adminLovemore Ranga Mataire The Reader
ZIMBABWE has of late seen a flurry of motivational speakers who seem to have taken advantage of the inertia within the country’s corporate sector of inspirational speakers capable of transforming average employees into high-powered performance-driven individuals through the sheer power of words.
Milton Kamwendo, Jonah Mungoshi and Douglas Mamvura have carved a niche in the field of motivational speaking through their books, which have inspired a number of young and upcoming speakers who have also decided to condense their experiences into inspiring books suitable for everyday life.
One such author is Blessing Mandipira whose book, “Dazzle Your Audience – How to Speak With Power and Conviction on Any Platform”, is real practical guide on how one can win the hearts and minds of his or her audience through the power of words.
With a foreword penned by former chief executive officer of Mbada Diamonds Patience Khumalo, the book is a masterpiece is its lucid illustration of step- by-step guide in improving one’s capacity in endearing his or her audience during public speaking or a seminar.
Khumalo testifies to being a protégé of the author’s seminal skills in becoming an effective speaker when addressing different platforms and forums.
“Anyone aspiring to reach the apex when dealing with a crowd of any size needs to use ‘Dazzle Your Audience’ as the first step to greatness,” says Khumalo.
From his humble beginnings as a domestic worker, Mandipira personifies a spirit of perseverance as he rose to become an internationally acclaimed speaker and won the 2012 Toastmaster (Zimbabwe) title.
The book’s diction is simple and is structured in such a way as to give the reader clear steps needed in attaining the needed prowess in public speaking. Thus, the first chapter focuses on overcoming stage fright, where the author recounts of an incident when a respected chief executive officer of a company stuttered and sweated in front of an audience of a thousand expectant people after being overcome by fear.
“It was one of the most unpleasant gatherings I have ever been in and he was the most ashamed and humiliated speaker I have ever seen.”
In recounting this incident, the author says fear is a natural aspect to all human beings but can be masterfully managed not to become an impediment in delivering an enchanting speech at any public gathering.
He says according to the Book of Lists, 54 percent of adults fear public speaking ahead of the fear of death and that most people who are competent speakers today were at one time terrified of speaking in public.
Mandipira lists several steps that are needed in overcoming fear which include planning, knowing one’s audience, grasp of the subject matter, structuring the presentations, rehearsing the speech including practising in front of people, being intimate with the subject and ultimately being confident.
But overcoming fear is not enough in achieving the desired results in public speaking and leaving a lasting impression. The speaker needs to astutely choose his diction to suit his audience. It is also essential that the speaker must be obsessed with positive thoughts as negative thinking depreciates one’s self-worth and confidence.
Quoting Alexander Cregg, Mandipira says there are three things to aim at in public speaking; “First, to get into a subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.”
In reading this book, one gets the sense that far from being an in-born gift, public speaking is something that can be learned and mastered through training. One needs to be conscious of obvious speech “killers” that include the use of information which does not relate to the audience, mumbling on about nothing in particular instead of pointing out a central idea, speaking at a low volume that makes the audience strain hard to hear or comprehend the speech and one needs to avoid uttering general statements or abstract concepts as in normal cases the audience is more keen in identifying with concrete and specific examples.
This book is a must have for anyone regardless of status or position at workplace as it is a survival toolbox for daily life.
Online Reporter