Should I Prepare For My Upcoming Public Address Or Speak Spur-Of-The-Moment?

Should I put in hours of preparation for my upcoming public address, or should I speak from my heart by speaking spur-of-the-moment? 

Most people with many years of corporate experience and domain knowledge in their respective fields face this dilemma at some time in their careers. What leads to this confusion is when they watch many charismatic leaders giving presentations in a very natural and authentic way. Now just because these charismatic leaders make it look so simple, most people make the false assumption that if you wish to appear natural and authentic on the platform, you must not be scripted. While I understand what they mean, in reality even some of the best TED talks are scripted and memorized. That said, not all speakers write the whole script and memorize it, but it is one of the most popular methods of delivery used by some of the best speakers in the world. However, it takes countless hours of preparation to make a memorized speech appear natural and authentic. 

A word of caution here - memorizing a scripted speech is one of the most difficult methods of delivery and must not be attempted by beginners in public speaking. A beginner would be most comfortable speaking from notes. The best way to leverage the 'speaking from notes' method of delivery is to use slides that could serve the purpose of notes and help you stay on track.  

Regardless of the method of delivery you choose, there's one very important point you might want to keep in mind. No matter how knowledgeable you are about a particular subject in your field, if you don't organize that knowledge and present it to the audience in a very structured manner, your final delivery will not be anything short of disastrous. If your talk lacks structure and a perfectly planned succession of ideas, you will land up serving dessert first, followed by the main course and last appetizers. In short, you will be rambling. There's nothing more disrespectful to the audience than a speaker who rambles on the platform because it becomes evident that the speaker didn't feel it was necessary to prepare before addressing them. Charismatic speakers respect their audience's time and prepare well ahead of their talk to deliver their message impactfully. If you, as a speaker, are not clear about the structure of your talk, how do you expect your audience to receive your message with clarity? 

When it comes to public speaking, preparation is key. By taking the time to properly prepare for your speech or presentation, you'll be able to deliver your content with confidence and ease. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Know your material inside and out:

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to make sure you are thoroughly familiar with your content before you step on stage. Not only will this help you feel more confident, but you'll also be able to answer any questions that come up from the audience.

2. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse:

The more you practice, the better you'll be at delivering your material. If possible, try to rehearse in the same room or space where you'll be giving your speech. This will help you get comfortable with the surroundings and reduce any nerves on the day of the final delivery. 

3. Visualize success: 

See yourself delivering a great speech or presentation, and imagine the positive reaction from your audience. This mental preparation will help you approach your delivery with confidence.

Only a prepared speaker can speak fluently and confidently on the platform. 

Want to give a speech or presentation that leaves your audience spellbound? If your answer to this question is 'yes,' then make sure you prepare well :-)

Thank You! 

About SupeResources Academy LLP:

SupeResources Academy LLP, a corporate entity, is a Personality Development Academy geared towards helping students and working professionals develop a well-rounded personality.

SupeResources Academy LLP, based out of Pune, Maharashtra, India, has been Founded by PERSEUS UDACHIA - an Ex-Corporate Professional, a Certified Soft Skills Trainer, and a Licensed Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

SupeResources Academy offers various online and in-person transformational Personality Development Courses for School Students, University Students, Fresh Graduates, and Working Professionals. While students can enroll directly in the courses with the Academy, SupeResources Academy also conducts various Personality Development Workshops for Schools, Colleges, and Corporates.

Our Flagship Course – "Public Speaking & Communication Skills" is designed to help students and working professionals develop healthy self-esteem and boost their confidence. If you feel that the fear of Public Speaking is stopping you from living your full potential, then this course is for you.