Speech Analysis: Delivery Methods
Public speaking involves more than just standing in front of a group, reading, and talking, concurrently. Speaking in public, arguably, has more formality than talking. Therefore, during a speech, individuals should strive to present themselves professionally. This does not necessarily mean putting on a “clean cut” suit, or “dressing up,” but it does mean maintaining a presentable look by wearing appropriate clothes and being well-groomed. It also means employing an appropriate delivery technique, one that will produce the best results for the speaker and the audience, as seen in Ritika Singh’s speech.
In this speech, Singh employees “memorized speaking” to deliver her powerful message. Like it sounds, memorized speaking involves reciting a message that has been committed to memory. This technique is particularly effective when delivering a short speech, pretty much like Singh’s. Notably, the strategy allowed Singh to establish and maintain a connection with the audience, which ultimately rendered the delivery effective.
Effective communication is built on trust, and if the audience does not trust the speaker, they are never going to listen to the listener. Trust begins with eye contact because the audience needs to see the speaker’s face, to evaluate whether they are deceitful or not. The use of memorized speaking allowed Singh to leverage gestures to connect to the audience. It also allowed her to maintain eye contact throughout the speech, and by doing this, she established some level of trust with the audience. Ultimately, this ensured that the audience is not lost mid-speech.
Lastly, most professionals share the opinion that delivery is more important than the content itself. This is because they comprehend how particular actions or behaviors might impact different audience’s interpretations. Others argue that the message is more crucial, suggesting that it is what the audience is after, at the end of the day. However, I believe that both are essential pillars of a powerful presentation. This is because one cannot exist without the other, which implies that, if one falls, the other follows immediately. Therefore, public speakers should put “equal emphasis” on both pillars.