Whether you are delivering a keynote speech, presenting a sales pitch or just 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, as being an engaging speaker is not only essential for motivating your employees but also for pitching your ideas to potential investors, clients or partners.
Below, the members of 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 “love, not fear” mantra to switch my fear of public speaking into something I love because I realized it was a way I could provide more value to people’s lives. When you speak to an audience driven by love and the desire to serve them, it shows, and they can feel it no matter how skilled you are at public speaking. – David Henzel, TaskDrive
2. Hire A Speaking Coach
This might sound like a simple solution for a complex skill to master, but coaches have exercises and techniques for speaking that make an impact. Another advantage of retaining a speaking coach is the personalized attention to your particular speaking challenges. Building this skill has been one of my tools for building my brand as an entrepreneur, and it has led to great opportunities. – Matthew Capala, Alphametic
3. Join A Club
The best tip is to join a club that helps people build 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 you build confidence in yourself and your message. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
4. Make Use Of Strategic Pauses
One tip for becoming an engaging speaker is to use strategic pauses in your speech. Pausing allows you to create emphasis, control the pace and give your audience sufficient time to absorb information. This, in turn, helps maintain listener interest, improves understandability and projects confidence in your delivery. – Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
5. Rehearse Your Presentation
My tip 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 getting comfortable with the material, you’ll be able to better connect with your audience and deliver a compelling message. – Rachel Beider, PRESS Modern Massage
6. Be Truthful And Authentic
Don’t fake it—say it as it is. Try not to fabricate information when motivating employees, pitching a solution or engaging your audience because it’s a recipe for disaster. You might get away with it at first and intrigue your listeners. But when the truth unfolds, it’ll 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 Others Speak
Watch other great speakers over and over again on YouTube. You’ll start to subconsciously pick up the way they speak, including their tone of voice and the way they use nonverbal communication. If you’d like, it’s good to get in the zone by watching a great speech before you give yours. – Andy Karuza, NachoNacho
8. Prioritize The Message Over The 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 you’re speaking. Instead of focusing on the perfect words or phrasing, 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 speaking to an investor, you may want to focus on growth strategies and financial metrics, whereas if you’re speaking to employees, you may want to focus on company culture and mission. – Eddie Lou, CodaPet