Public Speaking Tip: Authenticity
Is that person going up on stage to give a speech the same person as the one hanging out with your friends? Often times we create different personas or masks that we put on to suit each occasion as we see fit. But how well do we carry each of that persona? Many people feel that if they are going to put themselves out there, be seen in public, getting all that attention focused on them for 7 minutes, then they need to become someone very different from the person who is just hanging out with friends eating roti canai at the local makak. There are people who feel they have to ramp up the drama to get attention. Some feel they need to scale back a little of their personality so that people can take them seriously. Others try to be a little silly or cute because they think it will make them more likeable. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, go for it! Good speakers will bring out different sides of their personality ...