French playwright Marcel Achard once said, “When I give a lecture, I accept that people look at their watches. What I do not tolerate is when they look at the watch and raise it to their ear to find out if it has stopped.” Today, nobody raises a watch to the ear. They simply pull out their phones. Once the audience starts scrolling, the speaker has lost the room.
Every now and then, people ask me for tips on how to become better speakers. I don’t claim to be an authority on the subject. But I have listened to great speakers, read many books on the craft, and spent decades standing in front of audiences. Along the way, I have learned this: public speaking remains one of people’s top fears, yet anyone can improve. Facing that fear is the first step.
The second is accepting that speaking well is a process. You cannot watch a great speaker tonight, imitate him tomorrow, and become an instant orator. It takes practice, patience, and a determination to keep improving on what you already know.
Every speaker has bad days. At one lecture series, a very poor speaker was on the platform. As he droned on, people began to get up and leave. After 10 minutes, only one man remained. The speaker stopped and asked him why he had stayed to the end. “I’m the next speaker,” came the reply.
We all go through such seasons. The determined speaker turns past failures into fertilizer and grows.
Often it is not what you add that improves your craft, but what you remove. Audiences rarely leave a seminar saying, “Did you see how well he used his hands?” But they certainly notice the annoying habits that dilute a good message.
Here are some ideas to help you become a better speaker.
1. Keep it simple and natural. Speak the way you talk to a friend. Make eye contact. Don’t do strange things with your hands, and don’t punctuate every sentence with “uhm” and “ah.”
2. Show conviction. Believe what you are saying. If you are not convinced, your audience never will be.
3. Show confidence. The person holding the microphone carries authority.
4. Connect early. Establish a relationship with your audience in the first few minutes. They decide quickly whether to lean in or tune out.
5. Get the audience involved. Ask questions, invite a show of hands, give them a moment to reflect, or turn to a neighbor. On Zoom or a hybrid session, use the chat and polls. An involved audience is an attentive audience.
6. Organize your material. Give your talk a clear, logical sequence.
7. Show, don’t just tell. Stories stick where statistics slip. But make sure every story, quotation, and joke serves your point. A funny story that doesn’t fit is just a detour.
8. Drop the distracting habits. Some speakers end every sentence with “Okay?” or “Right?” Record yourself on your phone and watch it. It is humbling, and it is the fastest coach you will ever have.
9. Don’t misread your audience. A person who looks bored may simply be tired. A person on his phone may be taking notes. Don’t let a few faces discourage you.
10. Master your material. Know your content so well that you can deliver it even if the tech or machine fails. Preparation is the best cure for nervousness.
And the last one, which I confess I am guilty of: never, ever go overtime. It may be forgivable if you are the last speaker, you have the audience in the palm of your hand, and the organizer grants you a few extra minutes. Otherwise, respect the clock. Nobody ever complained that a good speaker ended early.
A word about slides. PowerPoint and its cousins are wonderful for highlighting major points. They become annoying when they turn into a script the speaker reads aloud, word for word. Today, anyone can produce a slick deck in minutes with AI. But the audience did not come to watch slides. They came to hear you. Slides should support the speaker, not replace him.
In the end, though, the most important thing is not what comes out of your mouth but what comes out of your heart. Technique can make a message clear. Only sincerity can make it land.
If you ask me who the greatest speaker of all time is, the answer is easy: Jesus Christ. He had no microphone, no PowerPoint and no stage lights. Yet He was the master storyteller. He spoke with simplicity and authority, and more than two thousand years later, His words still change lives, including mine.
Join Francis Kong for The Winning Edge, a one-day seminar-workshop on Oct. 21, at the Palm Grove, Rockwell Club, Makati designed for emerging leaders, high-potential professionals, entrepreneurs, next-generation executives, and young family members being prepared to take over the business. A practical and inspiring learning experience focused on personal growth, leadership readiness, confidence, discipline and the mindset needed for the next level. For inquiries and registration, contact April at +63 928 559 1798 or Sylene at +63 976 638 8974.