How Can You Be a More Engaging Speaker? Here are 3 Simple Tips to Get Started

Being an engaging speaker is a learnable skill.? Here are three things engaging speakers do.

#1.? Less is More.? Engaging speakers limit their focus to a small number of key points.? I advise speakers to focus on three central points in your talk.? Anything more than that, and you run the risk of your talk getting muddled. As you introduce each point, find ways to relate it to something the audience knows.? This builds common ground and connection with them.? They’ll be more likely to see your point of view and to be engaged.

#2.? Practice, Practice, Practice (but don’t memorize).? Imagine you get up to give your talk and the laptop won’t work.? Does that frighten you?? It shouldn’t.? Even if you don’t have it saved on a flash drive (I call that Plan B), you should know your topic well enough to stand and deliver it without your slides.? Practice your talk several times.? Stand up while you’re practicing and speak at the same volume as you would with an audience in the room.? Get a sense of what you’re doing with your hands and how you’ll stand behind or in front of a podium.?

#3.? Use Visual Aids Sparingly.? You should use slides in your presentation only if the data is needed or useful.?I always tell clients that YOU are the star of the show, and the slides are only there to support you – not to steal the show.? In fact, the fewer the slides, the greater opportunity for YOU to focus on your audience – and that’s engagement!

BONUS:? You Don’t Have to Be Funny!? Often, when we think of engaging speakers, we think we have to tell a joke or be funny.? If you’re not funny or witty, don’t worry.? You can still give a great talk.? Just stay focused on what you know.? If you follow these guidelines, you’ll give a great talk – even if you can’t get anyone in the audience to crack a smile.

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