- Enoch Oyedibu
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…even articulate speakers experience anxiety; imagine how much greater these fears must be for those who are mute. However, the characteristic that most distinguished eloquent speakers from others was not their fearlessness but rather their capacity to control and harness their fear.
It is one to know and another to have the ability to present the knowledge in an effortless and impeccable eloquence. This is where the need to learn how to speak eloquently in public spaces comes in.
It is the truth to know that having the temerity to speak in a public space is damning and alarming. It takes no advice to realise that one needs a high level of professionalism to deliver eloquently and delightfully without communicating incompetence, especially when faced with a crowd of people of different intelligences, top bosses at work, professors at a panel, sophisticated job interviews with stiffened necks, neophytes having studious physiognomy—who concentrate their gazes at one’s only frightened mien and permanently fixing it there in order to listen to one’s thoughts. In an instance like this, even articulate speakers experience anxiety; imagine how much greater these fears must be for those who are mute. However, the characteristic that most distinguished eloquent speakers from others was not their fearlessness but rather their capacity to control and harness their fear.
However, speaking of those who cannot even speak in a public space, in such scenarios anxiety is the only partner that will lodge in their hearts; transmitting intrepid butterflies although the body and swiveled mind to see “I cannot”. But in most cases they cannot go back, so they fumble, speaking with slurring speech, stuttering lips and vivid mannerisms.
From agoraphobia, to stage fright; most people in the general sense have the fear to speak in public spaces like seminar, churches, parties, executive meetings or conference rooms. Meanwhile, a more pressing thought is the fact that these people who have the fear are no way reserved, or introverted. They still speak eloquently in their closet but to do the same outside, is as bringing the whole world down. So how can one navigate speaking in public spaces eloquently?
Why Improving One’s Eloquence?
Whether it is in one’s personal or professional life, being able to convey a message in a way that people will actually listen to it can make all the difference. Eloquence is not only being able to give a message but actually making people take it into consideration.
In the workplace, eloquence can become a priceless skill. It can be that thing standing between one’s progress. Or the thing that will get one’s ideas heard in their team. It will help one to get one’s opinions taken into account, and to seem more confident overall, and a better public speaker.
How to Speak Eloquently in Public Spaces: 9 Tips
1. Say Less, respect brevity
In this instance, the “concise” philosophy is very evident. It is simple to give in to temptation and overuse pretentious language in the mistaken belief that doing so will make us appear more intelligent. Most likely, none of this is even conscious. All we need to do is try to demonstrate that we are knowledgeable about the subject at hand. It usually indicates anxiety or self-doubt.
Consider this: people who can explain a difficult subject in their own words are the ones who truly comprehend it, not those who can memorise a textbook word for word. What will actually make the difference is your ability to process the information and present it to your audience in a clear, simple-to-understand manner. You will come across as more eloquent and your arguments will appear stronger the more your audience can comprehend you.
2. Respect lucidity
Any act of communication is entirely dependent on the other person or people understanding what is said and being able to respond appropriately. Furthermore, as was mentioned in the previous point, being understood involves more than just ensuring that the other person understands the words one are using. It also involves being able to interpret and give meaning to the sounds that someone makes with their physical senses. Mumbling, speaking too softly, or stuttering will likely reduce the extent to which the audience can comprehend what is being said.
- Add life to words
The ability to engage an audience and communicate powerful feelings is a necessary component of eloquence. Offering them something they can identify with is the simplest and most direct way to accomplish this. A speech can be made to feel more alive by incorporating references, similes, and metaphors. Metaphors and allusions do not have to be extremely elaborate. Ultimately, one’s goal is to use a comparison to effectively illustrate a point you are trying to make.
- Drop the filler words! (Mannerisms)
One of the worst errors a public speaker can make is using inappropriate emphases. These are the kinds of things that do not really clarify what someone is trying to say. For instance, “like,” “you know,” or “I mean.” When you are unsure of how to proceed, saying these kinds of things is more of an instinctive way to end the awkward silence.
- Think before Speaking (very important)
Though it might seem apparent, you would be surprised at how few people genuinely heed this advice. If one is aware that public speaking is not their forte, they should make plans in advance when they know they will need to speak in front of an audience.
Occasionally, a few extra seconds will do the trick. An interruption or a question for which one is unprepared can easily overwhelm one, leading one to want to leave as soon as possible. However, pausing to reflect before responding can really do wonders for one’s appearance of intelligence and sophistication.
6- Take it slowly
Another crucial factor to consider when considering how to speak more eloquently is to pace your speech steadily. It is quite common to move a little more quickly when we are anxious. However, speaking too quickly usually conveys a lack of preparation and anxiety. Although it may seem challenging, exercising self-control is essential.
Speaking with confidence is another aspect of pacing. A monotonous presentation is the epitome of boredom. Accentuation can be achieved through intonation. Voice volume, pauses, silences… David Phillips conveys this really well in his TEDTalk on “The 110 techniques of communication and public speaking”. Nothing demonstrates how a voice’s myriad nuances and tones can so dramatically affect how a speech is delivered better than this.
- Feel confident and relaxed
Even though it may seem like a good idea to have your entire presentation scripted, it might not be the best choice. Though it is important to consider your message in advance, having the entire thing scripted is usually not the best course of action. It has a significant chance of sounding artificial or robotic. Strong messages should be communicated with eloquence, and if a speech sounds overly prepared, you might be tempted to repeat it verbatim rather than putting your whole being into it.
- Consider Body Language
When it comes to confidence, body language is very important. Understanding and managing your body language can give the impression that you are in control of the situation, even if you are not feeling very confident. One’s posture, for instance, can have a big impact on how people view a public speaker.
Additionally, you can use body language to draw attention to particular points in your conversation. For example, using hand gestures is a simple yet effective way to reinforce an affirmation. Being more expressive is greatly aided by having others affirm what you are saying aloud with your body language. Not only can you be heard, but you can also be seen when you are in front of an audience. Furthermore, a lot of what you are saying to them is conveyed through your body language.
9 Practice, Practice and more Practice
As earlier stated, one needs consistent practice to get pass timidity of public speaking and build confidence.
Read Also: 7 Powerful Tips to Embracing Flaws for Personal Growth
Enoch Oyedibu
I am a writer and investigative journalist who specialises in literary criticism and underrepresented narratives. Among other publications, I have been featured in Business Day Nigeria, TheICIR, Platform Times and Daily Nigerian. Right now, I work as a full-time staff writer for Unconventional Magazine.
