice

6. Attractive voice – by practice

7. Style of delivery – simple/ local language – no flowery descriptions – short and sweet, crisp opening and the proper closing of a speech.

8. Breath control

9. Feeling at ease

10.Keeping reference files and up-date information

11.Time conscious

TIPS FOR THE BETTER DELIVERY OF A PUBLIC SPEECH• Listening to speeches by well known public speakers

• Studying their delivery style

• Mirroring their techniques in front of your peer groups

• Collect their feedback and suggestions

• Reflect on their advise

• Try a few trial speeches in the local area/ with familiar audience

• Make adjustments in the content ( by adding statistics, jokes, quotes, arguments-for and against), way of delivering ( with voice modulations) and performing (body language) in front of the audience

• Then go far bigger audience group.