We just wrapped up our WLC Speaker Training Program with an amazing group of professional women from industries including healthcare, finance, academia, and more. They stood fearlessly in front of the room (thank you RCU!) and delivered personal stories, case studies, and research—building their presentations from one week to the next.

I was truly in awe of their creativity and dynamism and wanted to share some of our strategies to help you, whether you’re a seasoned communicator or just finding your voice.

• Hit the stage with enthusiasm.

That could mean anything from leading a team meeting to speaking at a conference, but when you step out onstage, make sure you ramp up your energy. Take some deep breaths, do a few jumps or dance moves (out of sight of the audience!) and come out with a bang. It energizes your audience and sets the tone for your talk.

• Know your material so well, you can speak from the heart.

When you prepare and rehearse your presentation, you can let go of the script and get your message across with authenticity. Write out your talk, reduce it to bullet points, and practice it repeatedly until it flows naturally. Record yourself on your phone using audio or video until you feel comfortable, and then let ’er rip!

• A good PowerPoint can help.

Although some people pooh-pooh the use of PowerPoint, many visual learners and hard-of-hearing persons appreciate having something to look at while they listen. There are plenty of deck-design tools like Prezi or Gamma to help you create a dazzling deck, but be aware that if you’re presenting in a setting like a hotel, PowerPoint is still the industry standard. And, for heaven’s sake, always insist upon an AV check before you present.

• Have a professional speaker introduction.

Create a speaker intro that sums up your professional background and fits your tone—whether that’s fun and cheeky or subject-matter serious. Discourage use of your entire bio or resume, as that’s usually too long and not tailored for the audience. Be sure to send your intro to your speaking client in advance and also bring a printed copy with you. Your intro won’t always find its way to the right person, so you want to have it on hand.

• Learn from the experience.

No speaker—not even the pros—hits it out of the park every time. It takes patience and practice, so give yourself a little grace while you’re building your speaking skills.

Warmly,

Libby Gill

P.S. I’ll be presenting the Speaker Training Program again next fall. And keep an eye out for a WLC workshop this spring on Writing Your Nonfiction Book.