Top Qualities of a Great Stage Speaker

The fear of public speaking is a prevalent one, but as a variety of inspiring speakers have proven, it is conquerable. Even if you have overcome the fear, learning how to get yourself on stage as an expert, while still appearing unique, can be difficult. People truly embrace a great stage speaker that has put the effort into making a full presentation instead of simply reading from cue cards; And this is the main goal: to have an audience full of people that leave with an influential and meaningful impact. Here are some public speaking tips and traits to focus on when preparing for your next attempt at inspiring an audience. 

Confidence
A sense of confidence and fearlessness goes a long way. Those who are timid do not engage the public, and during a speech, their engagement is essential for both parties to have a successful experience. Establishing that self-assurance and conviction in front of a group is the best way to command the attention in the room. Remember that internal anxiety is hide to hard on your face, so be prepared. A speaker who is prepared makes everyone feel more comfortable in the room. Also, being able to reach outside of your comfort zone shows the audience your power, boldness, and courageousness, and they will instantly become locked on not only your words, but your technique.

Authenticity
Following all the public speaking tips in the world means nothing if the audience feels like they cannot trust you. Be yourself and master the ability to tell personal anecdotes about yourself. Speakers who know themselves and are willing to share their REAL paths of struggle and triumph embolden the listeners. Vulnerabilities remind the audience that the speaker is coming from a good, authentic place that appeals to their humane side. This entails developing perspectives that give and receive empathy between the speaker and their audience. 

Awareness
Sometimes speeches have to be adjusted to the demographics of the audience and any great stage speaker can readily become aware of this and consciously make the adjustments. Awareness allows the speaker to pick up on hints, cues, and behaviors that influence the audience or, otherwise, might distract the audience. An effective speaker understands and capitalizes on their strengths, but what they feel is a strength may be considered a weakness to others. Tapping into your own self-awareness using introspection will help you highlight and incorporate what you find important and your style, but be willing to accommodate the audience if they appear to feel uninterested or worse, insulted.

Creativity
While this does play into being authentic, being creative also means that the speaker adds a degree of freshness to each speech. If a member of the audience becomes a fan of your work or presentation, you will want them to come back again. However, it is not very enjoyable for that fan to sit through the same speech in a different room. Spontaneous and interactive moments with the audience are a quick, creative way of helping your speeches to keep from getting stale. Use your personality; If you are funny, make them laugh, if you are passionate, make bold gestures. Even the most boring sections of your speech should have some aspect that makes it interesting. Use an expressive voice that easily transitions in pitch, volume, tone, and speed. This will animate the speech while providing a natural highlighter on key points that you want the audience to take away from their time with you. 

These are just a few of the qualities that people admire in a great stage speaker. With these and practice, you now know how to get yourself on stage as an expert - just remember to make the material, and the presentation of that material, your own.