How can you prepare for a successful public speaking engagement as a leader?

Knowing the audience is very critical. We need to understand the need, background and expectation of the audience we are going to address. I personally prefer talking to someone from the audience beforehand to gauge these parameters and understand the cultural aspects specific to them. This helps me to interact with my audience while I deliver my speech, and also increases the efficiency of the message that I wish to put across.

A successful public speaking engagement as a leader demands a blend of preparation, confidence, and authenticity. Tailor your content to the audience ??, define clear objectives ??, and weave key points into a compelling narrative. Rehearse multiple times for confidence, use visual aids ??? judiciously, and connect emotionally ?? through anecdotes. Handle Q&A ?? with grace, embrace authenticity ??, and manage nervous energy ?? with deep breathing. Actively engage the audience, seek feedback, and reflect on performance for continuous improvement. Approach these steps with enthusiasm to inspire and motivate your audience, leveraging communication as a powerful tool for positive change. ??

One personal strategy I always employ before a public speaking engagement is to deeply understand my audience. I start by researching their background, interests, and the challenges they might be facing in their professional or personal lives. For instance, if I'm speaking to a group of young entrepreneurs, I focus on their aspirations and the hurdles they encounter in starting a business. I also reach out to a few attendees in advance, either through social media or in person, to ask what they hope to gain from my talk. This approach not only helps me tailor my content to their specific needs but also builds a connection even before I step onto the stage.

Some ways to get started with your public speaking engagement: -Be confident -Know the type of audience before hand and seek a tone that'll be appropriate. -Prepare your materials adequately. -Deliver with passion.

Yes, understanding your audience plays a crucial role and according to your audience, you can decide your speech and one should understand that there will be different mindsets sitting in your audience. So, whatever you prepare should be communicated in such a way that each one in your audience should be able to grab that.

In my approach to public speaking, I place immense importance on defining a clear and concise goal for each engagement. Before I begin crafting my speech, I sit down and ask myself, "What is the one key message or impact I want to leave with my audience?" For example, if I am addressing a group of recent graduates, my goal might be to inspire them to embrace lifelong learning and continuous personal growth. This goal becomes the cornerstone of my speech, guiding the selection of stories, facts, and calls to action I include. By keeping this goal at the forefront of my preparation, I ensure that every element of my speech aligns with the intended outcome, making it more impactful and memorable for the audience.

People usually craft the contents/stories only to think about the message at the end. It will be easier and more impactful to start with the message and create content around it. The WHY is important

I've heard it put this way and I like it: Tell them what you're going to tell them. Then, tell them. Then, tell them what you told them.

Whenever I speak I think about the fact that the audience doesn't have to be there. So my goal is always that there will be one person who can use the information I am sharing. I try to make my speaking events engaging and offer concrete tips on the topic.

Are you aiming to inform, inspire, or persuade? Clearly articulate the key takeaways you want your audience to grasp. Additionally, think about the impact you intend to have – whether it's fostering understanding, motivating action, or instigating positive change. By establishing these objectives, you provide a roadmap not only for yourself but also for your audience, ensuring a purposeful and impactful presentation.

I always begin by meticulously outlining my speech. This process starts with jotting down key ideas and arranging them into a structured flow, ensuring there's a logical progression from one point to the next. For instance, in the introduction, I focus on an engaging hook, like a personal anecdote or a surprising statistic, to grab the audience's attention and briefly outline what I'll be covering. The body of my speech is where I delve into the details, using a mix of facts, personal experiences, and relevant stories to reinforce each point, while also addressing potential counterarguments or questions. Finally, in the conclusion, I aim to tie everything together and leave with a thought-provoking call to action or a key takeaway.

Use the 3 by 3 techniques to outline your sharing Share 3 supporting contents on each content, share 3 items - Topic - Data - Analysis

I use alphabetical outlines for almost everything. These are literally A-Z checklists that expand until I find my rhythm and then I figure out what is the most important bits to say to this specific audience. The beauty of my outline is that I add and subtract dependent on various factors and the outline often helps when I am crafting articles on the topic.

I someone asks you a one-off question and you don't have the answer, just be honest and move past it. You can always take a brief pause and say something like, "that's a great question and that may be an area for future study, however regrettably, it was outside the scope of what I was researching at this particular time". Some people enjoy asking the difficult questions so practice a few different responses that way you'll be ready to stay focused on what you do know and just remain confident.

Craft a compelling opening. Start with an engaging introduction that captures attention. This could be a story, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question.

When I was 12, I had to sing in Hebrew on a stage in front of my friends and family. Despite having practiced in my bedroom and in a classroom for months and knowing my material, my voice still shook during my Bat Mitzvah. The learning I took away is that practicing alone isn't enough - I needed to practice in a way that mimics as closely as possible the conditions under which I'll be presenting. Nearly 30 years later, I apply this learning to my work. If I'll be addressing a group while sitting at a conference table, I practice while sitting in the conference room. If I'll be standing on a stage, I practice on a stage. I practice until giving the talk becomes boring, because I've found I cannot feel simultaneously bored and nervous.

I dedicate significant time to rehearsing my speech, as this not only boosts my confidence but also ensures fluency in delivery. I start by recording myself speaking, which allows me to hear my voice as others would and make adjustments in tone, pace, and clarity. Additionally, I practice in front of a mirror to observe my body language and facial expressions, ensuring they align with and enhance my message. I also seek feedback from a trusted colleague or mentor, as their insights can reveal blind spots and offer new perspectives. This rigorous practice routine helps me internalize my speech, making it feel more natural and less like a recitation when I finally present it to my audience.

Practice as if you are really giving the speech. Use your vocal and body language. Time in the pauses and if there are any audience participations, add in to the timing

Know when to breathe. We breathe for life. Speaking, in front, is secondary to successful breathing to oxygenate our brain and other systems. We breathe at 3 levels. The highest is clavicular-shoulder, just past the larynx. You can use this breath at pauses. Thoracic is chest breaths that typically happen at rest. You use this breath all the time when not speaking. Abdominal-diaphragmatic breathing is most important. This deep breath shares oxygen and provides support, ability to project volume and maintain confidence in delivery. This breath should occur at sentence end with a full stop. It allows you to regain the oxygen to keep your brain comfortable and not release adrenaline. Present the truth. Be the vessel pouring out.

It may sound obvious but rehearse. Rehearse a lot. Here is a simple framework you can use: - Script it out - Stand it and read it out loud - Block and stage the talk (To get a sense of where you want to be to help illustrate the story / speech - As you are doing this, you will learn the material - Rehearse in front of a trusted friend to get feedback - Adjust accordingly - Crush the big day The more you rehearse the more fun you will have on the day of the event!

It is perfectly fine to feel nervous. Specially when you address a group of people who are looking up to you and have certain expectations from your speech. DEEP BREATHS... That's what will help you. Close your eyes for a few seconds, let the feeling sink in. You have earned your audience's attention, now you just need to deliver the message in a proper manner. Have the points ready in a confidence card, and believe in yourself.

Meditation always helps me. I also believe in prayer and knowing I am not alone, that my message is important and I’m a vessel of a greater force that wants that message delivered.

Nervousness can't be overcome but can be managed. 2 ways to do so are mindset and physical exercise Mindset: - your audience wants you to succeed - you are there to have a conversation with them - Focus on giving Physical: - Breathing - Stretching - Have a pre-speaking routine

To establish your flow while presenting, seek out a spot or a friendly face that exudes comfort. If direct eye contact feels a bit overwhelming, find a welcoming area in the audience where your gaze can rest for a while—this not only stabilizes you but also connects with the audience hub. Identifying a friendly face in the crowd serves as an anchor, making your presentation feel more personable. There's often that one person with whom you connect effortlessly. This connection becomes your "coming home" rest place during the speech, providing a source of confidence and reassurance. It's a subtle yet powerful technique to create a smoother and more engaging presentation experience.

Walk out there and look one person in the eye, take a deep breath, smile, and exhale. This will really change how you feel. If it is a large audience, look at several places using the breath in, smile, slow forced exhale to help calm the nerves.

Crafting an engaging presentation requires interactivity. I usually begin with a grounding exercise or a collective 30-second breathing activity. Pose questions strategically to stimulate engagement. Circling back to the initial question provides a sense of closure, aiding memory retention. Storytelling is another powerful tool making you relatable, approachable, and likable. Likability becomes a bridge to authenticity and credibility. By infusing your presentation with stories, you transform it into a memorable, impactful experience. The interplay of interactivity, strategic questioning, and storytelling creates a dynamic journey that will keep your audience captivated.

One thing I have found helpful here is that engaging your audience will help them become more receptive to your message as a public speaker and retention rate will be here. You can engage your audience by practicing an exercise with them, use of catch phrases, smaller group activities etc. All these makes the class interactive, engaging and productive.

I absolutely love this point; an often forgotten aspect in academia. One of my favorite and most simple approaches? I ask myself “Why would they want to listen to my talk?” Then I put effort into answering that within my talk. I make the information relevant to their everyday lives, relevant to their concerns and goals. I give tangible examples on how they can enact the information I share with them. I want my audience to walk away feeling empowered with new knowledge.

In all lectures or speaking engagements that I participate in, I regularly check in with the audience by way of giving practical examples. I find that people relate to current and real-world topics. Asking audience members to raise their hand or to blurt out an answer is a great way to keep people on their toes and engaged.

We learn best from each other - there is no single solution or sole viewpoint that trumps others - collaborate, converse and share amongst your audience.

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. This is my guiding principle for every speaking engagement. You can be the smartest person in the room and have done all of the research with all of the facts and even stories outlined and ready to go… but when you genuinely care for your audience, it shows. This makes all the difference because they can feel it! As Maya Angelou said, people will forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.

Preparing and practicing won’t make much of a difference if you don’t know your subject very well. And I’m not just speaking about theoretical components and quantifiable data. Having practical/ on-the-ground experience or, even better, an insider perspective, a deep understanding of the root causes of the issue at hand, now, that’s what will make you speak from the heart. When you are genuine, people are drawn to your story. It flows.

If you’re passionate about your topic, your audience needs to feel it. Think back on how your topic has changed your life, how it can benefit others. Express that through bringing emotion to your words, and by doing so, others will gravitate towards what you say. To be interesting, you have to be interested.

Pressure is what you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing or not prepared, so come prepared. You’ve done your research on your audience, you’ve done your research on your topic, therefore “pressure” is something you can mitigate and not feel too much, if any!

In the case of fight or flight our heart would start beating very fast to prepare us to run just like when we perform a physical exercise our heart beats very fast. In this case we are in need of more oxygen supply that is why we breath heavily. Public speaking is not different since our body treats it as danger so we go through a fight or flight. Breathing deeply helps immensely before I stand on stage in such cases. It helps me relax my muscles, and control my heartbeats since more oxygen is circulating in my blood. Do not underestimate the power of breathing!