HOW TO DELIVER A GOOD LECTURE

HOW TO DELIVER A GOOD LECTURE

By

VIKRAM KARVE

The lecture is still the most frequently used method of instruction. Even if you are not a teacher, in your everyday work you may be constantly using the medium of speech to convey a message or instruction or for informal training or motivational purposes. How well you put across your ideas depends to a large extent on now well you have mastered the elements of good public speaking.

An important pre-requisite of a good lecture is that it must be carefully prepared to the extent that you have a firm mastery of the topic you are going to discuss and a clear conception in your mind of how you are going to present the subject.

A good lecture has four simple requirements:

1. MESSAGE

The first characteristic of a good lecture is that it must have a message. The lecturer must have something to say and what the lecturer says must be worth saying and worth listening to. You must clearly bring out the importance of the topic and why the audience needs to hear you and unambiguously state your message so that the audience understands what you want to say.

You may have heard Aristotle’s dictum on rhtetoric: "Tell them what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you told them."

So, to get your message across, that’s what you must do:

Tell the audience what you are going to tell them

Tell them

Tell them what you have told them.

2. NATURALNESS

The second attribute of a good talk is naturalness. Remember, the audience wants to hear YOU so make it your own lecture, your very own talk – speak in your very own natural style, don’t try to copy someone else.

3. SINCERITY

The third feature of an effective lecture is that it must be sincere. The audience must be convinced that you believe in what you say, so make sure you talk sincerely and clearly demonstrate that you believe in what you are saying. Remember, you cannot fake sincerity so the only way to succeed in giving an impression of sincerity is to be sincere. [And suppose you do not believe in something or are not fully convinced about a topic…well, why talk about something you do not believe in…?]

4. ENTHUSIASM

Finally, last but not the least; a good lecture must radiate enthusiasm. An enthusiastic speaker is one who displays great eagerness to have his or her ideas understood, believed and put into practice. You should be passionate about what you are speaking about. If you want your audience to be enthusiastic about listening to you, radiate enthusiasm yourself while speaking.

So, in a nutshell, before you deliver your next lecture, keep these basic four principles in mind (message, naturalness, sincerity, enthusiasm) and you will deliver a great lecture – you can take my word for it.

All the Best – Happy Speaking…!!!

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.  

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts. 

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve 

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll