Master the Art of Oration...

When was the last time you spoke in front of a huge crowd or a group of people?

Were you confident in what you were saying? how did you feel about it? 

Do you think it could've been done better? 

Here is a post that discusses public speaking. Continued from The Roar of a Lion...

I believe that we all have an orator in each of us, it depends on how you bring out that ability and enhance your oratorical skills to effectively deliver a speech / seminar / presentation which can grab the attention of the audience.

How can you give a great speech? or What qualities do you need to become a great speaker? 

I'd like to share some points out of my understanding and experience at University level speeches.

• Thorough knowledge on the subject/topic you are addressing, knowing exactly what you are speaking
• Be well prepared, practising the speech a number of times till you are ready to deliver
• Come up with an extraordinary start - the first few lines you speak will make a huge impact on the rest of your speech, so your introduction should be attention-grabbing.
• Build confidence and have the passion to deliver the speech in the right tone, varying the volume, pace and pitch of your voice and pausing at the right times, stressing on important words/phrases and making the right gestures with your hands during the speech.
• Grab attention of people by using interesting quotes/humour/any examples, tell a story to make the speech interesting
• Maintain good eye contact with your audience and connect with them, feel like you are having a conversation with them and try not to look at only one direction, cover everyone in your view
• Stick to the time limit - be straight to the point of what you are saying and finish it in the allotted time and not drag it.

There are many examples of great speeches and great orators in the world - both from the past and in the present. We can always take inspiration from speeches given by great orators like Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, etc.

One of the powerful orators in the present day is US President, Barack Obama. His speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 gave him a position among the top orators in the world. 

Many believe that this speech made Obama the President - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Democratic_National_Convention_keynote_address

Here is that speech, don't miss it, just check the way he narrates his story and uses it to Unite America:

Video courtesy and copyright: C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network)

This speech is full of optimism and hope, making it one of the most inspirational speeches of modern times!

Wish you all the best for the next time you speak in public, 

Take care :)