Public speaking is something all of us have to do at some point and for some of us it isn’t easy, but whether you find it easy or difficult, it’s a skill that can be developed. Read these 5 practical take aways from seasoned speaker and preacher, Sats Solanki, to help you in your own public communication

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Public speaking is a valuable skill - whether in the mix of leading in a church or business. The ability to communicate ideas clearly as well as inspiring action can often be the difference between the success or failure of a project.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing a talk:

1. Focus on just one thing

Novice speakers, perhaps fearing that their time in the spotlight may not return, will often attempt to cram every nugget of wisdom and insight into their few minutes of fame. This is a grave mistake. The definition of focus of course is about redirecting attention to a singular point.

When we have too many ideas in one message, we end up watering down what we’re trying to communicate. In my experience, every talk should have a single idea that runs through it that people can take home with them.

2. Understand your message

When someone is passionate about something (even though it may be somewhat obscure and uninteresting to us) they have the capacity to talk for England. Whether it be growing cucumbers in your garden, the rise of crypto or medieval reenactment on Tuesday evenings.

It’s easy to talk about things when we actually understand them. Presenting ideas that are unfamiliar to us is a recipe for getting lost and sending people to sleep. Spend some time internalising your thoughts so that you can simply talk about your topic. You don’t have to lose your notes if you really don’t want to but make sure you can also speak from the heart. Genuine passion and conviction can’t be forced and can be spotted a mile off.

3. Consider your in and outs

Each point flows into the next one. Stories are there to support a purpose. Data leads to a conclusion. And so on. Plan your message by understanding linguistically how you’ll navigate through each section. And consider how that particular order builds your overall point you are trying to establish. If done correctly, your audience shouldn’t notice any real transition between points but a seamless execution of a single idea. Now we’ve got traction!

4. Practice out loud

This point is almost so obvious that it need not be made and yet I’ve talked to plenty of budding communicators who spend close to zero time actually in this space. If you’re delivering a talk out loud then make sure you test it out loud too. You’ll find certain phrases or ideas may look great in the written form but don’t translate quite so neatly or nicely in verbal.

Iron out the kinks at home, so you don’t have to in-person. Your audience will thank you.

5. Smile more than you think you need to

The face of concentration for most of us looks less friendly than we thought (or maybe that’s just me). Not all communication is heard of course - it’s also seen. So be deliberate about smiling. No need to overdo it, but simply allow your face to reflect your message.

If you’re sharing good news then make sure you tell yourself. If this idea can change the world then the least it can do is change you.

If you’re humble enough to face your own awkward reality (again it might just be me) then take a look at any previous live streams or audio recordings to analyse how you look/sound and how you can improve for the future. This isn’t self-obsession, it’s about developing your craft to better serve. If this is your first talk then record yourself as you prepare and play it back.

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We’re only just getting started of course but the key thread of success throughout is to make public speaking into a learning opportunity. If we can turn it into a game through which we better ourselves and develop our craft then it can only ever be a positive experience.

Cheering you on!