Helen’s Top 4 Components That Make Up a Successful Speaking Event

There is something about September that inspires me to think about fresh starts.?

Maybe it is the years of heading back to school, or the decades I spent as an agent waiting for the release of new books and shows. It is a reset of sorts from the carefree nature of summer to the more focused attention of fall.?

So, now seems like a good time to share a few thoughts about the 4 most important? components that make for a successful, memorable, speaking event.?

1. Don’t Dumb Down, Smarten Up

Often there is a concern that speakers who are addressing serious matters do so in such a way that audiences wonder if they will need an advanced degree to understand them.?

If your subject is complex, you might have a tendency to fall back on specialized language or jargon.

While this may be tempting, it may also leave a percentage of your audience in the dark, and disengaged.?

Instead, challenge yourself to figure out how to make your ideas accessible, and? use your creativity to find a new way to communicate. Not only will your audience appreciate your efforts, you might uncover elements of your idea that had not yet been known to you.?

2. Share Your Insights, Not Your Ego?

There are few things worse than finding yourself at an event where the speaker at the podium treats it like an occasion to show how smart they are. When they do this, I don't think they realize that they are speaking to a very small audience (themselves and the people they are trying to impress).

Sadly, they are using their platform to try and prove something, rather than as an opportunity to contribute. Audiences see right through this.?

If you know any speakers like this, I encourage you to help them change their focus, and at the same time take this type of presentation as a lesson in what not to do. Remind them that if they have value, it is to their advantage to offer their remarks?in a way in which it can be received. Your ideas are only as good as your ability to communicate them.?

3. Know Your Audience, and Adapt Your Remarks

Most experienced speakers have a series of stories that they can select from in order to illuminate their ideas. As you are organizing your remarks, think about who you are talking to, and what might resonate with that audience. If possible, ask the people who are hosting you for a profile of attendees.

I am not suggesting that you have to customize every speech, but it’s important to take into consideration the mission of the host organization, along with current events. Know something about the audience you are speaking to. If there is something that connects you to that community, try and weave it into your message. A few carefully placed tweaks can make all the difference in connecting with that audience.?

?4. Be Engaging, Not Boring

Respect your audience.??

This is key, no matter the topic.

People have paid with their time, their money, and their energy to attend your event.

They are not there to do you a favor, they are there to receive what you have to give.?

The best speakers are the ones who care enough to deliver their ideas in a way that elevates, informs, and when appropriate, entertains those in attendance. They can serve as a gateway to learn something new and experience a different perspective.

If you are a speaker looking to refresh or develop your message, let’s explore my public speaker coaching program and arrange a time to talk .

If you are with an agency and your team is too busy selling, you need someone to help develop your speakers. Let's set a time to explore your company’s goals and how my work as a talent development consultant might help you achieve them.

Let’s set a time to talk

“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes” -Maggie Smith