2 weeks Ago
No business leader delivers a speech with the intention of boring their audience.But it happens.Reading PowerPoints line for line.
Rambling on and on. Speeding past your main point. These are common pitfalls of dull presentations.
If you want to make stronger connections with your customers and community, then I’ve got tips for you.I am sharing these strategies at a time when there’s a greater demand for in-person events and human connection, according to the American Express meetings and events forecast for 2025.In my role as a spokesperson for Dominion Energy in eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, I’ve engaged reporters, civic leaders and community members in dialogue.
I’ve been on the listening end, too.The most compelling speakers pique interest, hold attention and encourage the audience to act upon the message.Whether you’re an entrepreneur pitching your next business, a company executive presenting at an all-hands meeting or a guest speaker at a professional luncheon, consider my five top public speaking tips to strengthen your presentation.
Start with the moral of the storyWhat is the main takeaway of your speech? Say that up front.Listeners like to know where they are going. Tell them from the start, and then allow your speech to take them there.
Too often, presenters wait until the end and lose their audience in the process. Instead, identify your key message early on so that people know what you’re talking about and why.Include a storyI’ll never forget my first board presentation.
I felt a little nervous about talking in front of a group of senior leaders. To get ready, I practiced for several days prior. In the morning.
In the mirror. To a friend. And in the boardroom — to get a feel for the layout in advance.
When meeting day came, I knew my presentation by heart, so I didn’t need notecards. After a few deep breaths, the butterflies in my stomach flew away. I stepped to the mic, spoke my peace and finished without breaking a sweat.
See what I did there? Stories help.Telling a story illustrates key points, such as the importance of practicing before an interview or presentation.Pause and breatheJust as important as the words you speak are the pauses you take.
Pauses reset your speed, and deep breaths can keep you calm.Oprah Winfrey, the media mogul who’s known for her ability to connect with audiences, gives great advice about pacing yourself in a speech. She writes on her website: “Make breath your anchor.
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Simple as it seems, a few deep breaths can calm shaky hands and slow a racing heart.”Pausing helps you catch a breath, and it shows the audience your humanity. Fact is, people connect to people they can relate to.
Leverage your vocal rangeLike a good book, speeches have action, transitions and plot twists. Use your voice to indicate which part you’re at.If it’s a transition, slow down, pause or ask a rhetorical question.
Sharing data? Punctuate each point with staccato phrases.If it’s action, consider elevating your volume or accelerating your speed. You might want to move around the stage, pivot your position on a panel or cross the aisles of a conference room.
Embrace your unique styleI deliver my best presentations when leaning into my natural style, which includes storytelling, enthusiasm and movement.Humor is not my strong suit, for example, so I tend to stay away from jokes. For some speakers, a little levity works well.
Teleprompters can stifle certain speakers, but screens serve as a useful aid to others.The key is to know what works for you so you can make it work for your audience.Communication is about more than words you say out loud.
It’s a chance to connect with your community, educate key stakeholders and inspire others to act.Remember, if you don’t want to bore your audience, then you must plan, prepare and communicate with purpose. That’s how you strengthen your presentation and your connections, too.
Cherise Newsome is a senior communications specialist for Dominion Energy..
