Peter Fogel's "Effective Public Speaking: Why Silence Can Indeed Be Golden!"

If you want to clearly get your message across in front of an audience, guess what? You can communicate in a very effective fashion with not only your words, but with other methods of communication that do not involve speech at all. Alright, now you're wondering how a speaker can speak to an audience without saying a word.

The Sign of a Great Speaker

To understand that I want you to think of the most successful speakers you may have encountered in your life. What was it about these speakers that left you remembering them, their words, the ideas they left you pondering?

Well, if you do your homework and study the Great Speakers (as you should) you will find that these top-gun speakers have a the ability to hold the audience’s attention without even saying a word at various times throughout their performance.

Simply put, with the use of body language, a speaker can translate the meat of a presentation without being too long-winded.

In fact, the audience may very well enjoy watching in addition to listening. Believe it or not, take away such important mannerisms such as making eye contact with the audience, and the words may not be very memorable.
That's because a great speaker knows instinctively after getting platform time that his or her body can speak volumes to an audience.

That's because your audience wants to experience all of you while you're speaking. Not surprising, mere words coming out your mouth just will not cut it.
Look at it this way, if your listeners just wanted a talking head, a tape recorder can be placed on a stage.

No,for you to be an effective and compelling public speaker to get your important message, YOUR ideas, to motivate your audience, mere words are not enough!

Just as writers are told over and over again to show, NOT tell their stories, a speaker should take the same advice to heart. That's because your goal as a communicator is to speak to an audience by showing them your message, NOT just telling them.

Making little adjustments such as making eye contact or leaning forward to show your enthusiasm about what you are saying - can boost your platform skills and make your audience more interested in your message.

Communicate Your Feelings

Besides using your words and actions, you can also speak to an audience by showing them your excitement. Your audience will feel the same level of enthusiasm as you do if you let your liveliness come across.

A great example of "moving the masses" is with political speakers. I know… I know, just want you want to hear now especially what is going on in this country. But stay with me here.

Yes, political candidates/speakers many times tell their audience what they WANT to hear. (And this article is NOT about that) But listening and studying powerful political speaker can help you understand how to get into the hearts and minds of your own audience.

When you listened to the political pundit, did they get their ideas across and connect with you, the audience, by flatly reading a teleprompter? No! He or she moved their eyes or perhaps their whole body in a certain way to evoke the response they wanted from an audience. They are -- hopefully living the moment with their listeners.

And whether a speaker wants to admit it or not, public speaking is a p-e-r-f-o-r-m-a-n-c-e!

All because the veteran speaker knows that creating or sharing an emotional with his audience is never a result of simply reading lines. Like an actor, the speaker feels what he is saying, just as though it were actually happening to him. Once he or she does, this emotion cannot help but transfer to himself and then to the audience.

Now don't misunderstand me, when you give a speech, words are vital. They are "the fuel" that runs the vehicle of getting your total message across to your audience. But make no mistake: The correct and natural use of your body language will also speak volumes and channel your emotion, ideas, and inspiration more effectively.

For instance, a dramatic pause at an emotional moment when you speak to an audience can often say much more than just saying the words ever could.

An example: You're telling a story, you're leading up to an emotional climax of what happened to when you were a near death encounter.

Your eyes start to water a little bit, they get glassy. Instead, of plowing through the emotional moment, just pause and take in the moment. Imagine how powerful that is as you gaze out at your listeners. Doing this one little adjustment allows you to experience the moment with your audiences and make your story even more moving.

Let your audience really take you in as much as they can. This will enable them to get the full experience of your message.

Effective Story Telling is a MUST for Every Speaker

This is why effective story telling is a much needed skill EVERY serious speaker should learn to master.

And why I tell my clients who I coach -- to never, if you can, stand by a lectern. Doing so -- cuts off the non-verbal language your audience wants to soak in from you. Learn to try different phrasing with your stories. Discover how to use your body correctly with your presentation… learn how PAUSING at the right time during your speech can make a dramatic impact with your audience.

Once you do, you will discover what you don't say -- is an important as to what you do say. And you will truly "see" why using silence effectively is indeed golden.