Several years ago before attending the National Speakers Association Keynote lab (an industry event for those focused on delivering keynotes as part of their thought leadership practice), I interviewed some of my favorite, generous and successful speakers. I had conversations with the legendary Scott McKain (whose voice I absolutely love), Chad Hymas (one of the most inspirational speakers I have ever met), DeLores Pressley (her amazing spirit and elegance are an phenomenal combination), Simon Bailey (his generosity is always evident) and Sam Silverstein (who is the epitome of accountability).
These speakers shared their best practices for keynotes with me and we have collated some of their wisdom below for you to enjoy.
Regardless of whether you speak for a living, speak about your thought leadership as part of a marketing strategy or present at your annual company conference, these strategies will ensure that you are more impactful every time you stand to deliver a message.
- Create your mindset – imagine it is going to be great!
- Be yourself, be approachable and be authentic.
- Get your audience involved.
- People are looking for hope, joy and a way to progress in life,
- Bring your personality, charisma and presence to the stage.
- Always be prepared for surprises.
- Don’t be tied to your slides.
- Show up and check AV early.
- Find out who is introducing you and provide them with a written introduction.
- Use your personal touch to share your spirit with them and accelerate your connection.
If you want to be great on your platform (at work, in industry, at school) interview people you admire, ask them their secrets and then get to work and do the work!
A huge thank you to these rock stars for sharing their brilliance with me.
What are your ideas on how you can be great on the platform? Share your ideas with us here on our blog.
PS. If you want more ideas on how to deliver your thought leadership with more impact check out other blogs here and several eBooks you can share with your team.
