Whether you’re giving a keynote, delivering a sales pitch, or simply leading a team meeting, effective communication is key to getting your message across and inspiring action. As a business leader, your ability to communicate effectively can make or break your career because being an engaging speaker is not only essential for motivating your employees, but also for pitching your ideas to potential investors, customers, or partners.
Below, members of the Young Entrepreneur Council recommend nine tips that can help you improve your public speaking skills and reap the benefits of becoming an engaging speaker.
1. Speak out of love, not fear
As a “recovering introvert” I used the mantra “love not fear” to turn my fear of public speaking into something I love because I realized it was a way to give more value to people’s lives. When you speak to an audience driven by love and a desire to serve them, it shows and they can feel it, no matter how skilled you are in public speaking. -David Henzel, TaskDrive
2. Hire a speaking coach
It may seem like a simple fix for a complex skill to master, but coaches have drills and talking techniques that make an impact. Another benefit of hiring a speech coach is the personalized attention to your particular speaking challenges. Building this skill has been one of my tools to build my brand as an entrepreneur, and it has led to great opportunities. – Matthew Capala, alphametic
3. Join a club
The best advice is to join a club that helps people develop their speaking skills. Many local nonprofit organizations provide public speaking opportunities and teach effective communication skills. Joining one of these clubs will give you the opportunity to learn from more experienced speakers, practice your message and receive feedback. Plus, they’ll help build your confidence in yourself and your message. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
4. Take advantage of strategic breaks
A trick to becoming an engaging speaker is to use strategic pauses in your speech. The pause allows you to focus, control the pace, and give your audience plenty of time to absorb the information. This, in turn, helps maintain the listener’s interest, improves understandability and projects confidence in your delivery. -Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
5. Rehearse your presentation
My advice for becoming an engaging speaker is to practice, practice, practice! Preparation is key to becoming a confident and effective speaker. By rehearsing your presentation and becoming familiar with the material, you’ll be able to better connect with your audience and deliver a compelling message. – Rachel Beider, Modern Massage PRESS
6. Be truthful and authentic
Don’t pretend, tell it like it is. Try not to make up information when motivating employees, offering a solution, or engaging your audience, because that’s a recipe for disaster. You might get away with it at first and intrigue your listeners. But when the truth comes out, it will shatter your reputation for good. So be authentic and truthful to ensure lasting relationships with your audience. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
7. Watch the way other people talk
Watch other great speakers again and again on YouTube. You will begin to subconsciously understand his way of speaking, including his tone of voice and the way he uses non-verbal communication. If you want to, it’s good to enter the zone by watching a great speech before giving your own. – Andy Karuza, Nacho Nacho
8. Prioritize message over words
Getting organized and “knowing your stuff” makes it much easier to be an engaging speaker. Rather than trying to memorize pitches or motivational words, knowing the general theme of what you want to say gives you more confidence when speaking. Instead of focusing on the perfect words or wording, it’s better to prioritize the message and key points to resonate with your audience. -Ian Blair, BuildFire
9. Know your audience
Research your audience to understand their interests, needs, and expectations. This will help you tailor your message and delivery style to resonate with them. For example, if you’re talking to an investor, you might want to focus on growth strategies and financial metrics, while if you’re talking to employees, you might want to focus on company culture and mission. ‘business. – Eddie Lou, CodaPet
