Already A Fabulous Speaker? Don’t Read This

Many of us have taken a seat at a conference or special event, looked at the keynote speaker slated for the main stage, and thought, “This is going to be great!” Then, 10 minutes later, completely bored with the presentation, we’re scrolling through Instagram and giggling at puppy videos.

Business advice: Don’t be that person.

Many, many people think they are good public speakers. Some will even claim to be?great?public speakers. The problem is: Most of them are wrong.

Nearly all presenters want to tell the audience about themselves. How they built a fabulous business. Why they climbed Mt. Everest. Their struggle to become a neurosurgeon. Don’t get me wrong, those could be great presentations … if there was a lesson the audience can take away and apply in their lives. My good friend and amazing presentation coach?Dave Yewman?calls it the “why do I care” factor of public speaking.

For example, several years ago I had the unparalleled opportunity to hear Capt. James Lovell speak. As the mission commander of the Apollo 13 flight, he could have filled the hour with his memories of that near-disastrous space mission and been entertaining as hell. Instead, he artfully wove advice about thinking creatively, working as a team, and managing fear into his tale of that famous close call in space. Don’t think for a moment that happened by chance. He undoubtedly invested hours into crafting a presentation that was entertaining, inspirational, and delivered value to the audience.

While you probably won’t ever have an anecdote as gripping as Lovell’s story, you can improve your public speaking skills, and I have two great resources for you to check out. First,?Dave’s website?has a simple but?effective presentation planning template?along with great video tutorials and more. Another favorite website of mine belongs to?Rob Biesenbach, author of?11 Deadly Presentation Sins. His blog is full of advice, everything from how to practice your presentation (DO THIS!) to the process of creating a great story for your pitch or presentation.

In the meantime, here are?5 tips?to get you started:

1. Know your goal: Are you closing a deal, inspiring a change, or sharing information? What is your “why do they care” message? What value do you have to offer the fine folks who have chosen to listen to you?
2. Be dynamic: Beyond the message, be aware of everything from your posture to voice modulation and cadence. Invest a few minutes to watch this?TEDTalk from Julian Treasure?(start at the 4:10 mark, it’s about 9 min. long).
3. Have a plan:?That template I talked about earlier? USE IT. Take the time to consider what you want to convey before you ever open PowerPoint. Narrow down your focus to three key points to keep yourself and your presentation on track. Don’t overlook a solid call to action in your close.
4. Speaking of PowerPoint, don’t use it: Yes, I said …?do not?use slides unless it’s absolutely necessary. Using powerful language, great stories, and a commanding presence to convey your message is far more effective than slides jammed with bullet points and icons.
5. Practice, practice, practice.?Talking through your presentation multiple times serves multiple purposes. It helps you refine the message, ensures you hit the allotted time, helps you uncover awkward sections and fix them, and it makes you look like a star.

Bonus Tip:?Set up your mobile phone and record yourself practicing. I know, no one likes to watch themselves. But taking this action enables you to see where you’re stumbling and it helps eliminate the “ums” and “ahs,” as well as alerting you to physical bad habits like shoving your hands in your pockets or pacing like a caged tiger. You simply can’t fix what you don’t realize you are doing, and video is the best way to accomplish that. (Use this?presentation evaluation checklist?for guidance.)