Have you ever heard a speech that has left you completely enthralled with the speaker’s personality?
Speakers come and go but there are only few who succeed to grip your attention and leave you in complete awe. The power of their words, the eloquence of their voice, the confidence and body language they present enchant you in a way that you feel connected to them. These speakers are one in a million who stand out from the crowd with their charismatic personality.
Public speaking is an art that takes years to master. No one is perfect at it. Everyone is prone to mistakes on stage. It is the worst nightmare for most people. Even Jerry Seinfeld said,” According to studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
This explains why people admire and follow public speakers so much. They not only touch people but also have the power to change the lives of people with their words. There have been many great speakers since the dawn of humankind like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill who have appealed the masses and registered their names in the history of the world. Their words created a huge impact and continue to do so.
Likewise, some great speakers in the 21st century appeal the masses and create a difference in their lives as well. Here are some great speakers of today’s times:
- Barack Obama
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
The 44th American President, Barack Hussein Obama II is not only an American attorney and politician but one of the most renowned public speakers too. With his charismatic personality, he was able to win US Presidential elections twice in a row, thereby becoming the first ever African-American President.
He is not only loved by his countrymen but also by people all around the world. By infusing his speeches with personal tales and experiences, he never fails to grasp the attention of people. Even after completing the tenure of his office in 2017, Obama continues to win the hearts of citizens of the world.
By using ‘We’ instead of ‘I’, he adds value to his audience. Be it his 2004 speech at the democratic national convention or 20008 speech on race, all his speeches leave a remarkable impression on his audience and are added in the history with golden words.
2) Bill Gates
“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose”
One of the wealthiest people in the world who has been featured as the Forbes’ richest man for four consecutive years from 2014 to 2017, William Henry ‘Bill’ Gates III lands among the top public speakers of the century with his tactful and witty speeches.
He is a businessman, author, and philanthropist. As per what his profession demands, he needs to excel with words without shying away. Not hard to say, he does excel in all the parameters that a good public speaker requires. His speeches provide a mirror to the youth and inspiration to all. By living a life of simplicity, he represents the life of a hard worker.
He is not someone who shies away from what he preaches. He can change the minds and lives of people with his words. He believes in a realist approach gathered from his experience which he pushes forward with his words,” Life is not fair, get used to it.”
3) Deepak Chopra
“Words can wound or heal. The purpose of speech must always be to create joy in the listener”
Deepak Chopra, an alternative medicine advocate, author, and a public speaker is seen as a prominent figure in the ‘New Age’ moment. Often facing criticism from people, he has still been able to stand up for his belief. He has moved a large number of people, through his passionate speeches.
His confidence and presence of mind with a critical approach that he applies while addressing the audience is out of ordinary. It helps him in garnering people’s attention to a subject that he strongly believes in and has worked hard for. He exhibits all the qualities of a good speaker and continues to influence people all around the globe.
4) Malala Yousafzai
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”
The youngest Nobel Prize winner and an activist for female education, Malala Yousafzai has time and again proven her metal in the world through her work and strong words on stage.
She was shot in the head at the age of 15 for her activism on female education. Following which, she jumped right into the field to fight for equal education rights for students around the world. She found the Malala Fund, a non-profit organization that works for girls education actively. Her books and movies which represent her moving story and the importance of education have also touched people all around the world.
She has now become one of the most influential persons in the world who amazes the whole world through her powerful and eloquent words. Her Nobel Peace Prize speech, which she delivered at just the age of 19 continues to be one of the best speeches delivered on stage till date.
She is an example of her quote,” When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
5) Mark Zuckerberg
“People don’t care about what you say, they care about what you build”
Aspired by millions, Mark Zuckerberg is a philanthropist and above all a technology entrepreneur being a co-founder of Facebook. With a net worth of over fifty billion, he is one of the richest people in the world. He has repeatedly landed in Forbes and Times list of wealthiest people in the world over the years.
One thing that a brand needs is a concrete public image with strong leaders and Mark as the public front of the company does not disappoint. His speeches are not only practical but motivational too. His commencement speech at Harvard in 2017 is a perfect example of his excellent public speaking skills.
Not only his content is relevant, concise and direct, but his personality is also confident and inspiring to the public, especially to the potential and upcoming entrepreneurs.
6) Narendra Modi
“Hard Work never brings stress. It always brings satisfaction”
India’s Prime-minister, Narendra Damodardas Modi has won millions of hearts all around the world. The one quality that every politician needs, is good public speaking skills and Modi in this respect is one of the best. He is one of the most charismatic speakers in the world.
By beginning his speeches with, "Mere pyare bhaiyo aur behno" meaning "My dear brothers and sisters", Modi addresses the whole nation as his family with him as their guardian. This adds value to his speeches and helps him build a connection with his audience.
Seeing him speak with the amount of energy,and passion that he possesses is truly a sight to behold. His speeches at every national event are brilliant and it is his personality and the way that he connects with his people talking about the root problems, that makes him so admirable.
These are some prominent speakers of the 21st century who have created difference to the world with the power of their words. They are a cause of inspiration to their listeners who ardently follow them and love them.
- Isha Jain
Source: https://mindgrad.com/free-reads/f/6-best-speakers-of-the-21st-century Want to get published on EMN and join the community? Here is an opportunity to join the Board of Young Leaders Program by Eat My News. Click here to know more: bit.ly/boardofyoungleaders
Source: https://mindgrad.com/free-reads/f/6-best-speakers-of-the-21st-century Want to get published on EMN and join the community? Here is an opportunity to join the Board of Young Leaders Program by Eat My News. Click here to know more: bit.ly/boardofyoungleaders
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