Embark on your journey with us to better public speaking and presentations. In this series, Cliff Kennedy breaks down the public speaking process he coaches to speakers of all levels. This is step 6 of the 10-step public speaking process. Missed the last installment? Review Step 5: Creating Your Experience Arc, or explore Step 7: Produce Your Visuals. Explore Step 8: Rehearsing Your Presentation, or jump ahead to Step 10: Advancing Your Public Speaking.
After meticulous preparation, crafting compelling content, and thorough rehearsal, it’s time for the most crucial moment: delivering your presentation. This is where all your hard work culminates into an impactful experience for your audience. In this final step of The Power of Process series, we’ll explore strategies to deliver your presentation with confidence and control, ensuring you make a lasting impression.
Confidence Through Control
Feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness before a presentation is natural. The key to channeling these emotions is embracing the concept of Confidence Through Control. Recognize that you have command over: /
- What you say
- How you say it
- When you say it
- Your actions during the talk
While you can’t dictate your audience’s reactions, you can control how you respond to them. By focusing on these controllable elements, you approach your talk with assurance and poise.
Essential Reminders Before You Speak
To set yourself up for success, keep these important reminders in mind:
1. Remember your purpose
Stay grounded in the value you’re delivering to your audience. Your purpose is the driving force behind your talk, guiding both content and delivery. Keeping it at the forefront ensures focus and authenticity.
2. Visualize success
Envision the outcome you desire, whether it’s:
- Successfully persuading or motivating your audience
- A standing ovation
- Recognition from your peers or superiors
3. Embrace your audience
You can’t succeed without your audience. Embrace them as partners in this journey, fostering a connection that enhances engagement.
4. Review your key messages
Revisit your primary messages and motivating conclusions. Be clear on the key takeaways you want your audience to remember.
5. Know your opening lines
Start strong by knowing exactly what you will say first. A confident opening sets the tone and captures your audience’s attention from the outset.
6. Balance your stance
Adopt an athletic stance to convey confidence:
- Weight on the balls of your feet
- Stand with feet hip-width apart
- Slight bend in the knees
7. Set your tempo
Be mindful of your speaking pace. Control your tempo to ensure clarity and allow your audience to absorb your message.
8. Be present and connect
Focus on the present moment, fully engaging with your audience.
9. Express gratitude
Conclude with gratitude for the opportunity to share your ideas. Thanking your audience reinforces a positive connection and leaves a favorable impression.
Embrace the Opportunity to Shine
As the Hopi proverb says, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.” By delivering your talk with confidence and control, you’re not just sharing information—you’re influencing, inspiring, and making a difference.
Remember, you are ready. You’ve invested time and effort to hone your message and delivery. Now is the time to step forward and let your voice be heard.
Continue learning in the next installment of The Power of Power: Public Speaking explained series, Step 10: Advancing Your Public Speaking, or review the previous installment Step 8: Rehearsing Your Presentation.
Are you ready to take your communication skills to the next level? Let’s schedule a call to discuss your needs and begin improving the results you achieve from every speech, presentation, and conversation.
Additional Communication Success Resources
5 Steps To Improved Public Speaking Performance
Becoming a better public speaker requires a process When you stand in front of an audience, anything is possible. You can align beliefs, clarify direction and motivate action. You can change minds, hearts and lives. Every speaking opportunity is also an investment of your time, effort and resources. More importantly, it is an investment in…
A New Perspective On Public Speaking
Becoming a better public speaker requires a process To become a dynamic, effective public speaker who motivates and inspires change in your audience, you must: – Change your perspective – Change your expectations – Change your results But how can you enact these changes? In this guide, we take you through the essential steps to…
Advancement: Improving Your Public Speaking Performance
Learn how to evaluate your performance and develop a plan for continuous improvement in your public speaking skills.
