I believe strongly that in every situation where you are asked to deliver a speech, you are in a powerful position to connect with, engage, and influence your audience in a way that makes you an AGENT OF CHANGE.   And that is something that should never be treated lightly.   

You most likely have heard it said that, next to death, public speaking by many is considered to be the most stressful thing in life.   As extreme as I've thought that has always sounded - I've come to know enough people throughout my career that have validated just how true that sentiment can be.  

Studies have shown that the most prevalent fears about public speaking center around the risks that you might somehow appear either foolish (stumble on words,show vulnerability) or unqualified (mis-state facts, reveal some gap in knowledge).   

Most books, training seminars, and courses I've seen on the topic of public speaking tend to focus on one of two areas:  1) the physical movements, postures, and body management of speech making or 2) the organization, layout, and vocabulary used in crafting the content of the speech.   

 A profoundly impactful speaker is one who has an unshakable, readily evident, and magnetic sense of purpose in imparting his/her message. 

This past summer, I was asked by a local college to create and deliver a public speaking course that went beyond the hand gestures, voice inflections and PowerPoint slide rules.

 As so, I created a 4-part course entitled 'Public Speaking on Purpose' where the focus is on identifying both the speech's CORE INTENTION and the speaker's CORE VALUE in ways that minimize the risks from above by establishing the speaker's credibility and purpose in irrefutable terms.    

Through easily replicated coaching exercises, students identify and learn to articulate answers to the following types of questions: 

What unique perspective do I bring to the topic? 

How is it that I came to be selected for this assignment? 

What do I know about this topic that cannot be refuted by ANYONE? 

In what way does this topic, situation, or audience connect to my true passion(s) in my life or career? 

What can I bring to this speech that no one else IN THE WORLD can?

At minimum, what do I want my audience to feel the VERY MOMENT  I stop speaking?

The insight from understanding the answers to the above questions will provide the answers to the question that everyone in the audience will be thinking:

Why should I listen to you?

As a speaker, If you fail to answer that question in the first few moments of speaking.......you are in an uphill battle to establish yourself as a thought leader, have the deisred impact on your audience and fulfill the role of change agent.

If the CORE INTENTION of the message and the CORE VALUE of the speaker is clear to the audience then a foundation of authenticity is created.   Performance fears can  dissipate give way to passion and earnestness to communicate from the heart (or, core).  

Then, it becomes less about any potential stumbles or mis-steps and more about the CORE MESSAGE you're imparting.

The holidays are upon us. Perhaps you'll be called upon to give a toast, an end-of-year company wrap up, or lead your family in a holiday dinner prayer.  Think about the questions above and be mindful of who you are and what you are uniquely about to share with your audience.

The message is the true gift......the hand gestures, words, and visual aids  are just wrapping paper to be torn off and discarded.

Happy Holidays!