You’re managing a team of public speakers. How can you ensure they all deliver their best performance?

1 Know your speakers

The first step is to know your speakers well. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What are their preferred topics and styles? What are their goals and motivations? By understanding their personalities, skills, and interests, you can tailor your feedback, coaching, and support to suit their needs. You can also assign them to the most suitable speaking opportunities and help them prepare accordingly.

2 Provide constructive feedback

The second step is to provide constructive feedback to your speakers. Feedback is essential for improvement, but it has to be delivered in a respectful and helpful way. You should focus on the positive aspects of their performance, as well as the areas that need improvement. You should also be specific, concrete, and actionable. For example, instead of saying "You need to work on your eye contact", you could say "You made good eye contact with the front row, but you could also scan the rest of the room more frequently to engage the whole audience".

3 Encourage practice and rehearsal

The third step is to encourage your speakers to practice and rehearse their speeches. Practice makes perfect, and rehearsal helps to boost confidence and reduce anxiety. You should encourage your speakers to practice their speech out loud, preferably in front of a mirror, a camera, or a friend. You should also help them rehearse in a similar setting and context as the actual event. For example, if they are going to speak in a large auditorium, you could arrange a practice session in a similar venue, or at least with a microphone and a projector.

4 Support their growth and development

The fourth step is to support your speakers' growth and development. As a manager, you should not only evaluate their performance, but also facilitate their learning and improvement. You should provide them with opportunities to learn new skills, expand their knowledge, and challenge themselves. You could do this by offering them training, mentoring, or coaching programs, inviting them to attend or speak at relevant events or workshops, or connecting them with other experts or peers in their field.

6 Lead by example

The sixth and final step is to lead by example. As a manager of a team of public speakers, you should also be a competent and confident speaker yourself. You should demonstrate the skills and behaviors that you expect from your speakers, such as clarity, enthusiasm, and professionalism. You should also show your speakers that you are open to feedback, willing to learn, and eager to grow. By doing this, you can inspire, motivate, and influence your speakers to deliver their best performance.