How can I be a successful speaker?

Answer 1

The short answer is "by speaking in public."

You can do this by yourself without hiring anyone. Volunteer to do a presentation on a topic you know well. Understand how many minutes you will have. Figure on speaking at about 125 words a minute. Learn something about your audience. Be clear on your objective - entertainment, persuasion, making a call to action, etc. Identify the points you need to make. Create an outline and allocate time/words to your introduction, each point, and your conclusion. Practice out loud to edit your presentation down to the time available. Practice out loud until you have your edited talk down cold.

Do this enough times, make mistakes, learn and move on. You will become a successful speaker.

A coach can help you get there faster. They will force you to take each step in your first speech - especially the dreaded part of rehearsing out loud. They will help you find your own voice by critiquing your text and your speaking style. They will help you figure out what you should cut or add and teach you why. They will help boost your confidence by listening to you rehearse until your presentation is ready for the podium.

In short, there is a hard way and an easier way to become a successful speaker.