getty
Effective public speaking is a cornerstone of strong leadership, yet many leaders struggle to hone their soft skills in this area. Communicating directly to an audience demands more than simply conveying information; it also requires the ability to inspire, engage and connect with listeners.
Below, 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share steps leaders can take to ensure they master two crucial aspects of successful leadership: delivering presentations and communicating clearly. From slowing the pace to utilizing nonverbal body language effectively, these actionable strategies can help leaders become more confident, persuasive and impactful communicators.
1. Read The Room
Monitor the audience’s nonverbal cues. Are they attentive? Looking bored? Looking confused? Looking at their phones? Talking among themselves? When you pick up on these cues, you need to modify the content and your nonverbal communication and use of audiovisuals. Perhaps skip some slides. Go off-topic. Talk louder. Move around. Turn off slides. Always read the room. It’s about “them.” - Julie Kantor, PhD, Julie Kantor Consulting
2. Slow Down
One change that can make a huge difference in the quality of a presentation and the potential for audience engagement is simple: Slow down! Often, presenters hurry to get through their material or try not to look nervous, which causes them to miss opportunities to make an impact. Intentionally slowing down and simply focusing on message clarity can be a major differentiator. - Tim Huff, Turknett Leadership Group
3. Focus On Your Delivery
Delivery is more important than content. Nobody likes to admit this, but most speakers spend 90% of their time on content because they believe it is most important. The content is important, but if the delivery isn’t great, it won’t matter. Delivery is at least 50%, if not more, of public speaking. Spend more time on the delivery—the jokes, the stories, the cadence and the engagement. - Krista Neher, Boot Camp Digital
4. Shift Your Understanding Of What You’re Doing
The first, and perhaps most important, shift professionals can make when presenting or communicating is to shift their understanding of what they are there to do! Making their presentation, demeanor and even physical energy all about the audience, the message and the reason the audience benefits from hearing it is the key. This can take some practice, but even the most fearful can make the shift. - Lisa Hale, Focused Leadership Consulting
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
5. Be Prepared
There is no substitute for being prepared when you are making a formal presentation. This means preparing your opening, planning for each transition, timing the presentation and closing with an appropriate call to action. Another part of your preparation is sharing stories that illustrate your point. This all looks natural in a good presentation, yet it all requires dedicated preparation. - Kathy Bernhard, KFB Leadership Solutions
6. Name The Elephant In The Room
One of my favorite tips for speaking effectively in public—whether it’s in a meeting, when delivering a presentation to a large group, or even in more intimate settings—is to name the elephant in the room. If there is a big question, issue, concern or announcement, get ahead of questions people may be holding and directly address the matter early and head-on. It shows courage, commitment and connection to the group. - Joanne Heyman, Heyman Partners
7. Focus On What You Want The Audience To Feel
Effective communication isn’t about getting others to hear what you say. It’s about getting them to feel what you mean. Don’t over-index on getting the message “right.” Focus more on the audience’s experience. Instead of asking, “What do I want to say?” Ask, “What do I want my audience to feel?” Embody that feeling. Emotions are contagious. To inspire an audience, leaders need to feel it first. - Amy Wong, Always On Purpose
8. Get To Know Your Audience’s Concerns
Many leaders fear an audience’s tricky questions and will either freeze or defer to others when under pressure. This people skill can be improved by adequately preparing by getting to know your audience’s needs, fears and triggers, so you know what concerns they’ll raise. Address them during your talk so that they don’t even arise, or prepare clear speaking points backed up by research to counter your fear. - Loren Margolis, TLS Leaders
9. Embrace The Pause
We sometimes forget that we speak faster than our audience can process the information. Slowing down the pace allows the audience to follow along, and taking time to pause allows them to “catch up.” This can feel unnatural at times for the speaker, but the audience appreciates the time to think and participate—especially if you want audience engagement. - Kristy Busija, Next Conversation Coaching, LLC
10. Speak Conversationally
Using a conversational style of speaking is critical to developing rapport with an audience. When speakers read in order to ensure specific points are covered or use unnatural language they wouldn’t normally use in conversation, it is clear to the audience, and it makes it hard for the presenter’s personality and authenticity to shine through. - Christy Charise, Strategic Advisor
11. Begin With The End In Mind
Leaders who plan and prepare—keeping their message centered around the one thing they want their audience to walk away with as a result of their communication—create an actionable and meaningful message for their audience. - Karen Tracy, Dr. Karen A Tracy, LLC
12. Get Curious And Engage Your Audience With Questions
After asking them questions, tie their responses back to the key lessons that you’d like them to take away. Anyone can watch a video to hear an expert speak, but the real value comes from the audience feeling seen and heard. Any speaker who can thread together various viewpoints in a cohesive message will make a meaningful impact on their audience. - Bonnie Davis, HuWork - Inspiring Humans at Work
13. Share Data Through Stories
As a leadership coach who works with female executives and entrepreneurs, I help them uplevel their communication and presentation. The No. 1 tool to engage any audience is to tell stories to share data while communicating as organically as possible and using a deck to frame the presentation. Not everyone remembers facts and figures, but they all remember stories. - Sohee Jun, S.J. Consulting, LLC
14. Don’t Look At Your Slides
Work out what impact you are trying to have, build a story around it that you are confident to tell, and be yourself when you tell your story. If you are using slides, do not look at them and read them—they are to support you, not to be the narrative. - Mark Savinson, Strategy to Revenue
15. Pay Attention To Your Nonverbal Body Language
When presenting, your nonverbal body language needs to enhance the message. A lot of gestures undermine what is being conveyed; too many arm movements, the wrong type of arm, hand and eye gestures, and ungrounded foot positions are all detractors and distractions. Leaders often miss this key delivery component of their message. - Melissa DeLuca, DeLuca & Willow
16. Embrace Vulnerability And Authenticity In Storytelling
Many leaders shy away from revealing their true selves, holding on to a polished image. But, great connections come from humanity. By daring to share their genuine narrative, leaders can establish a deeper connection with their audience. People resonate with real experiences and imperfections more than a carefully crafted and perfect life. - Martha Jeifetz, MJ - Executive Coaching & Advising
17. Speak At The Appropriate Level For The Audience
Understanding who your audience is and speaking at the appropriate level to match their experience and knowledge. What is your goal with the presentation? Please do not put a bunch of words and data on your slide and then read it. Storytelling is a powerful way to bring relevant information to light and have the audience remember it. Inspire action! - Kimberly Svoboda, Aspiration Catalyst®
