Public speaking is considered an important leadership skill. This subject has been around for more than 3,000 years and I love reading, writing, and teaching it. This book is an outcome of my doctoral studies. When I started digging into academic theories to find answers to my research question “What makes an impactful speech and why are some speakers more impactful than others?”, I was surprised that there is an ocean of literature available on this topic. I was able to find three broad theories that explained this phenomenon from different angles namely, the theory of communication studies, the theory of persuasion studies, and, finally, the theory of charismatic leadership. This book is designed to help the reader understand the various interconnected components of public speaking when viewed together from these three broad academic lenses. Together, these lenses make a unique kaleidoscope for the reader to answer the question as to why some speeches are more impactful than others. This kaleidoscope includes more than 50 parameters that engage in interplay among themselves to create an impactful communication and serve as a foundation for future academic work on this topic. This book is intended for a broad audience including students, scholars, researchers, and professors in undergraduate and graduate schools who want to learn the art and skill of public speaking. The book can also help trainers, consultants, and practitioners around the world who are interested in this topic. The objective is to give them a quick view into the ocean of academic literature and spur further research on, and understanding of, this topic.
Keywords
charismatic leadership, communication, impactful presentations, influence, persuasion, public speaking