Recently I was listening to a doctor explain her area of expertise on an NPR program. Her topic was within my echo chamber so I should have been highly attuned to listen to her evidence and for her to make her point. However, as an academic, she didn’t have great presentation skills. I found her unlistenable. Folks, that makes me sad.
She simply was not able to present her facts without fillers. Filler in speech includes the sounds “um” and “uh” and words like “so.” If only she had the benefit of speech class.
I believe people use fillers because in our society most listeners are preparing to chime in with their opinions. We have learned that we have to speak continuously, otherwise, we will be interrupted. We say “umm” to hold off the interruption.
Why you should consider becoming a better speaker
Becoming an excellent public speaker, and I argue being an excellent speaker interpersonally will help you grow by leaps and bounds.
The World Wide Web provides the following unscientific information regarding the benefits of excellence in public speaking-
· Career advancement
· Confidence boost
· Critical thinking
· Improved confidence
· Personal development
· Social connections
· Personal satisfaction
· Expansion of social and/or professional network
· Persuasion
· Leadership
· Storytelling skills
· Enhanced vocabulary
· Enhanced debate skills
· Become a better listener
Imagine a country leader, a president, or a prime minister trying to convince their constituents to go to war, pay higher taxes, or provide additional monetary support for an at-risk part of the population. Imagine them arguing the need while saying um, uh every time they take a breath, or beginning each sentence with “so”. You may not feel inclined to agree with their position. However, if they are well-spoken, succinct, and offer a powerful delivery you may decide to support their position.
In modern times we have seen this play out with our political leaders. Regardless of your affiliation, you know when someone nails it!
Great orators abound
We have learned about Cicero and Julius Cesar who were able to persuade the ancient Romans. We recognize their names. Imagine how they would be remembered if they didn’t have the gift of effective public speaking. We would not remember them at all.
Today we can look to Gloria Steinem, Malala Yousafzai, Mel Robbins, and Brene Brown. These great orators are easily recognizable by most and wield tremendous power. One of the most powerful orators of all time, Oprah, can tell women all over America which leggings are her favorite, and women all over America will purchase them. If you are producing any product and you want people to buy it, all you need is Oprah to say it’s great. Of course, getting Oprah to recommend your product is improbable, but I can assure you if you get the chance, being well-spoken will enhance your opportunity.
Do you believe that Oprah would have had such tremendous success if she couldn’t put a sentence together? Of course not.
More reasons to be a better speaker
Becoming successful isn’t the only reason to improve your speaking skills. You’ll find that as your skills improve you will have more confidence. Confidence is attractive. I’m not speaking of attracting a sexual partner, although that could be a component of your effort. Consider this, would you rather hang out with someone who requires constant propping up, or someone who is comfortable taking charge of their situation? I like confident people.
How to become a better speaker
How can you become a better public speaker? My answer is to join Toastmasters. It’s highly affordable, will provide you with the opportunity to become a better public speaker, and you’ll meet very interesting people who have amazing stories.
Not ready to commit to the challenge of Toastmasters? Try the following-
· Listen to any talk radio; I suggest programs on NPR, primarily because they have less interrupting versus news programming.
· Notice how often you hear people using fillers (Uh, Um, So, Like, AND).
· Practice avoiding using fillers by taking a breath. You’d be surprised how impactful a thoughtful pause can be.
· Practice making definitive statements. It’s okay to have an opinion and it’s okay to be right. If you have a tendency to phrase statements as questions in order to soften your message, stop it!
· If you know you will have to speak in front of a group of people, prepare the best you can and take time to practice. I like to use a mirror and go over my topic several times so I know my material well.
You can also find local storytelling groups or meet-ups. That is a really fun way to spend time, and you’ll meet interesting people.
Take time to read, this will increase your vocabulary. Play crossword puzzles or other word games to improve your lexicon. Selecting the best word when you are communicating complex concepts will ensure your language is precise. This will reduce the chances of misunderstandings.
Make friends with people who you admire and that are good communicators. I find just being around people who are smarter than me is the best way to learn anything.
Are you gregarious? I suggest joining an improv group. I haven’t done this but I know from my friends that this is a fantastic way to be purposeful in the way you communicate. Being able to think on your feet and present your ideas on the fly is a fantastic skill. The challenge is to focus on listening when you are listening, then quickly articulate a response that is concise and in context. If you can learn this skill, people will seek you out because they like to be respected and listening shows respect, they also like thoughtful responses that are communicated well.
Much of what I have mentioned is time-consuming and will require connecting with others. If you’re not ready for that, check out TedTalks. Not only will you learn a lot of interesting things you may never have considered, but you will also be exposed top to speaking talent.
Did you know I have a podcast? You can find it on Spotify.
My latest book “Never Worry About Money Again: Gain Financial Freedom by Becoming Better at Managing the Money You Have” is on sale now and my next book is in the works, keep following my blog to get updates when new works are available.
