Inactive Tutor answered 5d
When people ask how to become a good public speaker, they often expect advice about confidence, delivery, or technique. Those things are important, but I believe the first question is more fundamental:
How do I view the opportunity to speak?
Whether five people, five hundred people, or five thousand people are listening, public speaking is a tremendous privilege. For a brief period of time, people are entrusting us with something valuable: their attention. I never want to waste that trust.
The best speakers understand that public speaking is not ultimately about the speaker. It is about the audience.
Before preparing any speech, I like to ask two questions:
- Why am I here?
- Why are they here?
As speakers, we are there to serve. We may be there to inform, encourage, challenge, inspire, persuade, or teach. But in every case, our purpose is bigger than simply being heard.
Likewise, audiences attend for a reason. They may be seeking answers, encouragement, understanding, hope, motivation, or practical help. Good speakers take the time to understand the needs, interests, and concerns of the people they are addressing.
I also believe effective speaking requires passion. If I am not motivated by my subject, it is difficult to expect an audience to be motivated by it. A speaker should genuinely believe that the message matters.
Finally, every speech should have an intentional purpose. When the presentation ends, what should people think, feel, remember, or do differently? If we cannot answer that question, our audience probably will not be able to either.
In my experience, great public speaking begins when we stop asking, "How can I perform well?" and start asking, "How can I best serve the people who have entrusted me with their attention?"
Anita W.
06/17/25