If it’s not important to you; It’s not important to them.

To become a memorable speaker, you need to deeply connect and commit to the value of your own message.

In my acting years, I was working on a scene with a partner. With disappointment, the director said to us, “It’s just not working.”

The scene we were working on was an intimate romantic scene and the emotion just wasn’t there.

What was missing?

I realized neither my partner, nor I, were fully connected or committed to the scene. The emotion wasn’t translating because I didn’t feel it myself.

In that moment, I learned if I wasn’t fully committed to the emotion of the scene, the audience wouldn’t be either.

In the end, my partner and I embraced the scene, and it came together.

Create Material that Will Connect and Wow

Your presentation, or keynote, isn’t a performance per se, but it is an exchange that needs to be felt and packed with value.

Digging deep and being vulnerable with your audience will draw them in, and keep them engaged, more than any statistic or impressive graphic.

Why?

Your material becomes relatable because YOU become relatable.

Think of your favorite song. The reason you love it so much is likely because the message of the song speaks to you deeply. You relate to the lyrics and the message the artist is sharing, and it draws you in every time you hear it.

Once you connect to your message, sharing your stories and experiences will have the same effect.

When I work with my clients, I always ask, “Do you connect to this message?”

If they hesitate, they haven’t arrived yet.

I tell them to keep working on their message until the answer becomes an enthusiastic, YES!

Finding your Anchor

If your goal is to speak often, you need to believe your material will inspire, inform, and make a lasting impression.

On my podcast, Speak Like Your Wealth Depends On It*,I interviewed keynote speaker Ashely Rowe about her experiences on connection. She believes in preparing a core message.

Ashley notes, once you connect with your core message, you can then bring it to different audiences adjusting stories and experiences for age, industry, and the time limit yet your reason for connection, or core message, remains the same.

Your core message becomes your anchor.

Once you have your anchor, something wonderful happens!

You change focus from reading notes to being present.

You become more flexible and open, and you can easily speak for 20 minutes, 45 minutes, or an hour while staying on point.

Once you have practiced enough:

• You can take a story out when time is tight
• You can respond to a question without completely being derailed
• You can be vulnerable in a room or any size

With practice, you aren’t desperately trying to remember what comes next. You’re focused and flexible to connect with the audience in front of you, for example:

• corporate audiences may be quiet and analytical
• networking groups may be energetic and conversational
• conference audiences may arrive excited (or exhausted) after sitting through multiple presentations

Through connection, you become a speaker who can make a difference with their words, passion, and lasting impression with the audience.

*For more insights, listen to the entire podcast episode, Authenticity and Confidence with Ashley Rose, where you get your podcasts.