Recently, I attended a professional meeting, and while the experience was insightful, I felt there were opportunities for improvement in the speaker’s presentation. Speakers share a responsibility to respect our audience’s time and to create engaging experiences. Even if you don’t consider the title of “speaker” as a part of your job description, most of us use speaking and presentation skills every day in our work and in our personal lives. Here are a few observations that might help us elevate our speaking skills:

Relevance Matters: At one point the speaker mentioned, “some of what I am going to say isn’t important to this group.” This caught me off guard, especially since he then proceeded to share content that wasn’t tailored to the audience. It is essential to invest time in customizing your speech for the group you’re addressing. Whether you’re managing a department or leading a board meeting, respecting your audience’s time is paramount. After all, time is our most precious resource!

Presentation Clarity: The speaker displayed a slide filled with dense information that, while relevant, was difficult to read due to small font size and overcrowding. When presenting technical information, consider breaking it down across multiple slides or providing handouts. If the audience is too large for handouts, provide an online method to retrieve the information. This way, your audience can absorb the material more effectively. If you have extensive data to share, offering your contact information for follow-up questions can also be beneficial.

Engage Your Audience: Creating opportunities for discussion can transform a presentation into an interactive experience. Prepare questions that encourage participation and foster robust dialogue. While there are many excellent ways to share information—like podcasts, articles, and blogs—an in-person gathering should be a chance for live interaction that’s unique to the moment.

Bring Your Energy: Your enthusiasm sets the tone for the audience. Let your positivity be contagious! When you’re excited to be with your audience, it creates a vibrant atmosphere that enhances engagement.

I’d love to hear about your experiences and challenges as a speaker (or as an audience member!). As a Certified Speaking Professional, I’m here to help you navigate those hurdles. Remember, we all have opportunities to speak, whether in formal settings or everyday conversations.

Let’s continue to grow and inspire each other in our speaking journeys!