Saady Mohammad Saad
Introduction
Assalamu alaikum, everyone! Today, we’ll discuss an essential ingredient for effective public speaking: credibility. Whether you’re presenting in class, giving a keynote speech, or participating in a debate, your audience must trust and believe in you. So, how do you establish credibility?
Let’s break it down into three key strategies:
explaining your competence, establishing common ground, and delivering with fluency and conviction.
1. Explain Your Competence
First, you need to demonstrate your expertise on the topic. Why should the audience listen to you?
This doesn’t mean you have to be a world-renowned expert. Instead, share your knowledge, research, or personal experience. Let me give you an example: Imagine a student giving a speech about UFOs. Instead of just saying, “UFOs are interesting,” they could explain how they’ve spent months researching UFO sightings, reviewing expert opinions, and analyzing historical reports. That makes their argument credible.
As a speaker, you need to show your audience that you’ve put in the work and that you know what you’re talking about.
2. Establish Common Ground
Next, connect with your audience by showing that you understand and respect their values, concerns, and experiences. People are more likely to trust you when they feel like you’re “one of them.”
Let’s say you’re addressing a group of students about a potential tuition increase. Instead of jumping straight into financial jargon, start by acknowledging how everyone in the room values education quality and is concerned about affordability. You’re creating a bridge of trust by aligning your message with their shared experiences.
Remember, empathy and connection go a long way in building credibility.
3. Deliver with Fluency and Conviction
Finally, your delivery matters. You might have all the knowledge and empathy in the world, but if you sound uncertain or disinterested, you’ll lose your audience.
Practice is key. Rehearse your speech to ensure smooth transitions, a confident tone, and natural pacing. And, most importantly, believe in your message. Enthusiasm is contagious! If you’re passionate about your topic, your audience will feel it too.
A dynamic delivery shows that you’re not just reading off a script—you’re genuinely invested in your message.
Takeaway
So, to recap:
- Competence: Show that you’ve done your homework.
- Connection: Find common ground with your audience.
- Conviction: Deliver your speech with confidence and enthusiasm.
These three elements—competence, connection, and conviction—form the foundation of credibility in speeches. Remember, a credible speaker isn’t just heard; they’re trusted.
writer,
Assistant editor, The Campus Mirror.
