ABOUT FAVORIOT SERIES
Public speaking has become a career for me throughout my life. Since I started working, I’ve often stood in front of an audience, speaking and sharing knowledge or ideas.
However, I realize that not everyone is comfortable with this. Many people view it as a nightmare—standing in front of a large group, delivering something they might already know or, more dauntingly, something new that requires their acceptance.
My journey into public speaking began when I became a lecturer. Every day, I had to stand before students, delivering lectures between one and two hours.
At first, I was pretty nervous. “What if the students don’t understand what I’m saying?” I often asked myself.
But over time, lecturing became a routine. I started learning to understand my students, grasping their learning styles, and adjusting how I delivered information to make it more effective.
Being a lecturer taught me a lot about communication.
I needed to ensure that students didn’t just listen but also understood and applied what they learned. I found that how I presented information was crucial in keeping the students engaged. “Am I too serious? Or should I be more relaxed?” I would often ask myself after each class.
After many years in academia, I received invitations to speak at conferences and seminars. This was a new level for me. Unlike in the classroom, where I was facing students familiar with me, conferences and seminars introduced me to a diverse audience – from industry experts to beginners who were just getting acquainted with my field.
Every time I was invited, I was given different amounts of time, sometimes up to 40 minutes, sometimes just 15 minutes. I had to learn to adapt quickly.
“How can I convey important information in this short amount of time?” I often thought before each session.
This was challenging, but it also taught me to be more focused and concise in my delivery.
I learned that in conferences, starting with something that grabs the audience’s attention is crucial. An anecdote, a provocative question, or even a surprising fact can be a good opener.
This made me realize that how we start a speech can determine how the audience will pay attention throughout the session.
However, one of the biggest challenges in public speaking came when I began receiving invitations to speak at workshops.
Here, the time allocated for me to speak was much longer—sometimes up to one or two days—and I spoke alone. Imagine, I had to ensure the audience stayed interested the entire time.
“How can I keep their attention?” This question often swirled in my mind.
I found that interaction is key in workshops. Unlike lectures or seminars, where the delivery is more one-way, workshops require more two-way discussions.
I started involving the audience in discussions, allowing them to share their opinions and experiences. This helped maintain their focus and gave me new perspectives on the issues being discussed.
“Every workshop is an opportunity for me to learn something new,” I often reminded myself.
After transitioning into the corporate and technology world, my role in public speaking also changed. I was no longer just sharing knowledge but also selling products and ideas. “Product Talk” became a routine in our marketing efforts at Favoriot.
Here, I had to present the benefits of our products in a convincing but moderate manner.
Another big challenge was, “How can I make the audience believe in our products without making it feel like I’m just trying to sell them? “
I learned that in Product Talks, it’s essential to focus on how our products can solve the problems faced by the audience. I didn’t just talk about the product’s features but more about the benefits they could gain.
I also started using success stories as examples because I found them more accessible and convincing.
Recently, I’ve started transitioning to pitching to investors, which is an even more challenging level.
Unlike lectures, seminars, or Product Talks, pitching requires me to present all the important information in a very limited time—sometimes only three to five minutes.
“How can I include all the important points in such a short time?” I often ask myself before each pitching session.
I found that clarity and confidence are key in pitching.
I needed to ensure that the investors understood what I was trying to convey, and I had to do it confidently.
I also learned that the slides must be simple but packed with information. There’s no room for unimportant details. “Every slide needs to have a clear purpose,” this is the principle I hold onto.
My experience in various types of public speaking has taught me that each situation requires a different approach.
The duration, type of audience, purpose of the speech, and method of delivery all play a role in determining its effectiveness. I also realized that we often criticize seminar presenters or those giving a pitch—their confusing style, boring slides, or unengaging delivery.
But when it’s our turn to stand in front, sometimes we make the same mistakes.
I learned that the most important things in public speaking are to speak confidently, convey information in a way that’s easy to understand, use an approach that engages the audience, and ensure that the slides used are not boring.
I also learned that we must constantly strive to improve because every public speaking session allows us to learn and grow.
“What about you?” I often ask myself after each session.
Public speaking is a skill that can always be improved. The more we do it, the more confident we become.
Ultimately, I realize that public speaking isn’t just about what we say but how we make the audience feel it.
If we can deliver our message in a way that makes the audience feel connected, then we have succeeded in public speaking.
And that’s something I always strive to achieve.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 