Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 5 Essential Tips for Success– Part 5

In this article, we delve into the last strategy (part 5 of 5):

Strategy #5: Eat Feedback for Breakfast! Never hit the pause button on improvement!

Feedback and continual improvement are ESSENTIAL ingredients that lead speakers from [good/ decent] to [exceptional/ consummate] in the field of public speaking. To improve your craft and leave a lasting impression, regardless of experience level, getting feedback and making a commitment to continuous improvement are not only advantageous but also crucial.

There is a saying that I adhere to: “We need to have a divine hunger for success, coupled with the wisdom to count our blessings.”. The key to note here is that they should go hand-in-hand. Count the blessings in the sense that you have made improvements relative to the novice or stage-fright-crippled past you. Fantastic. However, that should not lead to a “Decent is good enough to get the job barely done and I don’t want to take it to the next level.”. That’s what leads to eventual dissatisfaction and stagnation, all while others are improving and the job environment demands even better presentation skills.

This is the reason why feedback is important:

Improving Audience Engagement: Presenters who actively seek out criticism and make an effort to always improve are better able to hold the attention of their audience. Finding potential areas of low engagement—whether in the visual aids, information organization, or delivery style—is made easier with constructive critique. Presenters can establish a more meaningful connection with their audience by addressing these factors and holding their attention throughout.

We have already prepared a training video on Here’s Why Being Interesting is NOT Enough for Your Audience: Click YouTube link to watch – https://youtu.be/ejjru2ktvwo

Improving Audience/ Content Relevance: The alternative way to put this across is “Do you love your audience enough to have them love you?”. Just as the world is ever-changing, so too are your audience’s interests and worries. Presenters can assess the relevancy of their material in real time by asking for feedback. It allows them to modify their message so that it still has impact and significance and speaks to the needs of the audience today. Maintaining a high standard of material relevancy not only keeps the audience interested, but it also establishes the presenter as a reliable authority in their industry.

We have already prepared a training video on Do You Love Your Audience? | Genuine Rapport Building Tip: Click YouTube link to watch – https://youtu.be/-XAzV617_Eg

Honing + Diversifying Your Delivery Skills: Making presentations is an art that needs to be continuously honed. Presenters can use feedback to pinpoint areas for development in their delivery style, such as body language, tone, and tempo, as well as strengths to play to. Presenters can improve their delivery skills and become more confident and captivating speakers by practicing often and making adjustments based on feedback. EVEN a seasoned presenter or speaker has idiosyncrasies or “personal ticks” that they may not be aware of unless an audience member feeds that back to him/ her.

We have already prepared a training video on Types of Delivery for Different Speeches and Public Speaking: Click YouTube link to watch – https://youtu.be/87hlJIwxMWU

Here are the parting words (this article only, we hope to see you in the subsequent/ other articles haha) – presenters who are dedicated to excellence will find that feedback and ongoing development are essential resources. Presenters can advance their profession, have a significant influence, and leave a lasting legacy in the public speaking arena by accepting criticism, honing their technique, and adjusting to the changing needs of their audiences.