Dona Amelia

Being authentic during job interviews is vital for me. It establishes a genuine connection with the interviewer and builds trust right from the start. When I'm authentic, I can accurately showcase my skills and experiences, ensuring that the company hires someone who truly aligns with the role and culture. It also sets the tone for an open and honest working relationship, which is crucial for long-term success. Being authentic doesn't mean exposing every flaw; it means confidently presenting my true self while emphasizing my strengths and professional experiences.

Personally, I've learned that humility is key in these situations. Rather than feeling defensive or overwhelmed, I try to approach each question with an open mind and a genuine eagerness to learn. I acknowledge the validity of the inquiry and express gratitude for the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic. By maintaining a humble demeanor, I not only create a more welcoming atmosphere for dialogue but also demonstrate that I'm genuinely invested in engaging with my audience and fostering meaningful discussions. Additionally, I often encourage audience participation in finding the answers, as their diverse perspectives can enrich the conversation and provide valuable insights that I may not have considered on my own.

Another effective method I employ to transition between points in a speech is by utilising a visual aid. For instance, in a recent talk on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, after discussing the importance of regular exercise, I displayed a graph illustrating the positive correlation between physical activity and overall well-being. As I directed the audience's attention to the graph, I seamlessly transitioned to my next point about nutrition by explaining how diet also plays a crucial role in maintaining health. By incorporating visual aids, I not only provide additional context but also create a smooth transition between topics, keeping the audience engaged and informed.

In my journey to enhance my public speaking, I've learned that consistency and authenticity are very important. For me, consistency means showing up regularly with valuable content, engaging with my audience, & connecting with fellow speakers. Whether it's sharing insights, participating in discussions, or attending virtual events. It takes time and effort but that's how we do it. Additionally, I love to be true to myself and others. By sharing personal stories, expressing genuine enthusiasm, and being transparent about my experiences, I've been able to build authentic connections that resonate with my audience. These principles helped me expand my network & enriched my speaking journey by fostering meaningful interactions & collaborations.

You can talk to 3-6 people from the audience before your talk and ask them what would be the desire outcome that they want to get from the session. This way, you not only build rapport and build connection, but you also reconfirm what is it the audience needs. You can then say again during your talk. I.e I have a privilege to meet my new friend x, y, z and they said that they want to get a,b, c out of this session. May I know if that also what you want to hear? Then ask the audience to say YES or raise their hands. So you get the real affirmation and engage them at the same time.

Engage with audience is a key for the presentation. First of all, try to create clear agreement from the beginning of the session by telling the audience that this session is going to be a dialog and engaging and their participation will be really appreciated. Try to add some story telling that can resonate with your audience. Story telling is very powerful and can move the heart of the audience. You can also try to ask them to say YES YES or raise their hands whenever you made some important statement and they agree with you. Some easy interaction like ti's can keep them engage with you.