Why is public speaking important?
Confidence - Public speaking helps you build confidence. Since 75% of people are afraid of public speaking, overcoming your fear of public speaking is a great way to give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your self-esteem.
Communication - It's also essential to be able to communicate with people and verbalize your opinions in a persuasive manner. Thanks to public speaking, you'll be able to easily express ideas.
Persuasion - Often, the point of public speaking is to persuade the audience to think like you. You'll gain the skills necessary to convince people that you're right, and you'll be able to use this to get what you want.
Skills - Public speaking is used in around 70% of jobs, so being a proficient public speaker will help you get ahead. It teaches you organizational and comprehension skills while also improving your vocabulary!
Types of speeches
Explanatory
Informative
Entertaining
Persuasive
Argumentative
Motivational
Inspiring
Debating
Pitches
Special occasions
Why are people afraid of public speaking?
The primary reason is fear: a fear of embarrassment, of new situations, of criticism, or, most commonly, a fear of being judged. Similarly, people may be afraid of public speaking because they have little previous experience or because they feel as though they have little to add to the conversation (i.e. low self-esteem).
A fear of public speaking can be overcome by thinking to yourself: when was the last time I watched a really bad speech? You probably won't be able to recall a time when the speaker messed up so badly. No one is paying as much attention to yourself as you are. Once you realize this, you'll feel so much better.
How to give an impromptu speech
Giving an impromptu speech is more common than we think. For example, when was the last time you were talking with a group of friends? Technically, you were speaking publicly then. Why should an impromptu speech in a more formal setting be any different? Try to notice the similarities between something you might see as stressful (giving an impromptu speech) and something mundane (talking to friends). This way, you'll start to normalize speech-giving in your mind, making you less anxious. With any impromptu speech you have to give, keep this in mind. Then, follow these steps:
Identify the purpose, audience, and format to lay the groundwork for structuring your speech (more on this in the next section)
Prepare: make some notes and structure them. You don't have to write out your entire speech in full, just a brief mental plan is enough.
Ensure there's a structure. This will prevent you from rambling and it'll help you think of what to say. Again, more on this in a later section.
Where to begin with a speech
The way you should approach a speech is determined by the purpose, audience, and format of your speech.
Purpose - why am I giving this speech? What's the end goal?
Audience - who is my audience? What do they enjoy? What do they believe in? What are they expecting?
Format - what type of speech am I giving (see Types of speeches above)? Is there a specific way I'm meant to present the information?
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