When it comes to investment, most of us would know for sure that the go-to guy is none other than the renowned finance guru and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett. When asked what is the best investment he has made in his life, you’d be inclined to think it would be along the lines of financial education or investment know-how.
Instead, the Certificate of Completion for a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking that has been hung proudly in his office is what Buffett lives by and advocates as arguably, the best investment he has made in his life. In yet another event when Buffett was addressing a group of undergraduates, he likewise shared that, “The most important skill undergraduates can learn is public speaking”.
Why is it not a surprise that the skill of public speaking remains timeless? From George VI’s struggle to conquer his crippling stammer in his path towards leadership in the The King’s Speech to how contemporary orators like President Obama of the United States of America who still never fails to charm and rouse even till his most recent State of the Union (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgfi7wnGZlE), the value of being a confident and effective communicator cannot be overstated.
What’s in it for students then? You will come to realize the ability to express your thoughts and ideas clearly and cogently in the classrooms will be what will distinguish you from your peers. As you embark on your first job, guess who will leave the better impression during a sales pitch or presentation to the senior management at your company?
If we are on the same page and stage, here are 3 simple steps for you to start becoming a better speaker and communicator.
- Prepare well and ahead – One of the biggest reasons for the fear and nervousness that a speaker experiences during the process of making a speech is due to the lack of preparation. When you deliver a speech or presentation without sufficient awareness and familiarity of your content, you are more likely to make mistakes and have a tougher time picking yourself up, especially if you have just started out as a speaker.
Tip – Familiarize yourself with the objectives of the speech or presentation you will be making and spend adequate time to prepare your script or speech content in point form. Deliver it to your friends and seek feedback. - Know your audience – In the same way you do not speak the Korean language to an English man, the purpose of speaking is to communicate your ideas and intentions in a manner that your audience can comprehend and appreciate. Take the necessary effort to prepare and customize your content so that it’s relevant and understandable in the world of your audience.Tip – Find out what questions your audience has with regards to your speech topic and structure your speech such that it addresses those questions in a logical and understandable manner. For a guide to understanding and effecting logic in your writing and speaking, read the Minto Pyramid Principle (http://www.amazon.com/Minto-Pyramid-Principle-Writing-Thinking/dp/0960191038)
- Practice, practice, practice –As a student, there are plentiful opportunities for you to grow as a speaker. Step up for class presentations and be the first to volunteer yourself when your Professor calls for someone to share experiences or present answers in front of the class. You’ll only grow as much as the time you throw yourself on stage i.e. stage time.Tip – To accelerate your growth as a speaker, join your resident Toastmasters Club at your college. For the uninitiated, Toastmasters is an international speaking movement that provides an excellently conducive environment for speakers to grow and receive the necessary mentoring and feedback.
This short InternSG article is a feature by Benjamin Loh. You can view our recent interview article with Benjamin Loh in our Featured Student Write-up series. Benjamin is a Public Speaking Trainer, Internationally Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) as well as a celebrated Toastmaster. In his maiden attempt in Toastmasters competitions, he had clinched 7 trophies and finished off 2nd Runner-up in the District 80 (Singapore and Thailand) Evaluation Speech Contest. Visit http://www.benjaminloh.sg to find out more about public speaking and coaching.