How can you communicate with confidence, clarity and influence as a leader?

Think about how you want people to feel when you communicate something, be it a difficult conversation or presentation. Start at the end of the process and work back to create the right message.

Priya Parker in the book, the Art of Gathering said it best, "the first step in convening people meaningfully: committing to a bold, sharp purpose.” Knowing your purpose gives your direction, and ultimately feeds everything else you do. If you are also consistent and intentional towards your purpose it also builds trust in those around you.

And I would add, the best way to deepen your understanding is to ask more questions, invite more conversation and take the time to fully understand your audience and what they need.

If the first step is knowing your purpose, the second is knowing your audience. What does your want want? What frame of reference are they bringing to the table? How can you speak their language and align their purpose with yours? If you can answer those questions, you are more likely to captivate and engage your audience.

In addition to knowing your audience, to communicate with ease, you need to be aware of your environment. Where are you delivering your message? What are the lighting and sound conditions? How can you adapt to the space to maximize your impact? When you are speaking in a new environment, it's important to take the time to get to know the space. This can help you feel more comfortable and confident when you are delivering your message. Don't be afraid to ask questions or request changes to the environment if it will improve your communication. Remember, you want to create the best possible experience for your audience.

All in all if you are on stage you should be focused on bringing who you are to the stage. That means if you are energetic, be energetic, if you are stoic, be stoic, but use your personality and characteristics to your advantage, and to connect with the people that are sitting in front of you. Everyone has the perfect voice (their own) inside them, but we all can learn how to use that voice so that people can hear it.

To communicate with authenticity, you need to add your unique flavor to your communication. What sets you apart from others? What is your style and flair? What are your passions and interests? By adding your flavor to your communication, you can make it more engaging and memorable for your audience. Being yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a speaker. Your audience will know if you are faking it, or if you are not being authentic. When you are true to yourself, you are more likely to connect with your audience on a deeper level and build trust. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through in your communication. After all, people buy from people they like and trust.

Every single global event (from what I know) has a speaking coach, and an event manager that ensures that the speakers are up to par. Improvement is a basic function of being skilled at anything. Always set aside time to work on the areas you'd like to be better at. But once you are on that stage, you're performing, not practicing.

Whatever your purpose is for speaking, there's some outcome or data point that can tell you if it is achieved. Make sure you build in some sort of follow-up in your speaking engagements. Not only is this great material to book other engagements, but it will also help you feel your work is more meaningful.

Know your timing To communicate with impact, you need to be aware of the timing of your communication. When is the best time to deliver your message? How long should your presentation be? How can you pace your communication to keep your audience engaged? By knowing your timing, you can ensure that your message is delivered effectively. Timing is everything. When you deliver your message can be just as important as what you say. Always consider the timing of your communication and be flexible if things change. Remember, sometimes less is more when it comes to communication. Be concise and to the point, and don't waste your audience's time.