How can you use public speaking to engage employees?

A yearly State of the Court presentation including a PowerPoint with photos and simple graphs gives the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate employees and achievements and to reinforce that their work and contribution makes a real difference.

Feelings are the difference between a good idea people should do and a passionate cause people desire to do. Story telling through authentic experiences you've had are the most impactful. When you articulate how you felt and then either how you want everyone to feel that (good feelings) or how no one should feel that again (bad feelings), it connects you to the audience. It is relatable and easy to share because you know and didn't create it. Believe in your vision and back it with your stories. Then ask your audience to share or think about a time they felt that way.

As an EDI&B Educator (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging), I am acutely aware of how public speaking impacts the audience. Public speaking grants me the opportunity to engage with diverse audiences, share new insights, and challenge biases surrounding equity, diversity, and inclusion. I view each invitation to speak as a humbling opportunity to bring insights and information that can help people navigate uncomfortable conversations and potentially foster positive change. It is important to approach these invitations with gratitude and a commitment to making a meaningful impact. When we approach public speaking with this perspective, it becomes a powerful tool for bridging gaps, fostering understanding, and driving positive change.

What you do becomes extremely easy if you believe in what your company does. You can market the product better, make the sale better. All because you truly believe, your product/service is the best solution in the market. ? Invest time in your employees, engage in conversations, and share your vision with them. ? Tell them how it started, how it was a year ago, and what’s the ultimate dream. ? Share real-life experiences. ? And most importantly. Don’t turn these speeches into lecturing sessions. ? ? It’s so easy to discourage people with the wrong choice of words and the wrong tone of voice. ? Ensure you sound sincere and natural. ? And remember. Everybody’s different. Observe reactions to adjust your approach.

I always share the vision with team members and most of the time I start my speech with the vision statement. I am a firm believer that vision and mission statement of the organization should be remembered like any other mathematics formula. Once we start with vision statements exactly it is mentioned, this helps team to be aligned and they understand the objective of meeting. Once the vision statement is repeated by all top CXO GM VP the culture follows and it creates a ripple effect. The same message passes to end consumers and stakeholders and everyone feels connected to one vision. The practice to repeat vision statement in every meeting or interaction is key to successful organization.

Feedback is way to show that an employee's voice matters. I would engage the employee on each points raised to show interest. I would also endeavor to communicate my feedback in an emphatic manner.

Agreed. Nothing can replace a well intentioned and timely correction of a resource to see the growth. It is the prime responsibility of a leader to have a critical input to the employee

Public speaking offers a platform for leaders to provide constructive feedback to employees. Timely, specific, and positive feedback not only acknowledges achievements but also guides improvement. Effective communication in feedback involves using encouraging language to boost morale and confidence, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented workplace culture through the spoken word.

Delivery and body language greatly impact your persuasive abilities. Maintain eye contact to establish trust and connection. Use gestures and facial expressions to emphasize key points. Vary your tone, pace, and volume to keep your audience engaged. Practice proper posture and confident movement. Effective delivery and body language enhance your message, making it more persuasive and memorable.

Active listening in public speaking enhances employee engagement. Demonstrating genuine interest, respect, and curiosity, leaders foster a culture that values employees' opinions and experiences. Employing both verbal and non-verbal cues, such as eye contact and paraphrasing, signals attentiveness, strengthening the connection between leaders and their teams.

One of the most powerful ways I've found to engage employees through public speaking is to get personal. By sharing my own story of hitting rock bottom, I've seen firsthand how vulnerability can transform leadership. It breaks down barriers and shows you're human. This act of openness becomes an invitation for others to connect and find comfort in the fact that their leader has faced and overcome challenges too.

Story telling is a skill all leaders must master. By telling a compelling story which captivates the audience will be more powerful than a verbal diatribe. Using frameworks like 'The Hero's Journey' is a great place to start. It's not just for movies as can be used in presentations & speeches. In addition, there is an art to story telling. Creating buy-in to the characters, using the right language and building to the end require practice. Thankfully all can be learned. Great books to read are: - Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks - Start with Why by Simon Sinek - The Storyteller’s Secret: Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don’t by Carmine Gallo - Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo - Made to Stick by Chip Heath

Incorporating storytelling into public speaking captivates employees, making messages memorable and impactful. Leaders, through authentic and engaging narratives, not only convey information but also share values, fostering a deeper connection. Employing a clear structure and vivid details enhances the effectiveness of storytelling, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

When public speaking remember 'people buy into people'. What I mean by this is the audience will buy into what you are saying if it resonates. If you can create a speech / talk which the audience goes 'that's exactly how I feel', you are on the right path. The old phrase of 'people may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel' still rings true. Story telling may not come naturally to everyone, but it is well within your grasp. Practice in front of the mirror, record yourself, and ask for feedback - will all help. Everyone gets nervous, that is normal. Embrace it. Now go and give an awesome speech!

Allow me to put "Public speaking" alongside "storytelling" in this response. Employees are your brand's best and first ambassadors as some consumers may assess your company based on how you treat your employees. To always get your employees "charged up" for action, endeavor to engage them with words - through team engagements. In that process, tell them a story they can relate to and is easy enough to retell out of the department or the office. Public speaking also feels warmer than newsletters or other communication tools that may be devoid of human touch - which makes it best to build connections with your employees and help them contribute to the narratives they are being called upon to understand and buy into.