Greetings!

I was recently at a large industry conference. Some of the speakers offered captivating topics that were well-presented. Others, did not.

While public speaking is not everyone's favorite, it is important for many to become better at it. You never know when you'll be called upon as the "expert" in a certain area to present a talk, or a formal speech at an event.

At the industry conference, there was a speaker who was an expert in "augmented reality." For whatever reason, the speaker had it in his head that it should be pronounced "argmented" with an emphasis on the "argghh" which made me think he was channeling his inner pirate!

As a Toastmaster, I hear a lot of speeches. Mispronunciations are common. Often I attribute them to how one was raised, including geographic pronunciations - for example, the difference between the word "wash" vs. the Midwestern pronunciation of "war-sh."

Word pronunciation and usage is critical. Many speakers will use malapropisms - using a word in the wrong context (i.e. wrong definition). In public speaking, listeners will pick up on incorrect word usage and the speaker will lose credibility.

In addition to these issues, many speakers will lean heavily on reading notes verbatim, which is a terrible habit. If the speaker knows the topic, and can prepare an outline, they can speak from the heart based upon everyday knowledge in their working life.

If you are a nervous speaker, have concerns over language and grammar usage, or just want to improve, consider taking Toastmasters training, or try Dale Carnegie. It is critical for professionals to have this skill, and to work toward improvement. You'll be happy that you did when called upon to present on behalf of the business.