What are the most effective ways to develop public speaking skills as a leader?

Step out of your comfort zone and address your most challenging critics regularly. Prepare your key points mentally before speaking, without relying on audio or visual aids. Deliver an extemporaneous, heartfelt address, as it's the most impactful way to connect with your audience. Keep them engaged throughout your talk by involving them with intriguing ideas, questions, and feedback. Be a storyteller in your talk as people like interesting narration more than the content.

In my first year at Google I was asked to give a keynote speech to more than 400 people at an event. I was the sandwiched between Bob Geldof and the Secretary of State for Education - no pressure! I got a speaker coach. It was the best experience and the beginning of me being able to speak in public with low to no preparation. The coach video'd me - painful to watch but extremely valuable. He pointed out elements of my delivery that I was completely unaware of. Making small changes in my posture, for example, had a big effect on my overall delivery.

There are four very important aspects to consider when speaking in public: energy, voice, body, and speech. It is important that we can work on each of these four aspects, separately and then together. Working on energy has to do with knowing ourselves personally, knowing our emotional world, and working to regulate ourselves. Working on the voice has a lot to do with breathing and the degree of activation of our nervous system. Working with the body implies getting to know it, positioning it to project the voice, taking advantage of breathing and favoring openness to the public. All this would not be useful without the meticulous elaboration of the discourse, of what we want to communicate, and linking voice, body, and energy with it.

Writing is a great way to improve one's public speaking. Consistent practice writing every day will translate into being able to convey your ideas more clearly and concisely when speaking. Try writing one paragraph every day with a message you want to convey as a leader. Refine it until it is clear and concise. Then read it out loud a few times. Soon, sending this message will become second nature.

As a presenter, be yourself. Know your strong points as a speaker and utilize them. Display your humanness. Come across as someone that your audience can relate to and feel comfortable with. Smile as you speak, as appropriate. Speak with a positive tone. In addition, be respectful of everyone's time by effectively delivering your content within the time frame assigned to you. Remember to thank the audience at the conclusion of your presentation.

Persuade stakeholders by crafting messages like a marketer. What's the benefit for them? How are you going to save them time, increase revenue, decrease redundancy, improve quality of life, etc.? Most good marketing campaigns start with buyer pains to show how their product or service provides gains and transformations. Do the same for your speech or presentation - pains to gains/transformations.

Great perspective! All people, no matter their role or position want to know the answer to 2 core questions: "Why are we doing this?", and "What's in it for me?". If you can provide the big picture and the details the audience needs to form a decision, you're well on your way to a successful outcome!

This was soooo obvious when the same keynote speaker spoke at a conference I attend annually - about 6 years apart. The first time, he knew his audience of HR Pros and tied that in through his entertaining presentation. The second time he basically “phoned it in” and the presentation could have been given to an audience of accountants or engineers or underwater basket weavers!??

Understanding your audience is essential, but there's an even more crucial aspect to direct your efforts toward. As you craft your message, consider how the tools, techniques, or ideas you convey can positively impact your audience, as well as their organizations, families, or friends. During the four full days of project management training that my company assigned me to attend, our facilitator began the first day by emphasizing that the tools and techniques being introduced would be applicable not only to our business projects but also to various other contexts, such as construction projects and renovations. He had my full attention for all four days because of his opening message.

Knowing your audience also means knowing how to engage your audience. Anyone can read up about a subject area and be all over the content with jokes or puns in the right area, however, if you cannot adequately engage the audience then you should sit back down. Engaging the audience is about creating the energy from the get go and not being afraid to share some of your vulnerability. This coupled with your knowledge, research and jokes / puns makes in it easier to get your argument across.

My golden rule for public speaking is success = planning + the art of delivery. The plan is both art and science. Too many leaders throw what they know into a presentation deck or worse, have a direct report who doesn’t know the content, objectives or the audience finalize the presentation deck. Next they show up the day of the presentation, review the slides over breakfast… then wonder why the presentation falls flat! The time spent preparing for a presentation should be prioritized as: 1. Researching your audience so you know them intimately. 2. Clear objectives for you and the audience. 3. Structure and plan for presentation to align with #1 & #2 Mastering the art of delivering the presentation takes practice and time!

A easy structure for any presentation is Introduction Body - 3 key points Conclusion With each element, think about what you want the audience to take away from this, and what you want to get from giving the presentation. Then can you include stories/examples which highlight or build upon the content. People remember the stories not the fact and figures. I've just been running a module on 'getting your message out' in the leadership programme I've been delivering today and the participants have all said how each person comes alive when sharing a story. At work, you'll be asked to present on what you already know/do/are involved with so stick to the simple structure, remove the waffle and... Practice, Practice, Practice!

I learned that by writing objectives for a presentation that naturally led to the outline, content and summary. Tell them what you are going to talk about, make those points with realistic examples and then tell them what you told them. When it hasn’t gone well it’s because I didn’t follow that basic road map

Thank the host organization. Start with a related antidote - ask for a show of hands in general support of your topic. 1. Tell them what you are going teach them! 2. Teach them! 3. Tell them what you taught them! Smile and be self deprecating! Make eye contact. I like to move across the platform, if possible. Thank the audience and direct them to further information and be accessible after the program.

Focus only on YOUR strengths!!! Be the SME of your area and stick to what you know, anything else, is bound for troubled waters. Can't ask a plumber to talk about how to operate on heart!!!

Who can resist the allure of a good story? Stories are powerful tools for piquing interest and engaging your audience. It's important to remember that storytelling is a distinct skillset from public speaking, so be gentle with yourself as you embark on this journey. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for developing not just one, but two valuable skills – public speaking and the art of storytelling.

The best way to fully connect with an audience is to share a story. It’s even more powerful if it’s personal. We remember stories the we’re able to recall facts.

If you want to be more engaging, persuasive, and inspiring, you have to improve your storytelling skills. Period. Studies show stories are more effective at changing beliefs than persuading through argument and evidence.?Our attitudes hopes, fears, and values are strongly influenced by stories. Also, can we please stop using the word impactful? Pretty please.

Once you start story-telling in your keynotes you'll find yourself inspired by everyday things around you. I've weaved stories about the fox that I photo'd in my garden, painting and decorating and scuba diving into keynotes. The more relatable the story is the more your audience will lean in. So be brave, and be willing to reveal yourself through these stories!

This is my favorite part! The story telling! Mind you, there is a line that you need to be aware of. Storytelling for understanding, not to brag. Be self deprecating and your audience will feel you are one of them; you too have failed at something - yet prevailed.

Know your brand; be yourself and not what you think others want you to be. If you are warm and friendly you can present like that. You still have to know your topic inside and out though.

Here's a fun way to prepare your speech or presentation. Pick an archetype: politician, televangelist, rock star, etc. Practice delivering your speech or presentation as if you were those archetypes. It will help you avoid memorizing your presentation by repeating the words in a flat tone, which can lead to delivering your speech or presentation in monotone. Instead, it will help you experience using your whole body while varying voice, pace, pitch, and tone. And it's fun!

I've been paid to speak to business audiences in 28 countries. I tell people all the time - just speak. Be yourself, and do NOT put on a "presentation voice". You've been speaking since you were 2 years old - speak to audiences the same way you would excitedly speak to your friends or family. That tone will have a natural resonance and cadence that will land perfectly with audiences. Just speak.

Sharing few tips from my personal experience! 1. Prepare. Plan the initial 2 sentences well for a confident take off and then flow with the flow 2. Make sure that your eyes are glued not on the slides, but on the audience 3. Using your command of the subject, command the room 4. Be succinct & brief to nail your core message. Do not over- explain 5. Leverage storytelling. Stories have been the way to connect since centuries 6. Plan for the ending in advance to close in the most memorable way 7. No word is as powerful as the right pause at the right time 8. Stand tall, spine straight, feet firm, as you ease yourself into the environment. And know, the secret to win is to get started!

In my experience, one of the major roadblocks people face is being extremely nervous about delivery a presentation in front of a large group of people. For some, this almost approaches a "phobia" level. This is because they have developed, over time, a neural network connecting fear and public speaking. So, I teach people how to regulate their nervous system right before they practice and deliver their presentation, using breathing exercises or other somatic tools. An additional effective preparation technique is to visualize, in advance, the delivery of the presentation (including how well the audience is responding and how confident you feel). Each of these tools can expand confidence and decrease nerves during presentations.

If you're a senior leader in your organisation and you're giving an internal speech make sure that the person giving feedback will be honest with you. The bigger your role, the larger the support system, the bigger the risk of bias in the feedback process. If you're working to improve a particular aspect of your delivery - be vulnerable and share that with a trusted peer so they can listen and evaluate that part of your speech.

Definitely record your practice sessions and watch it back. The camera does not lie. It sees what the audience sees. Just make sure you evaluate it objectively like game tape, i.e. where does it flow, where does it ramble, am I delivering my points, are my gestures supporting what I'm saying, etc. vs. subjectively, i.e. I don't like how I look or the sound of my voice. That's counterproductive.

All of the above points are on target. It all starts with an understanding of how important communications are to the people you are leading, partnering with or trying to influence. Setting aside the time to be thoughtful, intentional and competent at delivering messages and influencing others can have a great impact on all aspects of your life.

Public speaking is a skill that can be developed with dedication and practice. Start with small steps, gradually increase the complexity of your speaking engagements, and keep refining your skills as a leader. Effective public speaking can significantly enhance your ability to influence and lead others.

In order to be as relaxed as you can, to prepare your voice and body for delivering a speech to a roomful of people, warm up! Warm up your body, your voice and articulators and you’ll help alleviate some tension and enable yourself to focus. Take a few minutes on your own to do this and you’ll feel energised and ready.

For business leaders, especially when you're actively trying to increase your visibility and showcase your thought leadership, be clear about your big idea and have a point of view. As a speaker coach, I often see emerging thought leaders minimizing their point of view or trying to soften the message. I'm not advocating for rudeness, political incorrectness, or the like, but boldness and clarity of message with a unique perspective dramatically set you apart.

Before planning to even writing the words remember it is not about You but the "Audience" whether it be of one or many. Keep the words simple to understand. Delivery conversational and concise to make the message resonate. Smile, when appropriate to make it the message more relatable.