You’re a contract public speaker. How can you avoid common pitfalls?

Channel Simon Sinek’s "Start with Why." Understanding the why behind an event aligns your message with the client's goals, ensuring relevance and impact. This approach transformed my preparation process, making each talk a tailored masterpiece that resonates deeply with the audience. #PublicSpeaking #SimonSinek

1) Prepare your speech's key points. 2) Prepare a few jokes/stories related to the topic of your speech, you will scatter them here and there later. 3) Feel the audience, read their body language and adjust accordingly. 4) most importantly, talk about the audience, tailor the subject of your speech to your audience. People want to hear about themselves most of all even when you speak about spaceship construction.

Understand Client Expectations: Before accepting a speaking engagement, thoroughly understand the client's expectations, objectives, and target audience. Clarify the topic, format, duration, and logistics to ensure alignment between your expertise and the client's needs. Prepare Thoroughly: Invest ample time in preparing your speech or presentation. Research the topic extensively, gather relevant data and examples, and structure your content in a clear and engaging manner. Rehearse your delivery to ensure fluency and confidence on stage.

As Philip Kotler said — "Customer is the king". The audience to whom you are giving the speech is your customer/client, so learn as much as you need about your client's (field of work, intellectual level, culture, expectations, needed outcomes ...etc). The company that hires you for the show/ training will give some information that you need to plan your talk/ speech. If not you have to ask the company about the purpose of the show/ training, their expectations, audience' profil, ...etc. In case you didn't have enough informations, you have to do some research by yourself in order to master that talk/ speech in the end..

Tailor your approach. Seth Godin, a master of impactful communication, emphasizes the art of "understanding your audience" as paramount. My twist? I integrate Godin's ethos with a personal mantra: "Speak to one, connect with many." By envisioning a singular audience member, my speeches gain a focused intimacy, sidestepping the common pitfall of generic, scattergun messaging. This method not only captivates but also creates a resonant echo chamber of engagement, transforming every word into a meaningful connection.

In my experience as a contract speaker, the blueprint of your success lies in meticulous planning. Your speech isn't just a string of words but a journey you're inviting your audience on. You can begin with an opener that grabs attention and firmly plants your feet as the authority on stage. Structure is your best friend – each point is a stepping stone, not a leap of faith. And remember, your conclusion isn't just the end; it's the launchpad for your audience's action. Infuse life into your words with stories that resonate and humor that connects, but be wary of turning your message into a circus. It's about striking that perfect balance – captivating without overwhelming. Plan like a strategist, and speak like a storyteller.

Dale Carnegie's wisdom: "Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident." My twist? I practiced in a busy park, distractions and all, to mimic event unpredictability. The result? An adaptable, engaging delivery, no matter what. Carnegie’s insight was my beacon, reminding me that mastering the environment, as well as the speech, is key. This blend of traditional practice with real-world chaos prepared me to connect and resonate, proving innovation in preparation can turn potential pitfalls into standout successes.

"Repetition is the mother of all skill" - Jim Rohn. You have to prepare your speech, repeat it as much as you master it. Choose the way that serves your personality the best (It could be a mirror, a familly member, a friend ...etc).. but you have to take the time in consideration. Get informed about your audience and speak their language (background, intellectuel level, humour, culture...); if not learn how to adjust your speech based on the signals, body languages and energy in the room... Later, knowledge, experience and practice play a big role in shaping you as a speaker !

I remember showing up for an engagement where the first 90 seconds was a video. I don’t usually use video in my presentations but in this case it was appropriate and would have been entertaining had the AV worked. So after some minutes of attempting to get the video to play to no avail, I switched to plan B. I re-oriented my talk where no slides were needed and where audience participation was the focal point. It was a talk on design thinking for personal development. The only reason why I could shift to such a drastic plan B was because I knew my talking points and what I wanted the audience to take away. Improvising the how to communicate them became fairly organic.

I used to dread public speaking. But since I had my first experience on the TEDx stage while knowing the setup was way more uncomfortable than I typically sign up for at the time, I instantly felt that my public speaking abilities jumped up a few notches. What I have learned now is- I stop my perfectionist tendencies and take my stumbles in stride. I also accepted that I might have word finding issues secondary to being a non-native English speaker.

Self evaluation is important in your journey. Be honest with yourself but don't be hard on yourself. Practice and positive inputs (reading, writing, attend other talks,...) will help you in your personnel developement as speaker. You can ask your audience or client for their opinion when it feels right. Don't sound unconfident about it, just ask for feedbacks. In some places they have assessement forms, they will evaluate you. Some of these are very helpfull and can open your eyes on some aspects you didn't notice before. Take what suits you from the evaluation process, be flexible to learn and to change to reach your best version of speaker! Celebrate and accept each version of you to be accepted by your audience.. Enjoy the journey !