9 Key Skills or Characteristics That Define a Really Great Public Speaker

Public speaking can be categorized as both an art, a science, and a skill. Good public speaking skills are revered in every aspect of the world, ranging from academia, social events to political spheres. The following are some of the key ingredients and elements that define a great public speaker:

1. Has the Personality

A personality is what differentiates you from others, and the same principle can be extrapolated here. A unique personality is what sets apart the best public speakers from others. An accessible, real and determined personality is essential in public speaking. Listeners are drawn to such a personality.

2. Creativity

A creative mind is a basic tenet for public speaking. Nearly all great public speakers have a complete set of creative energy and original insights to contribute to the world. Once they blow their load, they reinvent themselves and continue channeling their creativity in a different approach. Public speaking can be summed up as a matter of personal creative expression.

3. Simplicity

Excellent public speakers always keep their craft simple. Your listeners generally crave simplicity. The desire for simplicity cannot be understated in public speaking. By bundling a lot of individual concepts into a simple model, you reduce the complexity of the listener's worldview and remove the need to consider many complex issues. You also make the idea easier to digest, which leads to greater spread. Simple concepts are absorbed effortlessly.

4. No fear of failure

The biggest hindrance to any progress is the fear of failure. This is even more pronounced in public speaking. There is no such thing as a perfect presentation. Every presentation is a learning experience that should build your experience. Great speakers tolerate failure, with most of their successes built around their abilities to rise above those failures. As an aspiring public speaker, you should acknowledge your failures and build upon them.

5. Hard work is key

All public speakers are incentivized to work hard and sharpen their craft. Hard work is an efficient means of perfecting your skills and boosting confidence. It is not uncommon that you run into great public speakers who attribute their successes to the backbone of hard work.

6. Vulnerability

Studies have demonstrated that one of the biggest predictors of the ability of a public speaker to engage with their audience emotionally is vulnerability. The listeners want to be able to understand and relate to the speaker. Extending your hand across the aisle and accepting nuances isn't easy even for public speakers- it requires reflection and active listening. It takes work, and it also asks for a degree of vulnerability. Vulnerability is key for connecting with your audience.

7. Humor

One of the essential features of a great public speaker is their willingness to accommodate humor. A big part of comedy in public speaking is familiarity. People laugh at jokes not because they're some innovative stroke of comedic genius but because they trigger the joke recognition algorithm that leads to a more powerful connection to the speaker. This is why most people enjoy multiple works from the same public speaker. There is humor to be mined in public speaking. Couching your ideas in humor will be very helpful on specific occasions. Public speakers could always use a bit more humor.

8. A decent wardrobe

Most people don't realize just how far confidence and the right outfit will get you. The same principle applies to public speaking. Here's the part most people probably do not acknowledge; First impressions and appearance matter. It will always matter. The listeners will judge your maturity, cleanliness, and status based on how you present yourself. Dress appropriately, and your outlook should also correspond with the event you're involved in.

9. Expect to adapt

Successful public speaking is more about adapting to your innate abilities and present circumstances. Assimilating and adapting to increasing knowledge, circumstances, and environmental demands is important. The ability to adapt to the audience; essentially, real-world problems require you to actively deploy your intelligence, which is a key trait for excellent public speakers.