How to become a professional speaker

Becoming a professional speaker might feel like a pipe dream or something that only ‘Successful’ people can deliver.

But the reality is, you can too.

There was once a time when social anxiety and a lack of confidence crippled me.

Deep down, I had so much to talk about but lacked the skills or resources to share my story.

Once I conquered my fear of public speaking, I aspired to reach the levels of the professional speakers I saw on social media.

Aspiration got me nowhere! Life only started to happen when I became committed to my goal.

To say a lot of energy went into making this happen would be an understatement!

Here are 5 of the most important principles that helped me to become a professional speaker:

1) Having a compelling idea to talk about

Delivering a speech is far easier when you are passionate about your message and know it inside and out. Your enthusiasm is contagious and the people you speak to will pick up on it straight away.

My topic was ‘How to transition into a career/business you love’ – it was a no-brainer for me as I had spent the last 3 years coaching clients through the process, as well as going through it myself!

2) Visibility

Once you have your compelling idea, it's time to let people know all about it! Share your message through posts, articles, videos and podcast appearances. The more of your expertise you share, the more credible you become. It also gets you noticed by event organisers!

My preference was for writing, so I dedicated time to creating articles and written posts on LinkedIn. To date, I've published 18 articles and countless more posts.

3) Networking

Being visible is good, but you can’t guarantee when the right people will reach out to you. The quickest way to secure speaking engagements is to be proactive. Search for events related to your topic and reach out to organisers.

I spent a lot of time sending emails, voice notes and even calling event organisers to build a relationship and put myself forward. Admittedly my first few conversations weren’t as great as they could be but I definitely improved with time.

4) Professional Support

As you start to create speaking engagements, you want to make sure you deliver the best speech possible as it is sure to open up more opportunities in the future. Hiring a coach or working with a mentor (or preferably both) is a sure way to level up and present your best self.

I’ve made no secret of the impact that coaches and mentors have had on my development, and I would highly recommend making an investment in yourself. Your future self will thank you!

5) Resilience

Be prepared for a bumpy ride because this journey is not an easy one! I lost count of the number of times I was turned down, or spent months preparing for speeches only for technical issues to throw me off my game during the speech!

These challenges are a true test of your passion and commitment. They never deterred me from moving forward and if you love what you do, it won’t stop you either!

Becoming a professional speaker might seem like a distant dream right now, but it can soon become a reality.

If it’s an aspiration that you have, I invite you to take action now.

Start crafting your message, tell people all about it and be bold enough to reach out and build relationships. Soon you will have opportunities at your doorstep and you will be able to share your message with the world.

If you would like to learn more about how you can become a professional speaker, then feel free to reach out for a conversation!