The Fundamental of Public Speaking

by Erwin Parengkuan

I have been pursuing my profession as a Public Speaking teacher without realizing it, in my 19th year, the same as with the TALKINC organization.From the long journey I have gone through, I have overcome various challenges in sharing in class.Participants who had high enthusiasm, an interest in learning that arose from necessity, or because they were asked by their superiors or parents, made me record various ways in which they expressed their thoughts, feelings and opinions in front of the class.That's where the dynamics of speaking in public with different individuals, different heads, different audiences with the aim of the message we want to convey is received 100% well, without any distortion.Did everyone succeed in conveying their opinion correctly?

Public Speaking or how to communicate is the most important basic foundation for us humans, without it we would have difficulty conveying whatever message is in our heads.So Public Speaking is a way for someone to express/articulate a message so that it is clear and coherent.Here lies an art that we used to know a lot about the 3 factors that a person must have in communicating, namely body language, voice and words, such as research conducted by professor Albert Mehrabian in the era before digital came.I won't discuss that because it requires so many supporting components in it that must be sharpened continuously.This time I will actually invite you to look at the main thing behind it that you need to have.

I conclude that Public Speaking is actually a person's ability to control himself.How can we manage our egos in communicating, not be dominant, not feel right, and not be authoritarian.In a book that I read written by Nobel winner Daniel Kahneman, he wrote a conclusion about "thinking fast and slow" how our brain thinks quickly and slowly in making decisions which influences the way we decide on anything.Likewise, in the art of speaking, we must be able to control ourselves, only we can control it.

A person's ability to control himself is fundamental in Public Speaking.We certainly know that someone's skill in presenting themselves will create a very beautiful relationship.Respect each other, protect each other, love each other, and care for each other.This is what we must first understand, master and possess within ourselves.So it will be clearly visible, starting from the choice of words a person speaks, and how he views himself and other people.If the words, sounds, body language and even the way we look that we see, hear and feel don't resonate with us, then we will see what the relationship will be like next.

All the words we say will be a clear measure of the level of understanding of what we say, will also be felt and leave an impression on the heart.Words like "you don't even know how to cook it!"symbolizes someone who considers himself to be better than other people, which results in the other person feeling humiliated.Then, the next impact will not be good communication if sentences like this continue to be said, not to mention the intonation and body language that accompany them strengthen the message.

Communication is an art in building relationships.You should understand these fundamentals first.And from now on, let's get to know ourselves better, control ourselves, respect ourselves and respect the person we are talking to.Start looking inside yourself before we communicate or do public speaking, so that there is a harmonious and mutually respectful relationship because everyone wants to be treated and cared for well.Only after that do we practice the right intonation, match it with body language, voice pressure and have an appropriate appearance.