Chapter 6: Advanced Public Speaking Techniques
Advanced Public speaking is not just about conveying information; it’s also about persuading your audience to believe in what you’re saying. In this chapter, we’ll explore the different techniques that you can use to persuade your audience and make them more engaged in your talk.
Persuasive speaking
- Establish credibility: People are more likely to believe someone who they perceive as credible. Share your credentials or explain your experience in the topic to make your audience trust you.
- Use evidence: Use relevant facts, statistics, and examples to back up your argument. This makes your argument more convincing and helps build trust with your audience.
- Use emotional appeals: People are often swayed by their emotions. Use stories or examples that tap into your audience’s emotions to create a powerful connection.
- Use rhetorical devices: Rhetorical devices, such as repetition or metaphor, can make your message more memorable and persuasive.
Storytelling
- Create a connection: Stories help create an emotional connection between the speaker and the audience. Choose stories that are relatable to your audience and align with your message.
- Keep it simple: A good story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Don’t get bogged down in unnecessary details.
- Use vivid language: Use descriptive language to help your audience visualize the story in their minds.
- Practice: Practice your storytelling skills so that you can deliver your story with confidence and ease.
C. Humor in public speaking
- Keep it appropriate: Humor can be a great way to connect with your audience, but it’s important to keep it appropriate and relevant to the topic.
- Know your audience: What might be funny to one audience may not be funny to another. Know your audience and what kind of humor they are likely to appreciate.
- Use self-deprecating humor: Self-deprecating humor can be an effective way to connect with your audience and create a more relaxed atmosphere.
- Use timing: The timing of your jokes can be just as important as the jokes themselves. Deliver them at the right moment to get the biggest impact.
Multicultural communication
- Understand the culture: Different cultures have different values and communication styles. Take the time to understand the culture of your audience and adjust your communication style accordingly.
- Avoid stereotypes: Stereotyping can be offensive and can alienate your audience. Avoid generalizing and instead focus on the individual people in your audience.
- Use clear language: Avoid idioms and colloquialisms that might not be understood by your multicultural audience. Use simple and clear language.
- Be respectful: Respect the different cultural backgrounds of your audience members and be mindful of any cultural taboos or sensitivities.
Case Study: Advanced Public Speaking in a Sales Presentation
Background:
John is a sales representative for a software company. His job is to sell the company’s new accounting software to small business owners. He has been given a 15-minute time slot to give a presentation to a group of 20 small business owners at a networking event.
Scenario:
John has prepared his sales pitch, which he believes is persuasive and will help him close the sale. During the presentation, he uses persuasive speaking techniques to convince the audience to buy his company’s software.
John starts his presentation by outlining the benefits of using the software, such as time savings and reduced errors in accounting. He then uses social proof, citing examples of other small business owners who have successfully used the software.
To address any objections, John uses the technique of acknowledging and addressing objections upfront. He points out that he understands that some small business owners may be hesitant to invest in new software, but he explains how the software pays for itself in just a few months.
John also uses the technique of establishing credibility. He talks about his own experience in the software industry and how he has seen firsthand the benefits of using the software.
To create a sense of urgency, John uses the scarcity technique, pointing out that the software is only available for a limited time and that there are only a few spots left.
At the end of the presentation, John asks the audience to take action and buy the software. He uses the call-to-action technique to urge the audience to act immediately.
Results:
As a result of John’s persuasive speaking techniques, 15 out of the 20 small business owners sign up for the software. John’s presentation is considered a success, and he receives praise from his company’s management.
Lessons learned:
John’s use of persuasive speaking techniques was effective in convincing the audience to buy the software. The use of social proof, acknowledging objections, establishing credibility, creating urgency, and using a call-to-action were all effective in persuading the audience to take action.
I am sure that these techniques will help you take your public speaking to the next level.
By using persuasive speaking, storytelling, humor, and multicultural communication, you can engage your audience and make a lasting impression.