Great speakers aren’t just presenters who’re aware of what the audience wants to hear and know which words to say.
More often than not, what separates great speakers from good ones is the ability to command presence and attention in the room and from the audience.
It doesn’t matter how well-researched and highly curated a presentation is. It all falls apart when a speaker is unable to command the attention of his or her audience.
This is a problem many speakers face, especially if they’re aspiring or aren’t used to the motions of presenting in front of a group.
However, this isn’t a challenge that cannot be surmounted.
That’s why for today’s “Speak on the Shoulder of Giants,” we’re going to help you command your audience’s attention!
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Establishing a commanding presence in front of your audience is a crucial aspect of public speaking.
Wait… what do we mean by presence?
Presence is the ability to command the attention of the people you’re talking to and have them listen to what you have to say.
Having presence is crucial because your talk will crumble if you cannot command the attention of your audience.
So, how exactly do you go about this? How can you establish your presence among your listeners so they can listen to what you have to say?
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Own the room.
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Be authentic.
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Maintain good posture and regulate your voice.
Nothing breaks audience attention more than seeing a speaker look like a nervous wreck.
We get it, not being nervous is a very challenging thing to pull off (it’s happened to us as well).
However, the best way to make your presence felt immediately is to come into the room (or the venue where you’re going to present) looking confident and comfortable with yourself.
When you look like a nervous wreck, you might give off an impression that makes your listeners not want to take you seriously nor give you a chance. You must avoid this at all costs, especially when you have yet to speak.
If you’re having a hard time exuding confidence, what you can do before you speak is to take your place and take a pause.
Use this time to survey the room and get a feel for your audience. This way, you can lessen the unfamiliarity and uncertainty you’re bound to feel as a speaker about to present.
Once it’s time for you to talk, another thing you should keep in mind is pacing.
Pacing uncontrollably could break your audience’s focus on you. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t walk around if needed; just do so in a manner that’s consistent and natural.
Also, another facet of owning the room is knowing when to stop.
This doesn’t just mean knowing how to end your talk, but strategically taking pauses throughout your presentation to give emphasis to your points, serve as transition to the next part of your talk, and to give your audience time to digest what you’ve said.
Establishing a commanding presence doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be someone you’re not.
If you’re laid back, you don’t have to pretend you’re an energetic social butterfly and vice versa.
The problem with pretending to be someone you’re not is that audiences tend to catch on to this quickly… and when they do, they’re likely to close their minds to what’s being said in front of them.
Remember: To truly engage with your listeners, they need to feel and see that you’re a real person like them.
Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, because it’s much easier to have others listen to you when you’re being real and authentic to them.
The last thing you want to happen is to look disinterested before, during, and after delivering your talk.
Always assume that your listeners are observing every move you make. Hence, it’s important to maintain a good posture throughout your presentation since it plays a significant role in your presence.
A good starting point is to make sure you stand tall, comfortable, and confident while avoiding unnecessary movements or gestures.
Next, make sure to control your voice.
If your pitch, pace, and volume don’t exude confidence, authenticity, or enthusiasm, you’ll be putting yourself in a position where your audience might not take you seriously or keep an open mind about what you have to say.
Take note: Your voice is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal when speaking to listeners.
By simply adjusting your pitch, pace, and volume, you can have your audience lean in and pay more attention to key details (especially if these are meant for persuasion).
If you’re unable to regulate how you utilize your voice, you’ll be unable to utilize it to your full advantage.
You may even end up inadvertently making it hard for your audience to understand you.
See?
Establishing your presence as a speaker doesn’t have to be an ordeal.
The principles we shared with you will help you establish a commanding presence when taken to heart and executed properly.
Integrating these practices will take time and practice, but the sooner you integrate them into your public speaking style, the sooner you can become a great speaker!
So, the next time you prepare for a talk or any presentation that involves listeners, keep these concepts in mind and practice them!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Thursdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person…
… a boardroom with five people…
… or a huge venue with hundreds of people…
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Thursday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to communicate and present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you find this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Thursday’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!”
Cheers,
Henry Desai
Managing Director
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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