At first glance, this might seem like a very obvious question. Somone stands up in front of an audience and delivers information. This information can be informative, entertaining, moving, educational, or any combination of the above. A gifted speaker can capture and hold the audience's attention for anywhere from a few minutes to several days.
Speaking is one of the most powerful forms of communication there is. The written word conveys about 5% of the message. Vocal inflections transmit roughly another 35%. Body language alone transmits 60% (over half) of the entire message. If you want to make a lasting impression on your audience, book a dynamic and engaging speaker.
Speaking can be educational. This is especially true when s/he combines the basic presentation with multimedia aids such as slides, workbooks, breakout sessions, etc. All of these methods rely on the speaker generating and imparting information- a one way process. If you want a two-way process, consider setting up a training workshop where all participants will join in creating and discovering knowledge. Click the About training button in the mind map to learn more (above).