A great speech has numerous components. The success of the speaker may hinge on the speaker’s body language, the outstanding content he brings to the table or the awe-inspiring and soul stirring delivery with tantalizing intonation. However there has always been a tussle on what reigns supreme in packaging a riveting talk. Is it the delivery or the content? Which needs to be crowned as the winner,
content, or delivery?
Many speakers believe and profess that content is the king. True to the fact that without a strong and enticing content it is hard to weave the magic in one’s talk. Some believe that a talk which is woven with weak content can also find place at the podium with a scintillating delivery, like Will Stephen who spoke on “How to sound smart in your Tedx” with absolutely no content.
So, does this mean that irrespective of having the most diligently crafted and nicely padded talk with message still needs that magic potion of exceptional delivery? Let’s check. Each speaker must work hard on preparation of his script for a talk/keynote. He needs to pack it with stories, analogies, rhetoric(sometimes) and a well sculpted message. So, if this effort suffices to score the slot to be perched alongside great speeches, then the speaker can just read out the script from his notes to the audience.
However, imagine this, if a speaker is asked to deliver an impromptu talk or speak on a topic which is given few moments before the final talk (which happens in most of the competitions which tests the speaker’s ability and his/her delivery prowess) then with no speech handy to read from, the speaker fails to make an impact. This, of course, doesn’t mean that just an exceptional delivery will sail the speaker to the shores of great speaking.
So, to say, it is the judicious mix of content and delivery, verbal, and non-verbal aspects, which is expected of a good speaker. A good content depicts the in depth research done by the speaker, his effort in learning the concept, the speakers’ interpretations to cull out valuable lessons and the accrued mastery on the subject due to his research. A good content always wins the minds of the audience with a telling impression on their thought process.
On the other hand, the speaker’s delivery includes his / her body language, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and vocal intonation which not only grabs the attention of the audience but also wins their hearts. Great delivery elevates the speaker’s credibility. An interesting and impacting delivery invigorates the environment in the auditorium and effectively swoons the audience towards the message of the speaker.
Hence none of the two, ie, content or delivery, can be underplayed by a good speaker. A nicely crafted content with an exceptional delivery is the secret of success for all professional speakers. So, it is the right combination of both
content and delivery which form the indelible part of that winning mascot of an effective speaker.
