Do you know how to speak fearlessly to clients, customers, colleagues, and generally in public?

 Have you ever even thought about it?

(To combine great material with a dynamic performance, download my free cheat sheet, "Great Speaking? — It's About Performance Over Content!")

Sure, you have to know your business and your organization. And you need an ability to connect with others. It also helps to be a good planner and to know how to prepare a solid presentation.

But what about the other attributes that will help make you a memorable and influential communicator?

The truth is, most of us are so concerned with playing it safe—with giving listeners the same thing they’ve heard time and time again—that we never break out of the pack to stand out.

So if you want to truly get ahead in your profession, ask yourself the following three questions. Your answers may help you stay in the minds of your listeners long after you’ve finished speaking, instead of sinking without a trace. If you truly want to excel at public speaking for business, my Executive Presentation Skills Coaching can help you speak with authority and impact.

Question #1: "Is It Time to Break My Information Addiction?"

This is an essential question to ask if you think you might be too concerned with delivering information. It’s easy for any of us to fall into that trap. After all, aren’t we being asked to share what we know?

But that’s not the real reason you’ve been invited to say something. Instead, it’s because you have the ability to positively influence the people in the room.

For that to happen, you need to be much more focused on these elements: 1) the make-up of your audience, 2) their needs and expectations, and 3) the action you want them to take. Focus on those areas and you’ll bring in exactly the content your audience needs. The result? Not just data delivery, but true influence!

Question #2: "Am I Willing to Take a Chance?"

Did you ever ask yourself why most presentations fall somewhere betweeen unengaging and deadly? One reason is that the speaker probably made the decision to give the talk the way it's always been done.

And why not? Previous speakers did things that way, and they didn’t immediately go down in flames, did they?

But to play it safe is by definition to avoid anything that will make you stand out. In terms of career advancement, it’s a terrible choice. So once you’ve determined the level of risk you’re comfortable with, ask yourself how you might break the mold, try something new, or just have a little fun. At the very least, ask yourself what previous speakers did that may not have succeeded, and how you could do it differently.

To enrich your relationship with listeners and make what you say unforgettable, download my cheat sheet, "5 Ways to Captivate an Audience."

Question #3: "Do I Know How to Be Fully Present?"

There's no doubt that public speaking, especially in high-stakes situations, can be nerve-racking. So it's easy to be worried about how you come across. It's time then to remind yourself of a truth you already know: that when you speak in public, it's never about you.

Your job is something both easier and more challenging: to make something happen in the room so that everyone (you included!) is better off than when they came in. For that to happen, you can’t be half present for the audience and half in your head watching the show.

Turn that energy and activation around so it's facing in the right direction: toward your audience. Pay attention to the body language coming your way, because it's a priceless indication of whether listeners are still with you or starting to zone out. Consider building in some audience interaction, or at least asking questions so listeners feel engaged. And work at your absolute full capacity to be lively and engaged.

Yes, public speaking is hard work. But it should also be joyful for you, because it's your chance to perform. Audiences will listen to speakers who are knowledgeable. But they’ll remember and admire the ones who are fearless.

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