What do you do if your public speaking presentations are not helping you advance in your career?

If your public speaking skills aren’t advancing your career, it’s time to reassess. Start by seeking constructive feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors. Are you delivering value, or just information? Shift focus toward engaging storytelling and actionable insights that resonate with your audience. Practice refining your delivery style—strong eye contact, clear body language, and voice modulation can make all the difference. Also, tailor your content to align with your career goals. The more value you bring to your presentations, the more they'll propel your growth.

When my public speaking efforts seem ineffective, I start by evaluating the impact of my presentations. I look closely at the content, my delivery, and how well I'm engaging the audience to see if I'm conveying my message clearly and in a way that resonates. I also seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors, who can offer valuable insights into areas like my speech structure or whether I'm addressing the audience's needs effectively.

If your public speaking skills are not advancing your career, keep going anyway! I had a participant say in my workshop 'I want to speak like Obama.' and I thought, give yourself 20+ years and you will! Think progress, not perfection.

I would do some personal evaluation before making any drastic changes. Once you look at data or engagement, request feedback from others you trust in your sacred circle. We all have blindspots.

When assessing the impact of your public speaking efforts, it's crucial to analyze not just the immediate feedback but also the long-term effects on your career trajectory. Refining your skills through practice and training can significantly enhance your effectiveness. Networking after your presentations can also open doors to new opportunities, making it essential to view public speaking as a strategic tool for career advancement.

Seek guidance. Hire a coach or mentor. Public speaking is an art and skill. Often speakers are just reporters of information. They don't understand the strategy behind designing a presentation to take their audience on a journey. The mechanical skills of speaking is one thing. The strategy is another. You need both. Focusing too much on the performance makes the presentation about you. Having the strategy to dictate your performance, allows the presentation to be about your audience. When your audience feels seen, heard and valued you will achieve the outcome (in this case career advancement) you are seeking.