Mastering the Art of Presenting: A 7-Step Guide To Influential Speaking

Is this you? You are an expert in your field and incredibly passionate about your subject matter. In addition, you love to share your insights and move, motivate, inspire people BUT…

Do you possess the skills that are needed to captivate an audience to the extent that it ignites change in your listeners? It doesn’t matter if you are addressing a physical audience or connecting online through a screen, the way you engage with your listeners is key to your success as a speaker.

Regardless of the depth of knowledge you hold, if your audience doesn’t connect with you and consider you as trustworthy and credible, your expertise will fail to resonate. To add to this, if you can leave a lasting impression as a speaker, you will amplify the impact of your words, encouraging people to positively respond to your call to action. So, how can you generate the kind of influence that is needed to communicate as a strong leader?

Important 7-Steps for Influential Speaking

To begin, get comfortable with crafting presentations that consistently demonstrate excellence. While there are numerous resources available explore refining engaging presentation skills, understanding the essence of a successful talk is crucial if you want to inspire action through your message.

This involves combining a well-planned strategy with a flawless execution. Here, I outline the 7 fundamental elements that make up a compelling presentation.

Adhering to this blueprint has the potential to transform you into an influential speaking who magically captivates the audience every time you step onto the podium..

Step 1: The Welcome Gesture

Often overlooked, a warm welcome is a cornerstone of a successful presentation for several reasons: it fosters an initial connection with the audience, captures peak attention, establishes your credibility, sets the tone of your discussion, and sets the mood for whether you will be an engaging speaker worth listening to..

Maintain steady eye contact and be well-prepared with your opening remarks to kickstart a productive conversation with your listeners.

Step 2: The Hook

Make sure you have a riveting start to your speech, steering clear of the mundane "Today, I will discuss..." approach. Instead, captivate your audience with a unique, creative, and interesting introduction. Experiment with different opening techniques to secure the audience's engagement right from the beginning.

Step 3: Outline Your Talk

After grabbing the audience's attention, offer them a glimpse into the different aspects of your topic. A clear roadmap prevents confusion and helps maintain a receptive audience. Here is a golden rule: introduce your topic, elaborate on it, and then summarize the key points.

Step 4: Structured Arguments Supported by Evidence

Build your arguments logically, backing each one up with solid examples. This approach reinforces your perspective and encourages the audience to place their trust in your words.

Evidence can be offered in various forms, including expert testimonials, personal experiences, statistics, and more. Also, make sure you have smooth connections between your main points to maintain a cohesive flow.

Step 5: Employ Engaging and Imagery-Inducing Language

Language is a potent tool in the world of public speaking and the way you engage with audience makes you an influential speaker. Use words that evoke emotions and paint vivid pictures in the minds of your listeners.

Metaphors and comparative language are a great way to bring the emotional aspects of your message to the light.

Step 6: Seamless Transitions

Surprisingly, transitions are often neglected by speakers. Effective transitions are vital to guide the audience through the different segments of your speech. They provide a logical structure to your talk.

Step 7: A Memorable Conclusion

Just like your opening, your conclusion should leave a lasting impression on your audience. Craft a conclusion that resonates with listeners long after your speech, going beyond merely summarizing the key points. Find a way to make your message memorable long after your listeners have left the room.

Perfecting Your Virtual Presentation Skills

If you want to be an influential speaker, then mastering the ability to engage your audience duringonline presentationswill be just as important as it is when presenting to an in person physical audience. Begin practicing your presentation early, focusing on your delivery to create genuine connection with your audience. Use video conferencing platforms to rehearse, record and refine your performance, so that you offer a personal and engaging experience for your listeners.

Consider using AI tools to give you feedback on your performance. I recommend www.poised.com. This AI tool can plug in to your zoom, teams, hangouts and many more accounts. It offers both real time feedback (which can be switch off if you find this distracting) and post presenting reports on everything from your pitch, pace, intonation, pausing, eye contact, use of filler words, flow and more. Try it with a free 2 week trial.