I’ve been fascinated by skilled public speakers since I was first required to give a speech in college. These individuals often use innate or learned techniques to captivate an audience and highlight or emphasize important points. If done correctly, these techniques can command attention.
I wanted to learn to deliver a speech with the same skill I saw in speakers I admired. There was one problem, though. And it was a big and very common one. I feared public speaking, but I was determined to overcome it.
To conquer my fear of public speaking, I attended many classes, groups, and workshops, including Dale Carnegie (2 courses, 1 seminar), Toastmasters (3 groups), college courses (3 classes), and individual coaching (2 modules). I also read many books on the subject, including several by Dale Carnegie.
Through this effort, I eventually became a competent speaker. In my corporate job, I frequently had to speak in front of various-sized groups. There may have been up to a thousand people a few times. I never inquired about the number, as I didn’t want to know. 🙂
Through public speaking training, speech competitions, and corporate speaking assignments, I learned two game-changing secrets. (1.) Many public speakers who appear very confident and skilled were once terrified by the thought of speaking in front of a group. (2.) Many public speakers who seem relaxed may be feeling fear throughout or during specific points of their speech. (The beginning is usually the most challenging part.)
I was often amazed when people would tell me how relaxed I looked while giving a speech, even though my heart was racing the entire time. Carnegie calls this getting your butterflies to fly in formation. In other words, you control your fear and use the energy it produces to your advantage.
I take every opportunity I can to watch accomplished people give important speeches. One of my favorites is the State of the Union Address by the President of the United States. Imagine being considered the most powerful person on the planet and being expected to deliver a flawless speech that is closely watched by millions of people around the globe. It’s mind-boggling.
Here are a few select public speaking techniques that I’ve come to know as being audience attention-getters. Let me remind you that public speakers usually use these techniques when they want their audience to listen carefully to, consider, remember, or act upon important points.
Volume/Tone Change
This is when a public speaker raises or lowers their voice’s volume and/or tone. It seems to have nearly the same impact whether the volume or tone is raised or lowered. But they are usually used for different purposes.
A speaker may raise their volume to show passion and lower it to highlight an important point. Speakers may raise their tone to show emotion and lower it to express authority.
President Obama is a master at using this technique. It appears that it comes naturally, or he picked it up by watching his pastor give sermons in church. I say this because elements of his style remind me of how Martin Luther King spoke.
This is the most commonly used technique for a reason. It works, and almost anyone can use it successfully.
Silent Pause
Silence is usually a public speaker’s worst nightmare. However, if used as a tool, it can be a powerful way to get an audience’s attention.
A speaker may insert a silent pause before or after an important point. If it’s done before, the speaker tries to get the audience’s attention and/or get them to settle down. If a silent pause is inserted after, the objective is to get the audience to consider and/or remember an important point.
If done correctly, silent pauses can be the most effective public speaking technique. The key is having the right timing and duration. The effect can be lost if a silent pause is inserted in the wrong place, or its duration is too short or too long.
If the silent pause is in the wrong place and/or too long, the audience can become impatient and start talking. If the silent pause is precise, it can move the audience to the edge of their seats, waiting for the speaker’s next words.
Walk Turn
This is when a speaker walks across the stage while s/he continues to talk, then stops, turns, and faces the audience to make an important point.
To use this technique effectively, you need a walkable stage area, and you have to be a particular kind of speaker. Many speakers like this technique because it gives them a moment here and there to take a break from facing the audience, and walking (or pacing) can help release nervous energy.
This technique also allows a speaker to be more physically expressive. They can use their entire body to emphasize important points and draw an audience’s attention, whereas a speaker staying behind a podium is limited.
Get Down
This is when a speaker goes down on one knee, squats, crouches, or sits while making an important or a series of points. This one can be highly effective because it’s so uncommon. And because it’s so unexpected, it grabs the audience’s attention.
This one will only work well on a raised stage, where, when you drop down, the entire audience can still see you. The idea is to draw attention by changing things up and getting closer to the audience physically and symbolically.
I’ve only seen one speaker use the “one knee” technique, and he is a master at it. Because it was so unusual, I can instantly remember his name. It’s Andy Andrews
I saw him do it in a video-recorded speech entitled “The Seven Decisions.” As I recall, he closed his talk with the seventh and most important decision by getting down on one knee before sharing it with the audience. It had a tremendous impact on the audience and me.
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Highly skilled speakers regularly use many of these techniques and often use several of them simultaneously when making important points. Andy Andrews got down on one knee, lowered his voice, and inserted a silent pause before sharing the seventh decision.
The only way to learn how to use these public speaking techniques is by watching skilled speakers and trying them yourself. It’s important to know that what works for one speaker may not work the same way for you until you adjust the technique to fit your style. You may also find that some work well for you while others don’t. Just don’t let fear stop you from trying. Tip: Trying public speaking means doing it until you succeed, and then deciding if it’s for you. 😉
There are more public speaking techniques, but these are some of the most common. Try them.