Want to become a confident, impactful, secure and powerful public speaker?

Question

I was the keynote speaker at Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday celebration at the

Spielberg/Capshaw auditorium in Los Angeles, Nelson Mandela’s LA vigil; The International Day of Peace Celebration of Vietnam Vet and Peace Activist, Safe children of Belarus in Belarus; Help the Children-Belarus; The International Day of the Girl in American Samoa; The American Samoan domestic and Victims Advocacy Summit and The American Samoan Women’s Prison in-house advocacy summit.

I am also a public speaker, summit leader and drama therapy advocate. I have taken the stage as the keynote at thew SuperWoman Summit of Beverly Hills; INSPIRIQUE USA Summit; NAPSA Summit and Award recipient (National Adult Protective Services Association); UHURU 400 summit (African Americans journey to freedom); Senior Day Summit for Elder rights and Abuse Advocacy of Austin Texas: The Survivor's Ball of Houston; Summit for Ron Kovic for the MY HERO FOUNDATION; United Nations USA San Diego Annual Conference, and United Nations USA Delegates at the CSW58- Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

In addition, I was the keynote of the International Equality and Empowerment Summit on domestic violence and human trafficking; Celebrate Freedom, Celebrate Diversity, and University of California at San Diego International House graduation. I was the keynote and a continuing advanced agenda keynote and advocate for AAA (Area Agency on Aging) & ETCOG (East Texas Counsel ofGovernments the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence); The Center for Aging and Elder Abuse; The Senior Life Midland Organization on elders rights and advancements; The Survivors Ball of Dallas; The juvenile correctional facility in Honolulu, Hawaii, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and The American Samoan Alliance against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Answer 1

When people think about powerful public speakers, they often focus on charisma, stage presence, or natural talent. While those qualities may help, I have found that truly effective public speaking begins with something much deeper: understanding why you are speaking and whom you are serving.

Confidence grows when you know where you are going. Before I speak, I want to know my purpose. What do I want the audience to think, feel, understand, or do as a result of our time together? When that purpose is clear, speaking becomes less intimidating because I am focused on a destination rather than merely on myself.

Impact comes from understanding the audience. Why are they here? What questions, needs, concerns, or hopes brought them into the room? The more clearly I understand the audience, the more likely it is that my message will connect with them.

Security comes from preparation. I have often written my introductions and conclusions word for word. I wanted to start confidently and finish confidently. Between those points, I would typically work from an outline, which allows me to hold eye contact with the people. Preparation gave me freedom because I knew my material and was not dependent on memorizing every sentence.

Power comes from conviction. If I do not believe in my message, I cannot reasonably expect others to believe in it. Audiences respond to authenticity. They may not agree with every point, but they can usually tell whether a speaker genuinely cares about what he or she is saying.

I also learned that speaking is not a performance delivered to an audience but a conversation with an audience. Their nonverbal communication matters. Good speakers pay attention, adapt, clarify, and adjust when necessary.

Public speaking is a privilege and a stewardship. Whether we are addressing five people or five thousand, we have been entrusted with something valuable: the attention of other human beings. My goal is never to waste that trust. Speaking is an opportunity to serve, encourage, teach, inspire, and help others grow.

In the end, powerful speakers are not necessarily the most polished or famous speakers. They are the ones who combine purpose, preparation, passion, and genuine concern for the people listening.

My own approach can be summarized in four words:

Prepare. Care. Pray. Present.

When those elements come together, confidence and impact tend to follow.

Answer 2

I spoke at the celebration of poet, artist, Mavin of Sturm and Drang, and confessional speaker of the patriarchy and Virginia Slim, Sylivia Plath in Toronto, Canada in 2005. Ever-present were the spirits of betrayed wives, adulterous husband, and narcissistic rival husband and ironic--- poetic-justice survival Ted Hughes talked about the death of Lady Lazarus, at the anniversary of Wayne Gretzski's celebration of retirement.

I spoke in front of a crowd of 500 people. The fact that I embraced fear, rejection, and stuttering proved that I have an uncanny ability to focus upon the power of positive thinking, quiet belief in self-confident, and the work of rehearsal.