It is through vocal and visual delivery that speakers are able to interact with their audiences—that’s what makes public speaking different from just writing a good presentation. When you compose an essay, you write it and it goes off to the reader; it’s a linear model of communication (as discussed in Chapter 1). But speaking before an audience is more than just providing information through words; it’s an interaction between speaker and audience.

Indeed, gifted speakers like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were always aware of this and became known for their ability to deliver even the most formal speeches in a style that felt conversational, personal, and connected. That’s because both were able to use their words, voices, and gestures to convey the way they felt about a subject. They also spoke directly to their audiences in a way that felt unrehearsed and sincere. Let’s now take a look at the way our words converge with our vocal and visual delivery to establish such a connection with the audience. We’ll also consider the ways we can adapt our delivery to suit the audience’s needs and expectations.