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Exclusive interview with public-speaking expert LeeAundra Temescu


Absara: - From you point of view, what are the differences between oral and written communication?

LeeAundra Temescu: - Oral communication can be less formal in terms of grammar. You have much more context. You can add more shades of meaning because you have your face, your voice and your body to help the audience understand what you mean. You can get away with a lot more in terms of humor and emotion.

A: - What are the main strengths and weaknesses in spontaneous oral communication? Are there cultural differences according to the countries?

LT: - Oral communication can be much more powerful than the written word. You have many more tools, your body, your face, your voice, to help you convey your message to the audience. The biggest weakness is that you can get into trouble unless you’ve thought carefully ahead of time about what you want to say and how you want to say it. There’s no "delete" button. Once you’ve said something, you can’t take it back.

>> In very formal, group oriented cultures (Japan, for example), oral communication is riskier because of these very strengths and weaknesses. Oral communication, by its nature, draws attention to the individual because the physical presence of the speaker is what gives it its power. Also, effective oral communication is usually less formal than written communication. Many cultures may shy away from this preferring the discipline of the written word.

A: - How can you define the main tendencies of an Entertainer, an Educator, an Evangelist, an Exhibitor, an Energizer, an Eulogist and an Executive?

LT: - The Entertainer is a naturally open, gregarious, expressive speaker. They enjoy people and love being the center of attention. Humor is extremely important to them. If the audience doesn’t laugh, they consider the presentation a failure. They often perform better in front of large groups than they do in smaller, more intimate settings. They feed off an audience and speak because it makes them feel validated. They are energized by speaking and leave a room laughing.

>> The Educator is fueled by an intense desire to share knowledge. Not a "natural" speaker, they nonetheless find themselves in situations where they must communicate their expertise and passion to a wide audience. Educators are intelligent, insightful, and exude scholarship and authority. They are interested in nothing more than that their audiences learn something when they leave the room and are happiest when they’ve conveyed their wisdom to others.

>> The Evangelist is, in many ways, one of the most naturally effective speakers. They are compelling, passionate and are generally the most successful at inspiring their audiences to act, one the core measures of success for a speaker. Evangelists are happiest when they have a rapt audience that leaves the room utterly convinced.

>> The Exhibitor is a naturally gifted communicator who loves to speak in front of people, especially when they are able to explain or demonstrate a procedure . Poised and polished, they lend instant credibility to their message. They have the gift of taking any topic and speaking about it authoritatively.

>> The Energizer is optimistic, upbeat and convinced that people can do anything if they put their minds to it! They walk into a room beaming and inspire everyone they meet with their enthusiasm and confidence in others. After listening to an Energizer, people want to rush out and get things done! They are passionate, creative and dynamic.

>> The Eulogist is least ego-centric and rarest of all the speaking styles. Genial, affable, and easygoing, they are more comfortable speaking about others than themselves. They are also caring, sensitive and acutely aware of the value of teamwork and the importance of interconnectedness, Eulogists are oftentimes those ideal managers who heap praise on those around them and ensure that everybody gets the credit they deserve.

>> The Executive is a supremely effective "doer" who’s no nonsense and practical speaking style is an incredible asset in most organizations. They are professional, authoritative and confident. Extremely task oriented, Executives know how to say what needs to be said in the most efficient manner possible and in a way that audiences will clearly understand.

A: - In a few words, what can you advise to improve everyone's technical level?

LT: - Preparation and practice. I can’t stress enough what these two dynamics can do for anybody who wants to be a better speaker. Take the time to develop a clear, focused and compelling message, research your audience, write an organized and well thought out speech, practice your delivery, create good visuals and prepare for the question and answer session. If you do this rather than just walking into the board room and "winging it" will increase your effectiveness exponentially.

A: - Thank you, LeeAundra.

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