Public speaking is more than just the ability to speak. It is the ability to captivate, persuade, and influence an audience. However, the biggest problem in learning this skill is the superficial and frivolous attitude towards it. Many people believe that you can master the art of public speaking by reading a few books or attending a lecture. In fact, public speaking requires deep immersion and long practical training until skills are automated.
The problem with the traditional approach
Having studied public speaking lectures at leading universities for many years, I have noticed one pattern: it is the same lecture as most other non-public speaking lectures. As a rule, students, teachers, and everyone else gathers in a large hall. Sitting comfortably in their chairs, they are waiting for a revelation, a magical mysterious secret information that they have never heard before. The lecture is usually given by a naturally charismatic lecturer who creates a positive atmosphere, and the audience may think that they are about to learn something mysterious. But there is almost no benefit from this format of learning, except for a good mood.
Public speaking: form and content
Public speaking is not so much about content (logic, understanding, constructiveness) as it is about form (the body as a tool for holding attention). Everything related to the body is practical physical training, not lectures. Only after mastering all aspects of form and acquiring skills in form that are independent of content, experience, and intellectual processes can you begin to organize your thinking and speech.
So, study public speaking in practice: physically practice a strong and confident voice, a sense of pace and rhythm of public action, master the technique of meaningful and justified body language, remove the barrier of physical protection, add psychological confidence, energy, and empathy. Only then organize the thoughts gained through knowledge and experience and improvise.
Public speaking is 90% practiced technique and 10% theory. A lecture by a charismatic speaker will not make you a charismatic speaker if you skip the main part – practice. So, study public speaking in practice, attend trainings, workshops, speak in front of the public, physically practice your technique, improve your skills every day, and only then you will be able to succeed. Remember that the way to mastery is through hard work and practice.