The Real Message that Professional Speakers Send

The Real Message that Professional Speakers SendAre you really communicating what you think youare? There are two basic messages that areincluded in any speaking engagement - the verbalmessage and the visual message. As aprofessional speaker, your message should beeffectively communicated in all aspects of boththese areas. Whether you are a novice speaker orhave years of experience, you'll want to find outabout what you're actually saying and adjust yourdelivery for best results. In doing so, you'll

deliver winning presentations every time!The first message type is the verbal message.First off, your verbal message should be clear andconcise. Your discussion points should bedetailed and well supported by data, testimonialsand perhaps even visual aids. Discussion andtransition points should flow and lead youraudience from point A to point B.Supporting this verbal message is the message yousend with using the tone of voice. The tone ofvoice has the ability to liven up your topic.Emphasize highlighted points with excitement andenthusiasm. A quiet, somber tone of voice canbring seriousness to identifying problems youpresent when you present your solution. A loud,booming voice can emphasize definitivestatements.The second type of message is the visual message.

These messages (along with the message you sendusing your tone of voice) are often inferredmessages that aren't directly spoken but theystill have lots to say about you as a leader andthe message you bring.The environment that you hold your presentationin impacts your message as well. The room itselfcan be a distraction and you can lose your focusand worse yet, you can lose the attention of youraudience. Details like the room temperature(too cold, too warm) or noisy traffic (beepinghorns and emergency vehicle sirens) may seem likethey are out of your control, but you do have somecontrol. Other environmental considerationsinclude the appearance of the room. Is itprofessional? Is it warm and cozy? Does itenhance the message you want to convey or does ittake away from it? It behooves you to minimizeas much as possible all of these types ofdistractions from your presentation.

Another visual presentation you make is the onewith your personal appearance and attire. Youraudience doesn't know you. If you say that youare a professional, do you look like it? Youdon't have to have the Armani suits or the Dolce& Gabbana dress, but you should at least look likethe professional you claim to be. Men speakershould avoid loud colored shirts. Leave thoseshirts at home for the night out. Women shoulddress conservatively. You don't have to bewearing a burlap sack, but low-cut blouses andhigh skirts don't belong here. Your goal is tocreate credibility as a professional.There are many other messages that your audiencepicks up during the course of your presentation.They know exactly how you're feeling about thetopic you present by the enthusiasm in your voice.They already make assumptions regarding yourcredibility as a true professional. Don't takechances and send the wrong message!