How To Speak Well

Do you get tongue-tied while speaking to strangers or office-colleagues? Or, the thought of giving a presentation/speech to a group of people sends a rattle snake up your spine? Your voice turns viscous, your knees go weak, and your spirit leaves you to stroll on another planet?nnDon’t worry; you are not in a minority.nnThe greatest of men and women have gone through this harrowing experience. The fear of speaking is rated as only second to the fear of snakes and before the fear of dying. Ok, I must confess that I stole the previous line from another article.nnBut believe me, most of it is stereotypical. People who can speak in the presence of many people are considered to be smart, intelligent and outgoing; whereas those who prefer to be quiet are considered to be not very intelligent. Effortless ability to speak is construed as smartness. This is not so. Your intelligence has got nothing to do with your public speaking verve.nnIt’s all in the attitude. Once you can make yourself believe it’s no big deal, you can speak in front of 10s, 100s, 1000s of people. Just, don’t give your mind to scary speculations. Be yourself, be clear of your words, and try to like people sitting in front of you.nnHere are a few tips you can use to improve your speaking skills. They can also be implemented on day-to-day work-place interactions.nnWHY DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?nnOnce you know why you want to speak, your confidence gets a boost. Is it important for your business? Is it important for your job? Are you pursuing a noble cause that you want to promote through your speech? Do you want to join politics in the near future? Do you just want to put a point across?nnThink hard why you want to speak and write it down on a piece of paper and then read it again and again. Is it worth taking the risk (the word “risk” is misplaced here, but I’m trying to drive in a point)? If you find yourself saying “yes,” then half the battle is won.nnMAKE YOUR INTENTIONS CLEAR ASSERTIVELYnnYou, on your own, become assertive once you know why you want to speak. Put emphasis on your words, but don’t over-do it. I remember attending a workshop where an e-learning expert was giving a presentation. She was so assertive that in a few minutes she became a nuisance and everybody was feeling awkward and funny.nnnMAKE EYE CONTACTnnLook in the eyes of your audience. Try to make as much eye contact as possible. It will put you at ease. It also shows whatever you are saying you are saying it with a conviction.nnBE FLEXIBLEnnTo keep yourself in a relaxed state, keep your body flexible. Don’t stiffen your shoulders, arms and legs. Take deep breaths. Imagine a soothing beam of white light permeating your limbs and feel its serene touch from within. Does it sound superfluous?nnUSE QUESTIONSnnAsking questions makes your speaking session interactive. Get their input. You begin to converse with your audience and this makes you comfortable. You strike a friendly note and your audience no longer seems intimidating. Most precarious issues in the international politics have been resolved through two-way communication.nnPOSTURE WELLnnUse your posture and body language to your advantage. A few points above I had mentioned that you should keep your limbs relaxed while talking. A relaxed posture is a good posture.nnnLISTENnnIf you listen well, then you speak well. All good speakers are good listeners too. If you listen, you know what other people are thinking of. By listening, you gauge the atmosphere in the room and adjust yourself accordingly.nnSpeaking is not an art, it is not a skill. It is just an expression. The moment you are true to yourself and the people around you, you can speak well.