Lean in for a little wisdom: you don’t need to be a TED Talk veteran to nail public speaking. You just need to be intentional, authentic, and willing to break a few outdated rules.
Skip the Epic Biography
Nothing drains momentum faster than a five-minute recitation of your LinkedIn profile. We promise: no one needs to hear every job you’ve held since 1997. Save time by not reading biographies. A crisp two-sentence intro is plenty. “I’m Sarah. I’ve worked in economic development for 15 years, and I’ve learned some things the hard way. Let’s dive in.” Done.
Share Your Real-World Experience
Here’s what people actually care about: what happened to you. Not what the textbook says. Not what the case study showed. What did you try, mess up, fix, and learn from? The messy middle is public speaking gold. Real stories beat theory every single time.
Lead with the ‘Why’ and the ‘How’
People don’t just want to know what you did; they want to know why it mattered and how they can apply it. Frame your content around these questions:
- Why does this topic matter right now?
- Why should anyone care?
- How can my audience use this tomorrow?
If you can’t answer these questions clearly, keep refining your talking points until you can.
Create Teachable Moments
The goal isn’t to download every piece of information you know into their brains. The goal is to ensure attendees walk away with ‘teachable moments’ and lessons learned. Think in soundbites. What’s the one thing you want them to text their colleague about on the drive home? Build toward that.
Leverage Live Polling
Live polling is your friend. Tools like Mentimeter or the interactive slides app in Canva let attendees respond in real-time using their phones and display results instantly. It’s democratic, it’s engaging, and it gives you live feedback on where your audience stands. “How many of you have a formal business retention program? A) Yes, B) Working on it, C) What’s that?” Watch the results populate and adjust your content accordingly. It’s interactive and very revealing!
Facilitate Roundtable Discussions
Sometimes the best thing you can do as a “speaker” is be silent and let the room talk. Roundtable discussions put expertise where it actually lives: with the practitioners in the seats. Pose a meaty question, break into small groups, let them discuss for 10 minutes, then reconvene to share insights. You’re not lecturing; you’re hosting a conversation.
Play a Game
Yes, you read that right. Play a game. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A quick trivia round related to your topic or a “myth or fact” challenge can electrify a room. Adults like games just as much as kids do; test it out and see!
End with a Call to Action
Don’t let your presentation fizzle out with “Any questions?” Charge attendees with a call to action. What’s the one thing they should do this week? This month? Give them something tangible. “Before Friday, reach out to one business owner you haven’t talked to in six months.” Specific. Tangible. Powerful.
Every Speaker’s Secret Sauce
Here’s what all of these tips boil down to: respect your audience’s time and intelligence.
They didn’t show up to watch you perform. They showed up because they’re wrestling with real challenges and hope you have a tool or spark that can help. Your job isn’t to be perfect. It’s to be helpful, human, and honest.
Be human and relatable. Share the story about the time you completely bombed a project and what you learned. Give them something to do with what they’ve learned. And please don’t read your slides!
What’s your best (or worst) presentation experience? Drop me a line and share your stories of triumph–or horror. I’d love to hear them. If you’re gearing up to speak at an event and want to brainstorm ideas, fine-tune your message, or build your confidence before you present, schedule a 15-minute call with me!
