A Professional Speaker Sets the Tone for the Message

A Professional Speaker Sets the Tone for theMessageAs a professional speaker, everything you do theminute you walk into the room sets the tone foryour message. Without even speaking one word,you can determine just how many people you willreach because their engagement to your messagedepends on you; not on them. You can have a greattopic to speak on and great presentation skills,but without communication the passion you haveabout your topic, none of it really matters!

Go before your audience expecting to make animpact! People aren't interested in what youknow. They want your information for themselvesand passion is like the \"grease\" that lubricatesthat passage of information! Do you expect thatyour audience will receive what you have to say?Do you communicate that you're excited to be thereand you're also excited that they are there aswell?Be mindful of the needs of your audience. As aprofessional speaker, we can get caught up withour message because you know it's what youraudience needs. The problem with that train ofthought is that it leaves one key person out ofthe equation - your audience member. Prepareyourself beforehand to figure out what youraudience may want to know or needs to know and thendeliver that message.Change things up for maximum impact! There are

going to be times when you can't stay stuck to youroutline. Learn to improvise and adjust to theneeds of your audience. Find ways to engage themas you proceed throughout your message. Do youremember in school that one teacher you had thatyou could never seem to connect with? Studentswere falling asleep in class and the teacher stillplodded on with their message! How effective isthat? Change your presentation and tailor it toengage your audience no matter where they mightbe! Don't stay stuck in a routine!Relate to your audience. Relating to youraudience goes beyond just speaking to them. Itencompasses everything from the greeting you give,the way you dress and your tone of voice you useto address them. Part of relating to youraudience means knowing who they are and whatappeals to them. You'll have to researchbeforehand who your audience members are. If youdo this, you'll be positioning yourself to be morerelatable to them.

Passion is the key that opens their hearts andminds to receive what you have to say! If you'repassionate about your topic, that will comeacross in your speech by default. Conversely, ifyou lack passion about your topic, that too willalso come across. Do you really believe in whatyou're talking about? Do you see the value thatyou and your message have to offer your audience?When you practice your speech, do you motivateyourself? Just about every professional speakerstarts off practicing by looking at themselves inthe mirror! Try doing that and take a good lookat what you see!You are the key to a successful delivery of yourmessage. If you want to see results, understandthat you set the tone in your meeting and it's upto you to maintain control of that tone!