The Difference Between a Speech, Between Speaking and Presenting and a Between a Presentation and Between a Speaker and a Presenter.

Many people especially in positions of leadership, in marketing and in sales make a grave mistake of not taking communication seriously. It is surprising and even weird that even some high profile people such as board leaders, chief executive officers, top government officials, heads of department, engineers, scientists, marketing and sales people, teachers and lecturers, and politicians have yet to realise that they must invest seriously in their speaking and presentation skills. Some will ask why they need to invest in speaking and communication when they are already successful without investing in their communication, speaking and presentation skills. This is a question that the average and the mediocre and those who do not understand the impact of improving their communication, presentation and speaking skills and abilities on their success including the financial performance of their companies and businesses. If they get help from competent people, the impact of improving your communication, presentation and speaking abilities is huge and just unbelievable. Now, here is the difference between a speech and a presentation.

What is a Speech?

A speech is, in short, a vocal or written delivery made to an audience, usually in such a way to capitate the audience on a specific topic or theme. A real speech is typically an expression of one’s thoughts and feelings on a particular situation or topic, happening or outcome. The main objective of a speech is to influence a person or an audience to thinking, feel or act in a certain way about a situation.

The person who delivers a speech is called a speaker and the success of the speaker in delivery a speech is measured by the reaction or response of the people to the speech. Greater speakers are often called orators while the ability to deliver speeches is also called oratory or rhetoric. Great orators have outstanding skills in delivering speeches in such a way that they sweep their audiences off their feet by the way they deliver the speeches. If you are not familiar with speeches, a good starting point is understanding the 73855 rule meaning;

1.      The actual words you say in a speech contribute only 7% to the impact of your speech

2.      Your body language contributes 55% to the impact of your speech

3.      To vocalics (voice characteristics) contribute 38% to the impact of your speech.

You may also want to use some advice from Aristotle on rhetoric or the art of persuasion where he talks about the three paths of persuasive speaking which are ethos, logos and pathos. Some great speakers and orators include Demosthenes, Martin Luther King and Barack Obama.

The fear of speaking in public is one people’s ten greatest fears. This means that even your slight improvement in your speaking abilities will dramatically put you way ahead of the rest. Remember, people, pay more attention to your ability to speak in making a decision about you before they can consider other things even in areas where you have to compete with others.

There are more than 17 different approaches to developing a delivering a speech but in general you must know the following very basics;

1.      You must know your audience-This is the first key to a successful speech

2.      A speech must have one overall objective

3.      A speech as a beginning, a middle part and an end

4.      A speech is best delivered from the head and not read like a book or a letter.

5.      There are bad ways of start and ending a speech. The worst way of starting a speech is by long, windy introductions. Starting a speech by apoligising is another bad approach.

6.      A speech must not be too long as to bore audiences.

7.      Audiences read everything including your body language and can pick your fears and other nuisances that can undermine their capacity to believe in you and your speech.

8.      Even when you speak to an audience, also speak to individuals.

9.      Use the SMART, the AEIOU, the OPAR, The 7S of Speaking and other tools to design, develop and deliver your speech.

10.  You are more important than you speech in speaking

What is a Presentation?

A presentation, in contrast to a speech, is a delivery of information, knowledge and ideas on, or about, a specific topic. The main object of a presentation is to inform and convince the audience about a particular situation or viewpoint. In a presentation, it is important to provide facts, evidence, information, findings, conclusions, and detail.

When you make a presentation you do not take the role of a speaker but of a presenter. When you are a presenter the assumption is that you are either

·      an expert, or

·      a researcher, or

·      a scholar, or

·      a teacher, or

·      a practitioner or

·      have some experience in what you are presenting or

·      have interviewed someone who has experienced what you are presenting

Many technocrats such as engineers and scientists are very bad at presentation because they approach their presentations the academic way. Presentations are not very different from speeches in general principles so the first principle of knowing your audience is key. However some principles reverse when it comes to presentation. For example in a presentation your presentation is more important than you.

Presentations must have a proper structure. Dumping information and figures and facts on the audience makes no sense. There are other things that presenters make including;

1.      Using poor presentation formats just as dumbing long tables of data on a screen

2.      Not using enough visual presentations

3.      Coping and pasting large chunks of text onto PowerPoint slides and then reading them to the audience. Powerpoint is for power points not power paragraphs. If you want audiences to read large texts, give them an article or handout.

4.      Not providing your own views in the presentation when you should

5.      Not defining the purpose of your presentation

6.      Not engaging your audience to create a two way communication.

7.      Abuse of quotes and other people’s work

8.      Over quoting others

9.      Not separating facts from opinions

Conclusion

The differences between a speech and a presentation are important. It is important to learn and train in these two separately and to be clear about where you have to make a speech and where you are required to make a presentation. Confusing the two is a very bad idea because it leads to mediocrity or even downright failure.

All the best.

Pursue Your Greatness

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©Simon Bere