UNAIR NEWS – More than 75 percent of people experience anxiety when speaking in front of an audience. In response to this widespread challenge, the American Corner of Universitas Airlangga, in collaboration with Airlangga Global Engagement, held a seminar titled “Navigating the Future Through Communication, Leadership, and Public Speaking Branding.” The event took place on Friday (October 24, 2025) at Tarumanegara Hall, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, Universitas Airlangga.
Public Speaking
The main speaker, Wilson Lawden from Toastmasters Metropolitan Jakarta, is an accomplished public speaker with a strong record in communication and leadership. During his session, Lawden emphasized that public speaking is not confined to academic settings, it is an essential skill in everyday interactions.
“Public speaking isn’t limited to classroom presentations. It happens during group discussions, casual conversations, storytelling, interviews, and many other situations. In essence, public speaking is about how we express ourselves effectively so that our message is clearly understood,” he explained.
Effective public speaking techniques
Lawden introduced several frameworks to enhance one’s speaking abilities. He explained three key structures: the Three Pillars of Public Speaking, the OREO structure, and the STAR structure.
The three pillars, ethos, pathos, and logos, are crucial for persuasive communication. He explained that credibility (ethos) builds audience trust, while emotion (pathos) and logic (logos) must complement each other, combining empathy and factual support to strengthen the message.
“You can use the OREO and STAR methods to practice your public speaking,” he said. “OREO stands for Opinion, Reason, Explanation, Opinion, which works well when starting with a personal viewpoint. STAR, Situation, Task, Action, Result, is effective when sharing a personal story or experience.”
Lawden concluded with practical advice for improving delivery. He highlighted three essential aspects of effective public speaking.
“First, don’t be afraid to pause, there’s no need to rush. Take a moment to think and breathe. Second, always involve your audience; encourage interaction to maintain their attention. Finally, make it a habit to close with a summary, highlight the key message, share a meaningful takeaway, or inspire action,” he said in closing.
Author: Putri Andini
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
