Magic in public speaking

I had the fortune or misfortune of attending a book launch held at a plush hotel in the city recently. The audience consisted mainly of senior citizens who had come there from far away places. It was a well organised function and the proceedings started at the correct time given in the invitation card.

When the compere announced that Mr. X would deliver the welcome speech, people in the audience did not pay much attention to the speaker. Then the compere announced in impeccable English that Mr. Y would deliver the keynote address. People usually come to listen to the keynote address because organisers always try to invite a suitable person to do the job.

We are fortunate to have speakers such as Arun Dias Bandaranayake, Professor Sunanda Mahendra, Dr. Tissa Abeysekera and Dr. Ariyaratne Atugala who could entertain the audience with their oratorical skills.

However, for this particular book launch the organisers had invited a retired professor who was also a good public speaker.

The keynote address was a real disaster. The speaker began to tear the book into pieces not literally of course, and called it a second rate work. There was a slight uneasiness among those present.

The keynote address was followed by another speaker who tried to speak impromptu at first. Failing in that attempt, he pulled out some crumpled papers from an old file and started reading some notes haphazardly. There was no order whatsoever. People in the audience heaved a sigh of relief only when the speaker said "Thank you" and sat down.

This is just one incident which shows the sheer scarcity of public speakers in our midst. It is a pity that we do not make an attempt to learn how to talk at business meetings, banquets and social gatherings.

Unlike in developed countries we do not have special institutes to train young speakers. Even in the absence of such facilities, we can make an attempt to learn the rudiments of public speaking.

All good speakers follow the natural laws of conversation. When we talk to our friends and relatives we have no problem of communication. Words flow without much thinking.

But when you are asked to address even a small gathering, stage fright will seriously curtail your speech. You will experience mental blocks and excessive muscular spasm. If you know that these are not unusual signs in a beginner, you will make an effort to vanish stage fright.

Remember that you are not alone in your fear of public speaking. The wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill too suffered from stage fright when he was young. He used to write out his speech and memorise it word by word.

One day when he was delivering a memorised talk before the British Parliament, he stopped dead in his mental tracks. He learnt a bitter lesson that day and gave up the fruitless task of memorising speeches.

The person who writes out and memorises his talk is simply wasting his precious time and much-needed energy. What is more, he is courting disaster as a public speaker. Even in the absence of training schools, we can start public speaking at grass roots level.

For instance, you can become a member of the YMCA Forum in Colombo and take part in debates, Most of us are timid. Even the great author George Bernard Shaw was a timid person who could not address a meeting. But unlike the average Sri Lankan, he was determined to make his weak point his strong point. Young Shaw joined a debating society and soon learnt the basic skills of public speaking.

There are home-grown remedies to get rid of stage fright. To begin with, rehearse your speech with your friends. You will have no fear in addressing your peers. It is always advisable to address small groups before addressing big meetings.

In order to deliver an effective talk, you will have to know your subject well. Those who come to review books make an apology that they had no time to read the book. If you have not read the book, how can you comment on it? Similarly, do not attempt to talk on subjects you are not familiar with.

For instance, if you are a professor of mathematics, do not try to speak on a book of poetry. This is nothing but ridiculous. When you know the subject well, you can lose yourself in it and deliver a good speech.

Speech trainers say that if you breathe deeply for 30 seconds before you face your audience, you will have energy to continue. And draw yourself upto your full before speaking.

Good speakers limit their speeches to a particular topic. For instance, no speaker can do justice to his speech if he undertakes to speak on the history of Sri Lanka from Vijaya upto the present.

When you know your boundaries, your speech becomes organised and listenable. Some speakers have the habit of rattling off facts and figures that no listener can keep track of. Therefore, it is good to fill your talk with illustrations, anecdotes and vivid examples. People love to hear little stories rather than erudite exposition.

If you follow these steps, you will see yourself stepping forward with confidence. When you start talking, there will be absolute silence. Feel the attentive absorption of the audience as you drive home point after point and be ready to experience the warmth of the applause as you leave the platform.

There is a magic in public speaking and a never-to-be-forgotten thrill