Effective Speakers
EFFECTIVE SPEAKERS
For
Ms. Laura Alderson, Instructor of Management
University of Memphis
by
Morgan D. Parks
November 22, 2011
Effective Speakers
President William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States is a prime example of what it means to be an effective speaker. Although George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole were highly qualified opponents in the 1992 and 1996 elections, it was Clinton’s presentation skills and ability to work an audience that earned him his back-to-back terms in office. President Clinton “owned the room” from the beginning of his first presidential debate. Upon being asked his first question, Clinton walked up to the lady seeking answers, squared his shoulders toward her, looked her straight in the eye, and asked her to repeat her name. As soon as she responded with her name, Clinton repeated her name back to her and answered her question passionately and confidently. (Koegel, 2007, p. 06-07).
Effective speakers can walk into a room, take the audience by surprise, and deliver a presentation that is both passionate and natural. A presenter does not have to be perfect, nor does the audience expect him or her to be so. According to Henninger (2010), making a mistake, forgetting a segment of your speech, or falling speechless for a moment is okay as long as your presentation has value. An effective speaker knows how to avoid gestures and facial expressions that point out his or her mistakes. Public speaking skills are not inherited. It is a talent and a technique that has become second hand to a speaker through a great deal of practice. Can anyone be an effective speaker? The answer to this question is yes; with sufficient knowledge, tools, and practice, anyone can stand up and “own the room.”
Be Organized
An exceptional presenter is one who is organized and an organized presentation is one that has a developed structure. The average human being has a very small attention span; therefore a speaker’s best speech is
For
Ms. Laura Alderson, Instructor of Management
University of Memphis
by
Morgan D. Parks
November 22, 2011
Effective Speakers
President William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States is a prime example of what it means to be an effective speaker. Although George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole were highly qualified opponents in the 1992 and 1996 elections, it was Clinton’s presentation skills and ability to work an audience that earned him his back-to-back terms in office. President Clinton “owned the room” from the beginning of his first presidential debate. Upon being asked his first question, Clinton walked up to the lady seeking answers, squared his shoulders toward her, looked her straight in the eye, and asked her to repeat her name. As soon as she responded with her name, Clinton repeated her name back to her and answered her question passionately and confidently. (Koegel, 2007, p. 06-07).
Effective speakers can walk into a room, take the audience by surprise, and deliver a presentation that is both passionate and natural. A presenter does not have to be perfect, nor does the audience expect him or her to be so. According to Henninger (2010), making a mistake, forgetting a segment of your speech, or falling speechless for a moment is okay as long as your presentation has value. An effective speaker knows how to avoid gestures and facial expressions that point out his or her mistakes. Public speaking skills are not inherited. It is a talent and a technique that has become second hand to a speaker through a great deal of practice. Can anyone be an effective speaker? The answer to this question is yes; with sufficient knowledge, tools, and practice, anyone can stand up and “own the room.”
Be Organized
An exceptional presenter is one who is organized and an organized presentation is one that has a developed structure. The average human being has a very small attention span; therefore a speaker’s best speech is
References: Downey, D.M. (2011, March 25). Body language by David M. Downey: It’s not just what you say. Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from The Business Journals database. Henninger, D. (2010, September 12). From the publisher: Why it’s OK to be a little speechless. Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from The Business Journals database. Koegel, T.J. (2007). The exceptional presenter: A proven formula to open up and own the room. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press. Layman, T. (2011, June 03). Presentation pitfall: Less PowerPoint can mean more pizzazz. Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from The Business Journals database. Mackay, H. (2011, August 05). Swim with the sharks: Let your ‘elevator speech’ elevate your business. Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from The Business Journals database. Porro, J. (2011, September 09). Speaking to rise: Turning your CEO into a better speaker is a delicate process. Washington Business Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from The Business Journals database.