Whether you’re presenting to an audience of ideal clients, being interviewed by an influential podcaster, or rallying your internal team, each speaking engagement holds immense potential. These moments are opportunities to promote your brand, communicate a powerful idea, or advance an important initiative. They can become game-changing milestones—or missed chances—depending on your approach.
Recently, a client called thrilled about being invited to speak at a conference filled with her ideal prospects. After celebrating with her, I asked the one question every leader should ask before stepping up to the microphone:
“What’s your strategy?”
Her response? “I don’t have one.”
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of being invited to speak, but without a clear plan, you risk missing the mark. Together, we quickly crafted a strategy—complete with talking points—not just for that conference, but for future interviews and presentations as well.
Here’s the truth: You can try to wing it, but that rarely works. Without a strategy, you’re more likely to forget key points, come across as unprepared (or worse, arrogant), or share sound bites you later regret.
When you get intentional, everything changes. A well-thought-out strategy ensures that you communicate clearly with your desired audience, stay aligned with your purpose, and create outcomes by design—not by luck. Whether you want to capture the attention of your ideal clients, gain buy-in for a big idea, or inspire your team into action, it starts with knowing your strategy, including the transformation you want for your audience members.
Invitation to Elevate Your Speaking
If you’re ready to develop a clear, compelling strategy, develop your signature story, and align your memorable messaging and presentation, I invite you to join me at the Speaker Lab on August 13, 2025, with feedback sessions on August 27 and September 10. Register by August 1, 2025 at https://www.excellerateassociates.com/speaker-lab.
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