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The Writing Craft:
Business Issues for Writers

The Art of Public Speaking:
Typical Trouble Spots for Novice Speakers

Once a novice speaker begins the journey to self-development for effective public speaking, he commences with the process of fine-tuning his speaking image. The first step in the process is addressing the typical trouble spots that new speakers encounter.

You can confidently say "yes" to your next speaking engagement by eliminating the trouble spots of novice speakers.

A novice speaker can exhibit certain types of mannerisms, speech patterns, and movements that can detract from a professional presentation. These trouble spots can also impact how well a speaker connects with his audience. Once a speaker recognizes these trouble spots, these can be eliminated to then improve the overall speaking image and presentation of the speaker.

There are three trouble spot categories that a novice speaker can immediately target for change. We have provided examples for your reference within each category.

We all know that wearing the appropriate attire for an occasion is standard protocol for a speaking engagement or presentation. In this discussion, we will address the subtle physical distractions that can take away from a speaker’s presentation.

Example #1: Those Convenient Pockets

Pockets are convenient places to slip a wallet, keys, or folded papers. Unfortunately, these items tend to draw a viewer’s gaze. Gentlemen, we highly recommend that you remove your wallet from your trouser pocket (back or front), and slip it into your briefcase. If you are certain to keep your suit coat or sport on, you might be able to get away with it. However, if you’re planning to lose the jacket, lose the wallet.

Trouser pockets also tend to be the location where hands are harbored. Avoid slipping your hands into your pockets, particularly if loose change or keys reside there. The rattle and jingle will be distracting to your audience.

Example #2: Uncomfortable or Ill-fitted Clothing

Wearing comfortable, well-fitted clothes when giving a speech is highly recommended. Although unconsciously done, we tend to pull, tug, or pluck at our clothes when we are uncomfortable. An example for the ladies would be a loose collared blouse that slips about requiring a periodic pull to keep it in place. If you are speaking for twenty minutes and adjust your blouse even twice, the audience will notice. The repetitive movement will be a distraction, and your audience will watch and wait for the next tug.

Example #3: A Good Haircut Matters

Strong eye contact with your audience is essential for a successful speech. Whether you are speaking to a group of ten or a thousand, there are techniques to connect visually to your listeners. A definite but easy problem to eliminate is when hair interferes with your line of vision.

Ladies, if you have long hair or bangs, we advise you to wear a style that allows the audience to see your face. Facial expressions and eye contact are critical to a worthy speech. In addition, hair can be an unconscious attention stealer to your audience. Your hair may be beautiful, but if it’s hanging around your face requiring you to flip the strands or frequently tuck pieces behind your ear, the audience will notice.

Gentlemen, the hairstyle in general is short at this time, so you likely will not encounter any difficulty with hair. However, if you favor a longer cut, keep the same principle in mind as mentioned to the ladies. Keep your hair out of your face.