5 Qualities of an Engaging Speaker

We've all seen a speaker who was able to effectively transmit information in a way that made the process entertaining and enjoyable. While you may wonder how they do it, and doubt that you could ever emulate such a performance, these presentations possess certain qualities that all of us can strive to include in our future presentations.

1. Preparedness- The best speakers don't fly by the seat of their pants. Their presentations are not the result of an all-nighter. Their demeanor is not an act. No, the best speakers are thoroughly practiced. They take their time developing their speeches. They monitor the rate, tone, pitch and volume of their presentation. They find specific points where they will deliberately gesture in order to emphasize their words. In other words, they practice. Being prepared builds your credibility and helps you to make your speech more entertaining.

2. Energy- Nobody really wants to have to listen to Ferris Bueller's infamous teacher's drone for hours on end. It may be amusing in a movie, but in real life, how energy levels in a speaker can kill the energy in a room. The best speakers realize this, and make an effort to keep the energy in their presentation up by speaking at a brisk pace that is still understandable, smiling, and varying their pitch and volume.

3. Credibility- Excellent speakers know that building credibility is one of the most important factors in improving audience reception of a message. A speaker who seems to have poor authority isn't taken seriously. Credibility can be established by sharing the study that went in to developing the speech, achievements of the speaker in related fields, and by including thorough research and data to support the claims of the presentation.

4. Structure- Even in situations where the speaker's presentation seems so natural that it comes off like they're just talking to you about something they think is cool, there is a structure being followed. Organizing information in an easy to follow, logical manner increases the ability of the audience to retain the information. Structure does not need to be obvious. In fact, the best speakers will mask structure with a conversational tone and speaking pattern.

5. Interactive Presentations- Long lecture times decrease the ability of an audience to retain information. You don't need to be ADD to have a hard time paying attention. Most people have terrible listening skills, so the best speakers will find ways to allow the audience to actually participate in the presentation. Whether they accomplish this through activities, asking questions or demonstrations, when a speaker forces the audience to participate, they have a stake in the presentation, increasing their attention to the materials presented.