The 5 Habits
of Highly Effective Speakers
Habit 1 - Be Passionate
Passion influences an audience more than anything else. Speakers who are passionate about their subject cannot avoid passing that passion on to their audience. As audience members, we respond automatically, we read the emotion in their voice, we see it in their face and we feel it in their body language. Passion beats style, always.
So highly successful speakers have as their primary rule: Speak only on subjects that fire me up, about which I am passionate.
Habit 2 - Prepare 24/7
Audiences are most influenced by things they can relate to, which usually means everyday experiences. And that is a speaker’s biggest source of material, everyday experiences that can be seen from a different angle or can be used to illustrate some deeper meaning.
Successful speakers are always on the lookout for useful material, at work, at the supermarket or on a bus. Often they will carry a note pad and jot down good ideas while they are fresh.
Habit 3 - Be Sincere
Audiences warm instantly to sincere speakers, real people with weaknesses and idiosyncrasies, people like themselves. Speakers who are happy to share their mishaps and failures, as well as their successes, will be perceived as people who can be trusted.
Successful speakers are sincere and truthful with their audience, which makes their audience likely to accept what they are saying and believe their message.
Habit 4 - Make It Fun!
We all like to be entertained and successful speakers know that by injecting humour into their presentation, even one on a serious topic, their audience is much more likely to accept their point of view. Scientists have now demonstrated that laughter injects certain chemicals into the brain, which makes people more alert and more ready to accept new ideas.
Habit 5 - Pursue excellence
Highly successful speakers know that there is always scope for improvement, regardless of how good they are. They constantly search for new techniques, new styles and new material. But often the improvement might simply be the old things done a little better, a different intonation to add a new shade of meaning, for example.
Successful speakers ask for feedback from someone who will be honest and analytical. Video of a presentation is also useful for self evaluation.
© 2005 Eric Davies - Peninsula Toastmasters
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