6 Public Speaking Mistakes and Ways to Remedy Them

A lot of people attend more presentations than they give. Public speaking is not easy, and that is the exact reason why most of us are afraid. And while you may not be a public expert, it is always possible to tell when someone is not doing a good job at their speech. What you may not be aware of is the exact thing that turns you off.

In that regard, there are a few mistakes that public speakers make, which affect the outcome of their efforts in a negative way. Let’s learn more about that:

• Stuttering — it is only natural to ‘aham’ and ‘um’ a little here and there. This can help any speaker feel more at ease, as it introduces the aspect of them speaking casually. However, beyond the occasional stutter, it is an indication that the speaker doesn’t feel confident at all. Stuttering presents a lack of flow and makes the audience lose interest in the message of the speaker. It is important to work on building confidence and preparing well so that there is less stuttering involved in the speech.
• Too stiff body movements — when people listen to a public speech, they are looking to the person who is giving that. They want that person to behave normally, not like a robot. Stiff body movements show nervousness and make it hard to connect to the audience. It is important to keep in mind that body language conveys as strong a message as other forms of communication, therefore making it something to focus on.
• No eye contact — making eye contact with the audience is very important, to establish a connection with them. Without doing so, the public speaker will disassociate themselves from the rest and make it awkward. Now, it is important to remember that a single speaker cannot possibly make eye contact with every person in the audience. However, they can segment the area and turn to face the different parts. They can also allow their eye contact to soar through different parts of the audience, never lingering too much. This creates the illusion that the speaker is actively seeking eye contact and works well.
• No facial expressions — another thing that makes any public speechless effective is the lack of facial expression. If the person just keeps a straight face the entire time, they will scare people off. And while it is true that not everyone out there has an expressive face, every speaker needs to match what they are saying with the facial expression. That is the only way to make a good impact.
• Poor organization — every good speaker knows that flow and rhythm are very important for a good presentation. This is what keeps the audience engaged and moves the speech at a steady pace. Without the good organization of the points and questions that you want to make, it is impossible to achieve this effect. Besides, if the organization is poor, the audience will walk out confused.
• No energy — an energetic public speaker can affect their audience. They can communicate a message and instil a will to act, make them understand the importance of the message. Speakers without high energy are ones that the audience just doesn’t find intriguing enough. A style that packs a lot of energy — the correct pitch, movements and volume — is the one that persuades the most.

These are all commonly observed mistakes in public speaking, which you should always take into account. They will allow you to step up your public speaking game by avoiding mishap.

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