There’s no doubt that in terms of interpersonal skills, there’s no trickier discipline than public speaking - it’s why so many people struggle with it. The great thing is, that it can be improved with work, which is what we’re going to be looking at here, along with how easy it is to learn with short courses from OCA.
Is public speaking a hard or soft skill?
Public speaking is a soft skill, as opposed to a hard skill, which refers to the kind of knowledge you’d pick up when taking Tafe courses. You see soft skills cover a person’s ability to interact with those around them, with teamwork, leadership and communication listing among them.
How can I improve my public speaking skills?
There are some key elements that need to be present when public speaking if you want it to go well, so let’s take a look at some of the main areas of concern.
Audience Connection
A key element of any good presentation is audience connection, which is typically achieved in the following ways. First off, be sure to make eye contact as often as is practical and ask for participation during whatever it is you’re talking about.
For example, you could ask for a show of hands to emphasise a point or even ask for suggestions - both of which will help to create that connection. It’s all about being relaxed enough to demonstrate the full scope of your interpersonal skills.
Effective Delivery
Another important aspect of public speaking is how the speech or talk is delivered, so you need to make sure your words are pronounced clearly and well-articulated. To do so, it’s vital that you speak slower than you normally would, with pauses to allow those watching on to digest what’s been said.
The tone is also crucial, as it needs to vary. Speak with a monotone voice and you’ll soon see the eyes of your audience glazing over.
Practice, Practice, Practice
You can learn lots about the theory behind public speaking by taking online training, but it’s only by doing it that you’ll actually get more comfortable. This is why you need to be practising as often as you can so that it becomes natural enough to relax into what you have to say.
You can practice in front of friends, work colleagues or even family members - who can then offer some constructive feedback to help you develop.
Boost Your Hard Skills With Immersive Short Communication Courses Online
Your soft skills and associated interpersonal skills are a key element of your professional development, as are hard skills which can be worked on at your own pace thanks to video-based learning from OCA.
Covering more than 20 different industries and with each hour completed counting towards your CPD points, we have the online learning resources you need to supercharge your career!
If you’d like to know more about how our training is super-immersive and mentally stimulating, simply visit us today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au. There you’ll also see that the cost of our training can even be paid for more manageably with a choice of instalment options.
Alternatively, to speak to us about any questions you might have, just call us on 1300 611 404 and we’ll be happy to give you the answers you need.
