How can you develop a speaker persona that is appropriate for any event?

Lead from the heart. People connect with those who are authentic, vulnerable, and honest in sharing their own story and experiences. Own the unique challenges, triumphs and opportunities that you have navigated and let others be inspired by the passion behind your content. If you focus on how you want the audience to experience you as a speaker and what message you want them to walk away with, you are more likely to leave them inspired. Remember, in the words of Maya Angelou - "people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel."

One of my mantras is 'never forget that you have a personality first!' Don't try and be somebody else when developing and practicing your own style no matter how much you admire them. Yes, consider the all important body language, tone and pitch of your voice and your use of visuals, but a key element of your style is connecting with your audience. LOOK at them, all of them making them feel involved and part of the show. Ensure you maintain a consistent pace whilst remaining enthusiastic which is generally infectious. Your audience should leave feeling that they enjoyed you, your style and your subject matter. Prepare, practice and seek out your critical friend (s) for feedback.

You can't develop a persona for *any* event. Each event is different because each audience is different, and speaking begins with listening. As a young graduate in my first job, I gave a lunch talk on the philosophical significance of death. It was an interesting topic (if a little surprising for a room of bankers), but a senior colleague pulled me aside after the talk to explain that the team needed a more uplifting topic (I believe morale was low at the time due to a period of business uncertainty). For a given event, ask yourself what the audience wants that you can help with. The first answer might be obvious (Learn X), but dig deeper for more personal answers (Avoid boredom, Feel less lonely, Be validated). Start there.

The very idea of a "speaker persona" appropriate for "any event" is ridiculous. Don't do it. Stay true to yourself. If you are fit for all then you bring true value to no-one.

Just as important as tone and style is content. Content rules. Organizations bringing in speakers are looking for high content and outcomes that move their people forward. Don't over emphasize style over content.

Consider the audience demographics, the purpose of the event, and the atmosphere you want to create. Your tone can range from authoritative and professional to conversational and friendly, while your style can be formal, humorous, inspirational, or a blend depending on the context. When choosing my tone and style, I often consider the nature of the event and the preferences of the audience. For corporate events, a professional and authoritative tone works best, but for more casual settings like workshops or team-building sessions, a more conversational and engaging style is effective. Adapting my tone and style has allowed me to connect with diverse audiences while ensuring my message is well-received.

Human diversity is evident in each person's uniqueness, even among twins and triplets who share genetics but differ in physiology and personality. As an educator, I've seen how individuals from varied backgrounds bring distinct perspectives and learning styles. Embracing differences is crucial, despite societal norms. My goal is to bridge gaps through mediums like poetry and videos on my YouTube channel, focusing on psychology, finance, and culture to empower understanding. Storytelling for younger audiences sparks curiosity, while music and art provide alternative emotional expression. Ultimately, I aim to inspire others to pursue their dreams and celebrate diversity, enriching the human experience.

What @Lois Creamer said ... ?? But truly - if you are a well paid speaker, your delivery MUST be a given. You simply must perform. And you must perform delivering content that is highly relevant to your audience. Deliver value and be engaging, inspiring and fun to listen to. Both - content and delivery need research and constant improvement. Stay proactive to be the best you can be.

Adapt Your Style: Different events call for different presentation styles. Be flexible with your approach. Example: Use a formal tone and structured presentation for business conferences, whereas a more relaxed and interactive style works well for community gatherings.

Smart speakers realize their presentations are always works in progress. Strive to up your game by working on presentation skills, story telling, updated slide decks, and anything else that will reinforce your message.

To develop a speaker persona for any event, focus on delivery: voice, body language, and visual aids. Use your voice to project confidence and enthusiasm, adjusting pitch and pace for clarity. Body language should express openness and energy; maintain eye contact, use gestures purposefully, and keep an open posture. Visual aids must support, not replace, your speech; ensure they’re simple and enhance your points. Practice handling questions and technical issues smoothly, showing adaptability. Regularly seek feedback to refine your delivery, ensuring you engage and connect with diverse audiences effectively.

After defining your core message and choosing your tone and style, the next crucial step is to practice delivering your speech. This practice goes beyond just memorizing the words; it involves refining your gestures, facial expressions, and voice modulation to enhance your message. I find that practicing in front of a mirror or recording myself helps immensely. It allows me to observe my body language, facial expressions, and voice tone. I also practice in different environments to simulate the actual speaking conditions. This thorough practice helps me feel more confident and natural on stage, ensuring my delivery aligns perfectly with the message I want to convey. #DeliveryPractice #ConfidentSpeaking

Our audience will remember our speech as a story, so let's try to advance our speeches with a story so that it stays in the audience's mind forever.

Confidence is also the key factor to deliver a msg in front of people.. So we have to enough clear about the subject matter and have control over our language and voice tone which could be variable as per situation so be flexible with that..n ofcourse some time you have to know about the need of the audience and purpose of the gathering and yes of course some time gathering age group also matters you have to be ready accordingly..

Professional speakers know there is a commitment to constant learning to stay at the top of their game. Feedback is only as good as the people who are giving it, and not all feedback is helpful. That said, make sure the person who made the decision to bring you in is happy.

I do not completely agree with Martin when saying “in doubt, please the decision maker because he/she pays you”. I feel that this is a bit narrow-sighted and profit-focused rather than satisfaction-focused. For me, as a speaker, No 1 is the audience, and I try to transmit the given goal to the audience in a way that makes them understand the message and fulfils their expectations. As such, the audience is the “prime customer”, whilst the goal comes from the decider. A happy audience will then have a positive effect on the decider as well and WOM starts working. But maybe this is because I do not have to “living” from speaking.

To develop & refine your speaker persona, actively seek feedback from those who are willing to tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. Surround yourself with individuals who challenge you & provide honest, constructive advice on how to improve. This is where real growth happens—through candid feedback that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. In addition to feedback from trusted peers, offering anonymous feedback forms to your audience can be invaluable. When reviewing feedback, no matter how difficult it is to hear, your only response should be “Thank you.” Avoid defensiveness or justification—growth comes from listening, reflecting, & using the feedback to continuously elevate your skills & presence as a speaker.

Don't be afraid to get feedback from other people. After each event, solicit feedback from the organizers, colleagues, or audience members. Use this feedback to refine your persona and identify areas where you can improve your adaptability and audience engagement. Oh, and don't lose you sleep over it. Keep improving and have fun!

Once you've practiced your delivery, it's essential to seek feedback from trusted sources. This could be fellow speakers, mentors, or even audience members if you have the opportunity. Feedback provides valuable insights into how your speaker persona is being perceived and allows you to make necessary improvements. Feedback has been invaluable in refining my speaker persona. I actively seek constructive criticism after each speaking engagement. Whether it's feedback on my tone, body language, or content delivery, I take notes and use this input to make adjustments for the next event. It's a continuous process of improvement that has helped me tailor my persona to resonate better with different audiences. #FeedbackLoop

Relax. Let's assume you know your subject. In which case your job is to make the audience think, to inspire, challenge and educate in equal measure. That novel message or perspective of yours, which you're able to bring your idea to life in ways the audience might not have seen before, is the reason why you've been asked to speak. So relax. The audience is on your side. They're yours to lose. They want you to do well. They want to hear what you have to say. Don't try too hard, be yourself. Anything else and they'll know. And then they'll think you're insincere and you'll lose their trust. Relax and enjoy it. It'll all be over in 20 minutes...

In my experience, my best speeches or talk is when I let myself “fly”. Meaning I allowed myself to be in the moment. When you have practiced your speech over and over it can seem flat and rehearsed. By allowing space for you to fly it allows your spirit and personality shine. That’s what helps the audience connect to your message.

Be adaptable: Be ready to tweak your persona based on audience reactions. Flexibility is key. Inject passion: Passion is contagious. If you’re excited about your topic, your audience will be too.

I've found that the more I allow myself to experiment with my speaker persona, the more engaging and effective my presentations become. For example, I once tried incorporating humor into a typically serious topic, and it surprisingly resonated well with the audience. Another time, I experimented with using more personal anecdotes, which helped establish a stronger connection with the listeners. Each experiment teaches me something new and adds depth to my speaker persona. #Experimentation #Authenticity

As a speaker, you're in the intellectual property business. Seek other ways to monetize your expertise. People like to learn in different ways. Create consulting, products, courses, books, that can serve your clients beyond the speech.

Be yourself. That's not a speaker persona but it's the only way to be...on stage on anywhere. Or maybe I don't understand the question. Audiences are sick of fake it til you make it. Just be you. That's brave and is sure to make an impact.

How about BE AUTHENTIC! I don’t think we should be acceptable to ALL audiences. There’s a quote I love that says, in effect, “Be YOU so the people who are looking for you can find you.” I believe in attracting the right audiences and repelling the ones that don’t fit. Whenever I’m hired to speak I show up to our initial conversations the same way I do on presentation day. I’m clear about how much interactivity is important and other important factors beyond content delivery. I also opt out of “opportunities” when I don’t think that my authenticity is a match. People want to connect. Trying to make yourself into something other than who you are is a losing battle before you ever hit the stage.

I don't feel that a speaker should have a persona that's right for EVERY event. A speaker should have a brand and positioning that fits really well in certain events and doesn't fit at all in others. Trying to appeal to everyone normally breeds sub par results. Figure out who you are and work with people you can truly help !!