Here's how you can enhance your public speaking skills as an executive over time.

The higher you rise in any given leadership structure, the stronger the probability you will stop seeing things, especially those that significantly affect your (most authentic/impactful!) communication skills. With success often comes a larger ego. A larger ego invariably leads to a growing sense of infallibility, reflected in poor(er) listening skills, overall less empathy and more impatience. Not to mention judgmental inclinations. Understanding these risks is the precondition for any meaningful progress.

Tone, Pitch & Pace This is vital for conveying important messages, especially in my work with hard to reach young people. Slow down before key points, articulate clearly and succinctly, change the tone, and reiterate the message. ?? Slow the pace ahead of key messages ?? Articulate key points clearly ?? Change the tone ?? Reiterate the message ? = Increased probability of embedding the key message

Public speaking is more than just standing up and talking. The words you use are just part of the bigger picture. It's not just what you say, it is how you say it, you need to consider vocal variety [pitch volume speed etc] and also body language. You need to be asking for feedback from peers so that you make improvements over time. Public speaking is a team sport and you need trusted people around you, to offer support and constructive criticism, so that you develop your speaking skills

If you're a professional athlete, you hire a coach, right? If you are an executive and want to improve your performance, hire a business presenting coach. Simple.

Every single article in the entire PUBLIC SPEAKING library of articles here emphasizes the importance of KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE! For a reason! Regardless of context, group size or presentation objectives, if you ignore this aspect of preparation, it will catch up with you, sooner or later, and it will likely be a rather painful lesson, to your surprise! In short, NEVER underestimate the importance of KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE and recognizing its needs, whether (pre-)articulated or not!

- Having a visual deck or slides can help understand. - Never spend more than 30 sec on a slide - Keep the presentation in a consistent flow, don’t spend - Make sure your story overall conveys the message you want to deliver

Most of my work is with hard to reach young people. When we talk about a strong opening, this is even more important for this audience. I refer to this as a Hook... Hook Think about casting a fishing net out to your audience and literally trying to pull them into your speech. ?? Don’t assume people will listen and engage with you straight away ?? Instead ask the Qs why would they engage? ?? What's the benefit to them? ?? In short what's the HOOK for the audience? What can you do or say that will Hook them into the speech. Give them a valid reason to engage in the workshop, this will improve the impact and probability of your message landing.

?? Engaging personally encourages a connection with the audience, making your message more impactful. People remember speakers they connect with, and executives who speak authentically come across as more trustworthy and inspiring. Here are ways to improve public speaking skills as an executive: ?? Engage with the audience personally: ?? Make eye contact and smile to connect with individuals. ?? Use stories and anecdotes relevant to your audience. ?? Respond to questions thoughtfully and directly. Did it help???

Most people won't want to watch themselves on a recording, however, it's a great way to spot areas for improvement, and take a moment to notice where you did well, also! If you want feedback from others, you'll likely have to ask for it! Many people fear giving feedback, based on how it may be received. You can make it clear to your colleague or mentor that this is an area you want to improve in and encourage them to give you positive AND constructive feedback. I also use Yoodli to analyse client presentations for content, and structure, which will give you insights into filler words, pacing, repetition and more, that can help you improve over time.

?? Identify Strengths & Weaknesses: Utilize feedback to pinpoint areas excelling in your presentations (e.g., clear structure, engaging stories) and aspects needing work (e.g., pacing, body language). ?? Tailor Your Approach: Feedback helps you tailor your delivery to different audiences. Executives presenting to investors might benefit from learning to tighten their arguments, while those addressing employees might need to focus on boosting enthusiasm. ?? Continuous Improvement: By continuously seeking and applying feedback, you can refine your delivery over time. This fosters a culture of learning and positions you as a polished and confident speaker. Was it useful???

You can't improve your communication skills in a vacuum. How you think you look and sound, may be very different to how other people see and hear you. Ask for feedback from trusted peers, on the words you use, how you say those words, and also your non verbal skills. Don't take any critical feedback personally, it is there to help you grow and develop your communication and speaking skills. Consider this feedback as a gift, as it is the key to unlocking your full potential.

Here's how you can enhance your public speaking skills as an executive over time: ?? Regular Practice: Rehearse your presentations often, even for low-stakes situations. This builds comfort and allows you to refine your delivery. ?? Seek Feedback: Actively solicit feedback from trusted colleagues after practice sessions. Use their insights to improve your content, structure, and stage presence. ?? Embrace Opportunities: Volunteer for speaking engagements or internal presentations. Regular practice, even in front of smaller audiences, builds confidence and hones your skills. Did it help???

As a TEDx event organizer I work with many speakers over the years. Some were professional speakers whose vocation was making paid speaking appearances and others whose presentation experience was teaching high school students. The most memorable speaker rehearsal experience was when a professional speaker came to the rehearsal with 120 slides for a 17-minute talk! He was aware of the time limit ahead of time but wasn’t familiar with the 40 second rule. Which is that assume each slide is 40 seconds of your allotted time. His deck should have had no more than 25 slides.

I have been on the speaking and coaching side of TEDx myself. For me, I am used to having slides for my TEDx talks because some of the things I shared in my speeches would benefit from having slides. However, now that I am on the coaching side, I have come to understand that slides for TEDx talks should be only used strategically. After all, the primary attention should be on the speakers.

Understanding self is key. Where does one feel the most vulnerable. Confidence? Content? Presentation techniques? Understanding their audience and pitching accordingly? Creating the vehicle for effective communication (Powerpoint / Google slides / handouts / videos etc.) etc. Diagnose first, then prescribe appropriate measures.