How can you improve public speaking skills with diverse groups?

The fundamental prerequisite to speaking in front of a group is to find out who you will be speaking to. I always ask how many people will be attending, their demographics, years of experience, culture, and ask about hot topics currently being discussed within the organization. If the group is going through significant change, I will add insight into change management to my program. If they are experienced, I may not need to talk at a basic level. And if they are all scientists or PhD’s, I may need to up my game. In all cases you have to first know whom you’re speaking to. Then modify your presentation to fit the audience. Add humor to all audiences you speak with. 🏆

Make this mistake once and you’ll (hopefully) never make it again. The first time I adapted one of my flagship presentations for a different industry, I failed miserably based on my standards, not theirs. I literally lost so much sleep over it that I forfeited my fee. I failed to take my audience and their perspectives into consideration. Still haunts me years later.

Too many slides, mixed messages and not researching and knowing your audience before hand. Not invited back. Learned my lesson watching and listening to other great speakers.

Intentionally seek an audience with a different perspective than yours. You’ll learn (1) alternative points of view, (2) how to intelligently and respectfully give a counterargument, and (3) confidence without affirmation from an audience. All of these are critical as a top public speaker.

The most expedient way is join a good Toastmasters club, and start visiting other clubs. Give prepared speeches in those clubs, because you get evaluated. A good evaluation, from an accomplished speaker is better than random comments from others. You take that evaluation, adjust your speech, delivery and overall style, and then you and speak to groups outside of Toastmasters. When speaking outside, have someone evaluate your speech, and the audience engagement. You do this three or more times until you are confident to do so without the evaluation. A great speech is not so much what you say, but what they hear. You want to move the audience to action, not aggrandise yourself at their expense.

In my experience, the most important thing is to tell a story that the audience can relate to. The story needs to be the backbone of your presentation, and it shouldn’t be too long neither too complex. When I need to prepare to present any topic, I start by the end, by what I want the audience to leave with, and once I know that, I create the story that will take the audience towards that end with me as their guide. I want the audience to leave with something tangible, with something that they will act upon afterwards.

Sometimes you don’t choose the topic; the topic chooses you. The topic chooses you in the form of speaker engagement requests. When this happens, what do you do? Be sure that this is a topic you are interested in. Your interest in a topic may be driven by factors including a new area you wish to hone your expertise and be known for, an area you already have knowledge and expertise in, a subject matter you are passionate about, etc. You are an important element in the choice of a topic and/or your decision to take up a speaking engagement. If the topic does not serve you towards a certain goal, don’t engage in it. How you feel about the topic could shape your delivery and impact on your target audience. Choose wisely.

The main thing we can do is truly understand the topic we're going to discuss because even from that small thing, it will make us confident and less nervous. Therefore, we can speak more smoothly Public Speaking is about people easily grasping the content of our speech, not just about the perfection of speaking intonation

⚡️ Topic Precision: Crafting Impactful Motivation Navigate the realm of motivational speaking with strategic topic and purpose selection. Your topic, a beacon of relevance, must captivate, aligning seamlessly with your audience's interests. Purpose, the North Star guiding your speech, should be clear and achievable—whether it's to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire. Define the cognitive, emotional, or behavioral impact you aim to evoke. The counsel for aspiring motivational speakers: wield your words purposefully, forging a connection that resonates long after your speech concludes. 🚀

Because you're dealing with a diverse group, the first thing you need to do is to being the group together. And that is where you will look for the common ground. And from there, you might want to establish a wider runway. Acknowledge the diversity. Encourage mutual respect, so you can explore further outside their comfort zones.

Craft your speech for diverse groups using Hero's Journey framework: Ordinary World: Define Starting Point Call to Adventure: Identify Key Message Refusal of the Call: Address Concerns Meeting Mentor: Gather Stories & Examples Crossing Threshold: Engage Diverse Audience Tests, Allies, & Enemies: Different Viewpoints Approach to Inmost Cave: Delve Deeper Ordeal: Address Controversies Reward: Offer Insights and Solutions Road Back: Call to Action Resurrection: Reiterate the Message Return with Elixir: Leave a Lasting Impact By structuring your speech as a Hero's Journey, you not only engage a diverse audience but also lead them on a transformative narrative. Approach ensures your message is not just heard but deeply understood & embraced.

⚡️ Architectural Mastery: Building Speech Structure Forge the architecture of your speech with precision after defining your topic and purpose. In the introduction, captivate with attention-grabbing elements, bolster credibility, and offer a glimpse of your main points. The body is your canvas—paint it with robust development, supported by evidence, examples, and compelling arguments. In the concluding act, weave a tapestry that summarizes key points, reaffirms purpose, and concludes with a resonant call to action or memorable statement. Thread it all together with seamless transitions, guiding your audience on a transformative journey through your words. The artistry lies not just in what you say but how you structure your narrative. 🎨

Using an appropriate language plays a crucial role to establish easy connectivity with the audience. It is always helpful to use humorous style of content delivery to sustain the audience's interest and to make them understand the contents quite easily.

Use speaker coach on Microsoft Teams, it trains you to only use accessible language and talk at an easy to follow pace. Even if you’re not giving your speech on teams, try practicing with this app.

There’s nothing worse than having a tone/ language that isn’t right for your audience. For example if you’re speaking to a high school audience, chances are they want to hear less highfalutin language.

Recognize and adapt to different communication styles within the audience. Some individuals may prefer direct and assertive communication, while others may appreciate a more indirect or collaborative approach.

⚡️ Linguistic Symphony: Tailoring Expression for Impact Elevate your speech by harmonizing language and style with your audience, topic, and purpose. Choose words with meticulous care—clear, simple, and concise, fostering understanding and relatability. Steer clear of linguistic barriers like jargon or slang, ensuring accessibility. Cultivate a tone of respect and inclusivity, avoiding stereotypes or biases that may estrange your audience. Your linguistic canvas should be a masterpiece of conversational tones, varying voice, pitch, and pace—a symphony that not only captivates but resonates deeply with your diverse audience. Aspiring speakers, remember: the true artistry lies in the eloquent dance between words and connection. 🎭

When I am public speaking l, I listen out for what they engage with and what they don’t. If they react, let it breathe and only move on to the next thought when they are ready or they will miss it.

⚡️Dynamic Dialogue: Navigating Feedback and Unforeseen Waters Embrace the dynamic dialogue that unfolds between you and your audience. Tune into their silent language—facial expressions, body cues, eye contact—that paints an unspoken canvas of reactions. Remain agile, ready to pivot in the face of unexpected scenarios—technical hiccups, interruptions, queries, or objections. Flexibility and responsiveness not only mirror your care for the audience's needs and opinions but also showcase your ability to navigate challenges with confidence and grace. As an aspiring motivational speaker, recognize the transformative power of adapting to the ever-shifting tides of interaction. 🔄

Remember to take the temperature of the room from time to time. By doing that you can learn what the real reactions to your words are - and therefore you can adjust your tone and perhaps recalibrate the delivery of your message.

Use storytelling to make your message relatable and accessible to diverse audiences. Share anecdotes that resonate with different backgrounds and experiences.

If you can get a recording, do so. The first time I did this I was blown away by how many things I thought I was doing well and I just clearly wasn't. I was then able to focus on fixing those things and prioritize areas for improvement.

Consider using speech analysis tools or apps that provide feedback on various aspects of your delivery, such as pace, tone, and word choice. Participating in public speaking clubs or workshops can offer constructive critiques from experienced speakers. Moreover, practicing in front of a mirror can help you assess your body language and overall presentation style. Experimenting with different techniques and seeking diverse perspectives will contribute to a more comprehensive evaluation of your public speaking performance.

Smile, joke, make eye contact and be personable and relatable. This breaks the ice, brings your audience closer to you and keeps them engaged with your speech.

This might seem trivial, but there are basic theatrical tips and tricks that can greatly improve performance. For example, did you know that eating a BANANA in the 15 minutes before the performance will lubricate the vocal cords and hence make voice smoother and better captured by microphones ? Consider getting some "actor training" , they are very accessible and in 4-6 hours of training you get 90% of the value for simple public speaking.

Consider making a point in a way for all generations to connect with. At a scout camp, I introduce a magician with a track record as an intern with David Copperfield, Gandalf the White, and Dr. Strange. Of course, I used additional embellishments. It was a well-received, introduction and fitting of the moment.

This is a simple one, practice practice practice. It’s your story so you know where you’re going with it you just need to make sure that you’re organized and are able to clearly get your point across. This is done best by repetitive action and you do that by continually telling your story to anyone. You can tell it to the mirror, you can tell it to your partner you could tell it to a coworker. You can even tell it to your cat. Just keep telling your story and it will begin to flow and you will have the confidence

Spend time with those you want to communicate with if your goal is to become a better communicator to those people. Don’t go into their spaces asking questions. Just watch and listen. Be open to ideas, thoughts, opinions, and even use of language that are different than your own. When you intentionally occupy environments that are different from your own, you make room for personal growth and development which then allows you to become a better speaker to those in those communities.