Strategies to Succeed in Public Speaking

Be a Champion Public Speaker

by Lanie Smith

Being a champion public speaker doesn't necessarily mean that you are the best there is. Rather, it is following the philosophy of appreciating what you have, living your life as a champion, and enjoying the adventure of life by helping others enjoy theirs.

Questions you may have include:

  • What should be appreciated?
  • How does one live as a champion?
  • Why help others?

This lesson will try to answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz at the end of the lesson. 

Appreciation

Appreciate and be thankful of what you have, especially concerning your public speaking or its effect on your career. Don't take your speaking or job for granted. Even the worst job is better than no job at all.

If you are presently out of work, appreciate your friends and family. Be thankful that you have skills and abilities. These will all be important in getting your next position.

Live as a champion

To live your life as a champion means to always seek to stay healthy, knowledgeable, excellent, valuable and honorable.

Health

You can't speak very effectively if you don't feel well. You should take care of your physical and emotional health, so that do what you want and need to do. If you are healthy, you simply feel good.

Knowledge and skill

A speaker needs to continually improve his or her knowledge in speaking techniques and subject matters. If you are knowledgeable and skilled, your self-esteem blossoms.

Excellence

You must do your best and be able to to achieve your goals. Persistence and conscientiousness are important. If you accomplish things and are excellent at them, you feel confident about yourself.

Value

You must also make sure you provide value to your audience. The speech should be something they want and need. If you provide worthwhile speeches, you will be considered a valuable speaker.

Character

You must seek to maintain the position of being honorable and honest in your dealing with other people. In this way, you can hold your head up high and be respected for your integrity.

Enjoy

Life is a journey or adventure. Your chosen profession should also be an adventure, where you reap rewards and enjoy the trip. Hard work may be necessary, but you don't want to have the attitude that you are stuck in some drudgery. Enjoy the adventure.

Part of that enjoyment is giving back and helping others to enjoy their adventure. It is often difficult to find places to help others, so keep your eyes open. Give others at work a helping hand. Mentor to young people.

Giving and helping will only increase your enjoyment as a champion in life.

In conclusion

To be a public speaking champion, you should have the attitude of appreciating what you have, you should live your life as a champion, and help others to succeed.

Be a champion

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. How can you be thankful when you didn't get applause for your speech?

Consider that at least you had the opportunity to speak

Realize that you got a raw deal

You can't be thankful all the time

2. Why should you bother trying to be valuable to the audience?

It is only necessary if they pay you enough money

It isn't worth the effort, because they don't care about you

Speaking engagements depend on the value you provide

3. What good does it do to help others?

It is what makes life worthwhile

It is worthwhile if you want a favor at a later time

You've got to look out for yourself and not others 

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a champion in public speaking. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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