One key element is a clear message. For example, in Steve Jobs' product launch presentations, he always had a simple, yet powerful message about the new Apple product. Another is confidence. A speaker like Winston Churchill exuded confidence during his wartime speeches, which inspired the nation. And of course, connection with the audience. Malcolm X was able to connect deeply with his followers through his passionate speeches about civil rights.
Oprah Winfrey is also known for her successful public speaking. She has a way of connecting with her audience on a very personal level. Whether she is giving a commencement speech or speaking at her own events, she shares personal stories, wisdom, and inspiration. Her ability to be relatable and engaging has made her one of the most influential public speakers, and she has motivated countless people to pursue their dreams.
One key is to start with a captivating hook that grabs the audience's attention right away. Also, use vivid language and personal anecdotes to make the story relatable.
The most common one is probably forgetting what you're going to say. It's like your mind just goes blank. Another is technical problems, like the projector not working or the sound system failing. And then there's the fear of public judgment, where you feel like everyone is just waiting for you to make a mistake.
Sure. One horror story is when a speaker's slides stopped working right in the middle of the presentation. He had to continue without visual aids and ended up forgetting some important points. Another is a person who got so nervous that they started stuttering really badly and couldn't get their words out clearly. And there was also a case where a speaker accidentally showed inappropriate content on the big screen because of a wrong click while trying to share a presentation.
You need to have a clear structure. Start with an engaging introduction, present the main points in a logical order, and end with a powerful conclusion.
I once got up to speak at a conference. Right at the start, I tripped on the cord of the microphone and almost fell. I managed to catch myself but it made a really awkward moment. Everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to start, and I was just so flustered.