How to Become a Public Speaker - the 8 Things You Must Know
Public speaking is a skill, and some people master it better than others. But as every skill, the more you know about it and the more you rehearse your speech, you will become better at delivering it.
But there are 8 things you must know, in order to become a successful public speaker.
So, what brings me to write about this topic?
Well. Public speaking is ONE way to establish your authority, show up as the go to person within your area of expertise and also a really important piece on how to generate leads.
AND last week I was at a conference in Rome, and two weeks prior to that at another conference in Paris. So it's a super hot topic for me 🔥
And O M G did I see and hear a LOT of things that I wanted to share with you. And once you've read this, and implemented maybe just one or two of the things I list, you will be able to stand out amongst many other speakers.
My analysis, and what I'm sharing with you here is not research based. It's all based on my experience after having attended an an international speakers conference together with in total 166 other award winning entrepreneurs. So, here we go - 8 important tips to know before you prepare for your next speech:
1. Pick your title with care - the title IS important
By picking an intriguing title, you make the audience excited to come listen to you even BEFORE you have started.
The title needs to be connected to what it is that you’ll be covering in your speech. If you for example would talk about confidence - make sure that it’s obvious from the title.
Also, make sure that your title fits the audience, and the venue. Speaking about how to make the perfect cup cake at a tech conference might make sense. But then it might also be way off topic. You don't want to be way off topic...
UNLESS you want to stand out... SEE, there might be a very good reason why you should talk about cup cakes at a tech conference!
But let me give you another example. If these two speeches would be presented at the same time, and you could only attend ONE of them, which would you choose?
Women in Retail (or Banking, as Entrepreneurs, IT etc...), vs.
It didn’t crush me: Create the Life You Want, Regardless of What You Got
I guess you see my point... Dare to stand out with the title of your speech.
2. How come YOU talk about this? What’s your connection to the topic?
We all want to hear an interesting, exciting and emotional story, and if you can connect your topic and include your own personal story into your speech, it will make it even more interesting.
How come you talk about this? What’s your connection to the topic?
Tell them YOUR Story.
When I quit my corporate job, one of my goals was to become a public motivational speaker, and then I added, “But… I don’t have a story…”, which is not true.
Each and every one of us has a story.
Telling yourself that your story is not interesting or exciting enough is just one of those imaginary hurdles we make up to protect us, to keep us safe. Our brain wants us to remain inside our comfort zone where we know exactly what we have, and how things work.
It feels safe.
But by adding your story to your speech, you make it relatable. You will be able to connect with the audience.
So go ahead, what’s your story, and how can you include that in your next speech - without rambling on and on and on about your story.
Too much of YOU is also not interesting.
If you speak about e.g. domestic violence, confidence, or how to write a bestseller - why would YOU be the best person to listen to when it comes to this topic?
This does not mean that you have to have experienced these things yourself, BUT we need to understand why it’s a passion for you, and why you want to share this with us.
3. Keep the time
If your slot is 20 minutes, make sure you end your speech at 18 minutes. The worst thing that can happen is that people start checking their phones, start talking to each other, or even leave the room, before you've finished your speech.
Rehearse your speech several times beforehand so that you are certain that it will not take longer than your allotted time slot.
By exceeding the time you disrespect the audience, the organizers and your fellow speakers.
4. Do you really need a power point? Really? Are you really, really sure you need a power point?
A power point during a presentation can be a very powerful tool. While some people can absorb a lot of verbal information, others find it easier to absorb visual information.
However, a power point often causes delay during a presentation, because not all organizers are well prepared and have tested whether it works beforehand.
If your presentation would be delayed as a result of technical difficulties, make sure you just take a deep breath, and then you continue with your speech as planned - but without a power point presentation.
IF you decide to use a power point to underline your message, make sure it doesn’t have loads, and loads of text and bullets on it. Or way too many slides for that matter.
And if you do use bullets, make sure you don’t repeat the exact same words as your written bullets (the audience can most likely read the bullets themselves), and make sure that you don’t talk for too long for each of the bullets.
Canva is a super easy tool to use, not only for social media content creation, but also to create really engaging and amazing presentations.
5. Engage the audience
Is there a way to engage the audience during your speech - to get them to stand up, or reply to some questions? Without making them feel uncomfortable.
Engaging the audience can be difficult in certain settings. If your speech is for example on Zoom, then asking a question and getting a reply might be more difficult, than doing it in a live audience.
However, it is always okay to just pick a person then.
6. Can you tie your speech to a methodology?
It can be difficult to find a red thread in a presentation, especially if there is so much you want to share, and so little time.
To keep it all together, and also to help you out on your presentation and not forget anything, add either a methodology to it, or number the things you want to say (e.g. eight things that will make your speech better).
7. Pitch or no pitch?
The best pitch you can do is when you present yourself, what you do, and how you help people without saying it straight, and out loud.
No-one wants to be sold to. BUT, if you're sharing how to solve a problem they might be facing right at that moment, or they know someone, who might know someone, who knows someone who needs your solution - 💥 BAM! 💥 That's a lead right there!
Ending your speech at a conference by saying, book your call now and you'll get it for free (valued at $500) is a certain way of how you can make sure that no-one is going to book that call with you.
The moment you walk off the stage, is the moment they decided that they don't want to work with you.
Instead, during your presentation, add some examples of how you helped people accomplish their goals.
One of the presenters at the conference where I was at did a case study, right there. She picked one person in the audience, asked that person to share their elevator pitch with her. And then she provided feedback on it.
She never once mentioned that we should buy this service from her. But I can bet that we were many who checked out her services after her speech.
Depending on the venue, one call to action can be to say how they can connect with you.
Make sure, when people connect with you and are sending you messages, that you reply to those messages too!
8. Know your audience
The most important thing is to know WHO you are talking to, and why. Depending on the audience, you will decide on the:
Title and Topic
The stories you chose to tell them
How you engage with them
Whether you make a clear pitch or not
How they can connect with you post your speech
For example, if you would be talking at an International Conference for Women Entrepreneurs, what is the message that you would want to share with them?
So, you need to be very clear on who you are talking to, and why? And not from your why - but from their point of view. What’s in it for them to sit there and listen to you?
What can you give them, to make you and your speech memorable, and a learning experience for them?
Because, if you make it memorable for them, they will remember not only what you taught and shared with them, but they will also remember YOU.
It will help you stand out from the crowd, and it might not result in any leads or immediate sales, but by showing up for others, and by sharing your expertise, you will win in the long run.
Entrepreneurship is not a sprint. Neither is sales. You need to show up, be patient, connect with others and not give up.
And by adding public speaking as one of your Lead Generation Strategies, you will eventually be able to generate more high-quality leads, that will lead to sales.
Oh, and as a last comment. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES! It is okay! But if you never try, you will never become better. 💕
I also have a small gift to you.
We have created a totally new Framework that focuses on Lead Generation - and how to make Selling Feel Good.
In this Framework I share 8 simple steps that you need to have in place to Generate Leads in a way that feels good for both you AND your prospects.
It also includes mistakes that "other coaches make", so that you don't need to repeat them.
Click this link, add your email, submit, and the Framework is yours 🎯
