How To Become A Successful Speaker: Advice From The Experts

If you’re hoping to transition into speaking, it can feel intimidating at first. The best-known speakers seem to have it all together, and it all comes so effortlessly to them. In reality, becoming a successful speaker takes time and effort. Luckily, you can always follow key advice from the experts to supercharge your own strategy. 

While there’s no magic formula to becoming a successful speaker, there is a lot you can learn from the pros. Speaking is a powerful form of networking, development, and thought leadership. Whether you’re hoping to get paid to speak or to start speaking for the first time, the only way you can go is up. Being a successful speaker is about knowing your audience, overcoming nerves, and presenting a memorable story. This is easier said than done, but the right tips set you up for success. 

Winning over your audience takes hard work. You don’t have to be a top-level thought leader in your space to become a successful speaker, but you do need to know where to begin. In this guide, we’ll share how to become a successful speaker through advice from the experts. By examining these top quotes from those who already “made it,” we uncover key steps to improve. 

Everyone has to start somewhere. Even if you’re intimidated that you’ll never get to the top, it’s all about taking that first step. The only way to fail is to fail to put yourself out there in the first place. Who knows what you might uncover about yourself in the process?

Give it your all, even if you’re intimidated. 

First, you have to overcome your own fears. It’s scary to get up and speak in front of others, especially if you’re just getting started. As motivational speaker Les Brown says, “Be willing to go all out, in pursuit of your dream. Ultimately it will pay off. You are more powerful than you think you are. Go for it.” In other words, your dreams are worth overcoming your fears. 

If you experience speaking anxiety, you’re far from alone. In fact, 77% of the population struggles with public speaking anxiety. It’s the way you work through this that determines your strength as a thought leader and a speaker. Acknowledge your fear and intimidation. Then, learn to let it go and open yourself to the possibility of success—even if you fail. It’s okay to be afraid of taking the next step. However, you can’t let fear hold you back from following your dream. 

Prioritize humility over self-promotion.

Second, understand the role of humility. Though it might sound simple, humility is one of the strongest parts of leadership. While it’s not what you think about right away when you think about successful speakers, it’s a fundamental part of being likable. The research shows that humble leaders are those who inspire great teamwork, focus, and goal setting. They’re strong listeners, and they know the value of building others up. 

Infamous speaking expert Dale Carnegie is no stranger to humility. It’s important to admit to your mistakes and to paint yourself in a humble, down-to-earth light. Carnegie says, “Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.” Nobody wants to hear about how someone has it all figured out. They want to hear from real people who understand them. When you’re relatable and human, you build real connections. There is a strength in vulnerability, and it even makes you strong. 

Structure every message around a story.

Additionally, humans communicate primarily through storytelling. Since the dawn of civilization, stores have been a way to connect people, cultures, and history. It’s the best way people remember new things. To put a number behind it, research shows that messages delivered as stories are up to 22 times more memorable than plain facts. You want to relate to the audience when you speak. 

As Jim Rohn says, “The goal of effective communication should be for listeners to say ‘Me too!’ versus ‘So what?’” You can see this in action within your own life. You likely remember important points of the TV show you’re watching, or you can share a story about something that happened to you last week. On the other hand, you might not remember some of the basic facts you learned in science class years ago. 

Stories are memorable, and they connect with our emotions as humans. Andril Sedniev, founder of the Magic of Public Speaking system, captures this through his teaching. He says, “If you don’t use stories, audience members may enjoy your speech, but there is no chance they’ll remember it.” 

Customize every presentation for the audience that will hear it. 

Next, your presentations can’t be one-size-fits-all if you want to become a successful speaker. You need to customize each topic and presentation to suit its audience. 

Think of it through the words of Ken Haemer, “Designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it: To Whom It May Concern.” If you don’t know who you’re talking to, how can you expect them to listen? Each presentation needs its own goals, messaging, and defined audience. 

How do you customize your presentation? Consider what’s important to your audience. What challenges they’re currently facing. When you create a curated presentation, it’s more likely to stand out. With 72% of people only engaging with personalized messaging, this is too important to overlook. Keynote speaker and inventor Dawn Dickson shares, “You become a great public speaker by connecting with your audience in a voice that they best understand and by being someone they can relate to.”

When in doubt, keep your presentations clear and concise.

Similarly, keep your presentations clear and on topic. Nobody wants to hear someone meandering through their disconnected thoughts. They also don’t want to sit around after a presentation runs its course. Though the length of your presentation depends on your goal, audience, and topic, short and sweet is a great rule of thumb. 

Bestselling author Seth Godin calls this the 8-word rule. He explains, “If you can’t state your position in eight words, you don’t have a position.“ In a perfect world, every audience would be 100% engaged in what we have to say all of the time. However, the average attention span for those listening to speeches is actually somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes. 

What are some ways to keep your presentation clear and concise without losing the real meat and potatoes? First, make sure to use easy-to-understand words that can be understood right away. Similarly, use short and simple sentences. This isn’t the time to recite things you might have written in English class! Through practice, you’ll learn what your audience wants to hear. 

Focus on messages you’re passionate about. 

Next, keep your focus on messages you’re passionate about. When you’re passionate, it shines through. Author Simon Sinek says you can manufacture energy, but that isn’t what really motivates audiences. Rather, “You can’t manufacture passion. You can manufacture energy. You can bounce on the stage and scream and yell. That’s not passion; that’s too much caffeine.”

When you focus on what you’re passionate about, you get rid of the fluff getting in the way of your goal. Most audience members aren’t going to remember the majority of your speech in 24 hours anyway. It’s your mission to drive home a clear message, and that should be at the heart of your passion. If people wanted to learn bland facts, they wouldn’t hire a speaker. You want your passion to communicate and connect with your audience, honing into the things that make us special. 

Aim for long-term relationships with clients.

If you want to be a successful speaker, you need to build long-term relationships. You can’t think short-term. While one-off gigs are fine when you’re just getting started, your goal should always be repeat business. Loyal customers are more likely to hire you again, and you become partners in each other’s success.

Though it’s easy to focus on attracting new clients and gigs, you might be wasting energy on the wrong things. A reported 82% of companies agree that retention is cheaper than acquisition. Your existing clients already liked you enough to hire you once. Your goal is to foster that relationship so they’re excited to hire you again (and refer you to others).  

How do you aim for long-term relationships? Business and marketing speaker Neelam Tower shares that it’s about adding value. By creating a positive experience, you ensure you get paid for your expertise. More importantly, “This adds to the trust your existing customers place in you and allows them to see you as a partner who is by their side, understands their business, and thinks long term.”

Share your ideas on and off-stage.

With that in mind, don’t limit your ideas to the stage. As Laurie Ruettimann says, “Great speakers are great thinkers and writers. You must have a blog, or at the very least, have an online presence on LinkedIn or Medium where you’re sharing ideas on a regular basis.” Not only does this give you a space to network yourself, but you position yourself as an expert thought leader.

A reported 47% of buyers view 3 to 5 pieces of content before they engage with a sales representative. This means event leaders are always looking for eye-catching content when searching for top talent. If you want to be on their radars, you need to be creating blog posts, sharing value, and building an off-stage audience. 

Consider ways you can engage with existing audiences as well. For example, you might guest post a blog on an industry website or join an expert panel on a podcast. Though simple, these steps spread brand awareness to audiences aligned with your industry and expertise. 

Even when you’re feeling confident, practice.

As the saying goes, practice really does make perfect. No matter how great you feel about your current presentation, make sure you keep practicing. Award-winning writer James Lopata argues, “You don’t become a great public speaker by sitting in your office thinking about speaking. You become a great public speaker by actually speaking.” In other words, you need real action behind your words. 

While it’s true some people are naturally gifted speakers, this isn’t a skill you’re magically born with. As Bobbie Carlton writes, “Great speakers are made, not born. And good speakers become better speakers with preparation and practice.” Anyone can be a successful speaker, but it takes work. It doesn’t happen overnight, and there are no shortcuts. When you commit to practicing, you commit to strengthening your skills. 

Always be on the lookout for ways to improve.

Finally, like all things in life, always be open to improvements. Nobody is perfect. The infamous Tony Robbins compares this to the death of the “old you.” He says, “You have to be willing to allow the person you are today to DIE so that you can give birth to the person you are meant to become.” It’s okay to change and grow along the way. In reality, this is the best way to become a strong, successful speaker. 

How can you look for ways to improve? Be proactive with your growth. Ask for feedback, listen to other experts, and continue to practice. There’s no such thing as being too comfortable. This is becoming a competitive space, and you’re always competing not just against yourself. When you keep an open mind to improving, you avoid falling into an endless cycle without moving upwards. 

Final Thoughts on Starting Your Speaking Career

Ultimately, everyone starts from somewhere. There will never be such a thing as knowing “too much.” If you want to take your speaking career to the next level (or get started), you need the right strategy. Luckily, you’re not in this alone. These experts above have all been in your footsteps, and they’ve all created careers they’re proud of. 

From continuing your education to strengthening relationships, every piece of the puzzle adds up. It’s okay to go at your own pace, but make sure you’re always taking intentional steps forward. These established speakers lead by example, but it’s up to you to follow in their footsteps.