In the romantic comedy “Love Story,” the line “Love means never having to express your sorry” was introduced as a definition of love. We could easily apply this idea to the arena of public speaking, despite the fact that married people know this to be inaccurate. It’s a good rule of thumb in public speaking to never apologize to your audience, even if you feel like it.
Despite the fact that this rule is based solely on ego, its psychological foundation is sound. As a matter of fact, we aren’t doing this because you’re flawless or because we want to project an image of you as the ultimate public speaker. In order to be successful in your own public speaking profession, you should learn from the well-known chemistry that exists between an audience and a public speaker.
During a speech, the audience has preconceptions about the speaker. To ensure that your presentation is a success, they want to be sure you are telling the truth about these items. These assumptions are based on the following:
- You have a strong belief in yourself..
- You’ve got the facts straight..
- That you enjoy spending time with them, are enthusiastic about your topic, and are truly delighted to be there…
- You are confident in your ability to speak in front of a large audience.
- The people around you want to be friends with you.
Assumptions like these are deeply established in a crowd’s psyche, and you can identify with them as a listener. A relaxed, confident and unflappable speaker makes you more receptive to what they have to say, so you’re more likely to pay attention to what they’re saying when they’re at their most relaxed.
In order to gain self-assurance as a speaker, you must learn to deal with potential problems or objections, as well as any apparent flaws in your script. In the end, you should be convinced that the contract you have with your audience is more essential than any minor issue. While it is perfectly acceptable for you to be asked a question that suggests an issue with your presentation, the actual issue here isn’t the question itself or how you react. Whether or not you’re able to handle the situation with grace and composure and move on is the determining factor.
If you appear nervous or unsure of yourself in front of the audience, you stoke their fears and make them feel less secure about your abilities. The last thing they need is to go through that. The audience is aware of the fact that they are being held hostage. For this reason, they’d rather enjoy and trust you to lead them securely through the water, even if it’s lumpy at times on their way.
This is why apologizing for a flaw in your presentation is a terrible idea. When confronted with a question that raises an issue, it’s best to simply acknowledge it and move on “You make a valid point, I’m sure of it. Please bear with me while I do some research and get back to you “to apologise is preferable. As you speak, this helps you to remain confident in your leadership abilities. It also eliminates the minor inconveniences that arise. The ability to control your emotions under pressure is essential if you want to be successful in public speaking situations. That will ensure your success, as well.