5 Tips to Make Your Talk Stand Out

All of us communicate every day. With all the messages and noise, audiences get distracted.

 

Here are five tips to make your audience notice and listen.

1. Edit non-essential content in your speech.  

 

Years ago, my graduate professor and mentor evaluated a creative nonfiction essay and handed me a paper full of crossed out words and phrases. 

 

He later said, “Don’t be married to your writing.” 

 

This phase holds true for speakers as well. Too many times we’re attached to what we say, and feel our audience needs to hear it all, which isn’t true. 

 

Slice and dice out the details and junk that do not serve you. 

 

Your audience will thank you.

2. Get into your audience’s shoes. 

 

Think like your audience. 

What is it they want to know? Need to know? Already know? 

If you’re presenting a sales pitch, think like the investor and ask yourself, “Why is it now for this product or service?”  “What would I like to learn more about to support and finance this individual?” 

As Darren Lacroix said, “If you want to connect, you must let them reflect.” 

Once you think like your audience, you’ll speak to their hearts and move them into action.

3. Be enthusiastic about your topic and about speaking. 

 

What is it you love about your topic? 

 

When you’re researching and preparing your speech, put your passion into the preparation. 

 

Once you’ve prepared a thoughtful presentation, share the information with the internal excitement you have. 

 

Your enthusiasm will be contagious, and your audience will feel what you feel for your topic.

4. Be the unique presenter that you are. 

 

Just like each snowflake is different, you are a unique speaker with different skills, talents, and abilities. 

 

Tap into and embrace what makes you unique. 

 

Present your material in different ways to enliven the content. 

 

Whether you use props or share a humorous story, do what aligns with your authentic speaker style and what feels right for you, your topic, and your audience.

5. Tell a story.

 

Storytelling is a persuasive tool. 

 

As humans, John Capecci says, “We are all natural orators of our own lives.” 

 

We share stories with friends and family every day. 

 

Stories are natural to us. 

 

They transport our brains into our hearts. 

 

By embracing the inner storyteller that you are, you’ll enliven the content, and the message will better resonate in the audience.