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Author:
Chris King

If you have been presenting on a regular basis, and are known as a “Good” speaker, what would make the difference so people would recognize you as a “Great” speaker? In this article, I highlight two areas that I feel can make that difference.

Presence/Centering

Great presenters have presence and are centered. Many times when I have tried to figure out why one speaker is so compelling while another is good – and pleasant to listen to – I have even said aloud, “The great one has presence.” What does that mean? Great presenters take time to focus, to come completely onto their balanced center. They have rid their minds of all the extraneous thoughts and are completely focused on listeners and the message they are delivering. They forget about themselves and are completely involved in the moment.

Good presenters deliver their message competently, but are slightly off center. We, as listeners, might not realize this, but we sense it. The good speaker may be thinking about what he or she is going to do after the presentation. They may be thinking, “I wonder if they like me. Do I have a piece of spinach in my teeth? Do I look pulled together and professional? Or, does this skirt make me look fat?” The good presenter is close to being on center, but is not completely in the moment.

Tip: take the first few moments on the platform to bring yourself into neutral and focus. The extra silence while you focus with also grab the audience’s attention.

Heart/Passion

Great presenters love their topic(s) and present with passion and a feeling of heart. I have written many times about the importance of being passionate. If you have experienced great speakers, you know that they are speaking from their hearts. They have so much passion for their subject that they pull us, as listeners, right into the middle of their presentation

Good presenters are knowledgeable about their topic(s), but lack the extra enthusiasm and love. This often happens when a good speaker has been asked to present a topic that they know and work with, but don’t really have a passion for. I also know excellent speakers who feel that they need the gigs, so will speak on a topic that is off their usual repertoire. Even when they do a good job (I am writing here about good speakers), the audience will sense that lack of heart and passion.

Tip: either turn down the offer to speak about a topic that you are not passionate about, or do enough preliminary work to find what about that topic you can love and be passionate about.

A Bonus Tip: Great presenters have and tell great stories. Become an excellent storyteller, and you will be “Great.” But, that's another story!

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

| Article Keywords: Professional Speaker

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Professional Speaker... Get Going ... Resources to Help You Become a Polished Speaker Do you have a passion for what you speak on? Are you persistent in pursuing your speaking goals? Here are some steps to take to get you to the economic buyers who will hire you. 1. Join toastmasters-an international club that helps people speak more effectively. Club members usually meet weekly in groups of 20 or less: http://www.toastmasters.org 2. Enhance your speaking career by networking with 50 or more other speakers. They become your referral sources. Join the Nation Speakers Association, a 4,000 member organization that holds conferences and has local chapters to help you with your marketing skills and networking. www.nsaspeaker.org 3. Prepare yourself by collecting material 24/7/365. Carry around a mini-cassette recorder as you would your cell phone. Record your personal stories, your mishaps, your triumphs and struggles. Your stories will transform people’s lives. 4. Become familiar with groups that hire speakers. The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is the worlds largest society of executive planners, who, collectively, book some $56 billion in conventions each year. The 16,300 members of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) coordinate 800,000 meetings annually and book many professional speakers. 5. Hire a speech coach. The Olympic Games remind us that a world-class athlete is surrounded by a number of people whose function is to keep him or her on track. No serious athlete or professional speaker would expect to progress very far without a coach. 6. Create a list of “advocates” who will know what you offer and pass you on to prospective clients. Contact this group at least once a month with updates about your speaking career progress. Make them...