How can you tell if you are an Effective and Efficient Speaker?

This it seems to me is a carefully crafted and important question. I stuttered badly in high school despite multiple experiences in public speaking. When I was concerned about what the audience thought of me or was unsure of my material, I spoke way too fast and with a high pitched voice.

IME one becomes an effective and efficient speaker when one has developed a deep and relatively comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter, when one has learned to use pace carefully (drama classes can help), when one as noted by another respondent eliminates fillers (pace helps with that), when one manages or escapes from the fear of rejection, when one understands adult learning theory and therefore dares to address the “real” issues, and when one has a passion for helping others rather than looking good.

Note that “con men” are effective and efficient speakers. Convincing others is I guess the goal of “effective.” “Efficient” is the goal of Occam’s Razor—just enough to do the job and nothing left over. Mozart was criticized for having “too many notes.” Many speakers have too many words. Impacting an audience is the goal—and often that is done with fewer words properly paced and properly chosen and properly delivered. The “con men” issue is a focus on intent. To deceive? To serve self? To build one’s own esteem?

Carl Rogers implied a two part translation that takes place when one speaks. The first translation is from “experience” to “thought.” The second one is from “thought” to “speech.” Many ignore the first translation when their first awareness of the desire to speak is an idea. Many also struggle with “I know what I want to say I just can’t find the words” the second translation. IME learning foreign languages (Cantonese, Japanese, German, Spanish, Scottish and Southern) one must do so out loud. There are literal neural-muscular synaptic linkages that must be developed in order to speak clearly. I practiced in the shower, in the car, while walking, in my office, everywhere in order to overcome stuttering and to learn new sounds (Cantonese was difficult for me).

Non-verbals. I’ve also written about how “YOU” are the message even before you begin to speak. How you dress, how you groom, how you move, how you begin all convey messages to your audience in a flash.

I’ve also written about the “language of leadership” that includes what a colleague and I call the “rules of the dance.” Things like replacing your “buts” with “ands.” Using first person not second person language (I have a problem not you have a problem—which creates defensiveness). Not disguising your opinions as questions (don’t you agree or think that…. ?). Not presenting your opinions as facts (“reifying”—see for example Berger and Luckman The Social Construction of Reality ) and more… for more see my website at Level Three Leadership )

Watching the news and the questions that reporters ask and the “panels of experts” that dominate the news these days, is an hourly class/lesson in assessing effective and efficient language. Many are pressured by time constraints and talk way too fast with way too many fillers.

If a person has investigated their (new grammar rules on gender pronouns) subject matter carefully, CARES about their audience over personal appearance, and understands the power of dramatic timing and tone and non-verbals—one can become an effective and efficient speaker.

You’ll “know” because a) you feel it, b) you are amazed at what you just said, and c) the audience erupts in spontaneous energy—deep thinking attention or standing applause.