Different types of public speaking
Public speaking is an unpleasant activity for many and the greater the importance of the event, the worse the fear. But actually it’s not that difficult, it’s just talking, and you do that practically all the time. The mystery disappears once you have learned how to do it.
It is important to think about what our audience expects of us. Knowing and understanding the people who listen to us will make our messages when speaking in public much more effective.
What are the different types of public speaking?
Public speaking techniques are many, but for now, you should be concerned with only four. Also, keep in mind that the key to being a good speaker is knowing how to prioritize your goals in communication.
The informative technique
This technique focuses on explaining a concept or idea to the audience. Informative speakers tend to focus on specific topics, such as people, events, places, stories, etc.
Examples could be a college professor giving a lecture on a particular topic, or a company executive giving a presentation on last year’s sales.
If you are opting for an informative technique, make sure you do these two things. First, research your topic, you need to know the most complex concepts of your presentation. Second, and most importantly, your presentation should be short and simple, since no one wants to spend more than an hour learning about something.
The persuasive technique
Speaking persuasively is the way to convince people in your audience to do something they didn’t plan to do.
In this technique, the concept of persuasion is broad: you can get your audience members to agree to buy a product, adopt a new lifestyle, or even conform to a particular political opinion.
Lawyers, politicians, and marketers use this technique to their advantage, and if you want to persuade your audience to do something, then you should too.
There is more than one way to practice persuasive speaking effectively for public speaking. But for now, here are some tips to get you started:
- Add emotion to your message.
- Be prepared for any questions audience members may have after your speech or presentation.
- Seek the support of the majority of your audience.
- Show yourself to be an expert in the matter so you can make something believe more easily.
The demonstrative technique
This technique is a bit debatable because it focuses more on the actions during a presentation than the words being said.
Demonstrative speeches are those in which the speaker performs actions and clearly explains them in the process. The idea is to engage the audience in both verbal and non-verbal methods of communication. By doing so, the speaker has a better chance of getting the message across to the audience.
Some examples can be scientific revelations or even role play scenarios.
If you are considering using this technique, it is important to focus on both verbal (ie content of speech) and non-verbal (ie body language, facial expression, actions performed, etc.) aspects of communication. Make sure you don’t miss a beat, you both need to go together for your demonstration to benefit your public speaking efforts.
Ceremonial speeches have to do with giving speeches on special occasions (such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, etc.).
The goal is to trigger an emotional response from the audience. It is about fostering an emotional connection with the people who are listening to you.
If you go for this technique, then talk about things that bring you and your audience closer, in a way that brings everyone in the room together. For example, if you’re asked to prepare a speech at a graduation ceremony, it’s a good idea to talk about the memories you’ve had together or the bright future that awaits you, including all members of your audience.
