Public Speaking Course:
Dynamic Range
I invented the concept of "Dynamic range" in public speaking from
my public speaking course. Dynamic range is used to help you improve your
versatility as a professional speaker. I based the term Dynamic Range on the same concept used to rate stereo
equipment. In the electronics world dynamic range means the ability to reproduce
soft sounds as well as loud ones. It can also help you pick the best
audience for your interest and skill level.
Some presenters don't have the luxury of picking their own audiences, because
they have a boss who tells them who to speak too. But for those of you that can
pick your audiences, you will be able to move up faster after completing your
public speaking course.
When your beginning your public speaking career it is important
for you to experience different kinds of audiences just FOR the experience. You
will find that presenting to some audiences is more fun than others, and certain
types of audiences enjoy your style more too. At this early stage of defining
your skills it is important to take many different audiences to broaden your
skill level.
As you move up the professional public speaking ladder where the
audiences are bigger, or more important to your career; the stakes are far
higher, so you must learn to just say no.
Most big named public speakers don't accept every offer to speak, even if they are
available, and the money is right.
Why? Because they want to put themselves in front of
audiences that indicate the greatest chance of success. They are building their
reputation, and a good reputation is worth more money in the long run. If you
are specialized in one area of expertise concentrate on that area.
The knowledge of your Dynamic Range during your public speaking course will
help you to pick better audiences. Also in your ongoing effort to improve it
will expand your abilities so you are capable of handling a wider range of
audiences.
I have expanded on this topic to include several other parameters that are
important to a professional speaker. These include:
-- Serious/Outrageous Content,
-- Slow/Fast Speed of Delivery,
-- Slurred/Articulate Diction,
-- Stationary/Animated Movement, and
-- Audience Needs.
The first step is to evaluate yourself honestly on each parameter.
Many people have trouble with this, so after you finish your public speaking
course it might be time to call in an objective third party like a speaking
coach or other professional presenter to watch you present or to review several
of your tapes.
What professional athlete do you know who excels without a coach? What
professional in any field excels without a coach? If your going to have good
speaking skills, you too need a coach. Find one, use one (or more), learn from
one, profit from one.
A piece of advice, it is not always wise to use friends for your initial
evaluation because they will be reluctant to tell you the truth. And ask
yourself honestly, is your friend a professional coach in the area you seek
training and advice in?
Quick Fixes -- Here are some ways you can increase your range in a hurry.
-- If your material is all serious, add some that is lighthearted and vice
versa.
-- If you always speak softly, speak loudly sometimes and vice versa.
-- Always work to improve your diction, but allow it to falter in front of less
articulate audiences.
-- If you always stand still, move sometimes and vice versa, if you are a
jitterbug, stand still.
When you have the option, pick audiences that give you the greatest chance of
success.
Does an olympic runner enter every race? Or do they practice and
prepare for the big races?
Thinking like a professional is part of mastering what you learned in a
public speaking course.
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