Public Speaking Mentoring

20 years of stammering. 7 Ted Talks & Over 1,00,000 professionals trained later - Let’s skip the fluff. This is everything I know about public speaking. Not from theory but from life, from watching people speak and not get what they deserve. From helping them fix it. Call it a blueprint. Call it a cheat code. Or just save it and come back when you’re tired of being ignored in rooms you deserve to lead. Let’s start with this - Public Speaking doesn’t start when you take the mic. It starts way before that. It starts the moment you wake up and think “Shit, I’ve got a presentation today.” So here’s how I’d walk you through it if we were grabbing coffee: ☀️ Morning of the big day? Don’t rehearse in your head right away. First, move your body. Stretch. Get some oxygen in. Because your voice is not just in your throat, it’s in your breath. And if your body’s tight, your voice will be too. 🧠 Next: Mindset. I’ve seen too many people ruin a great talk because they spent all morning trying not to mess up. Forget that. Ask yourself this instead: “Who needs to hear what I’m about to say?” Say it out loud. Anchor into that. That’s your real WHY. 👔 What should you wear? Something that makes you feel like you’ve already won. Not something you hope will impress them. Trust me, when you feel good in your skin, it shows in your voice. 🚶♂️Walking into the room? Don’t tiptoe in like you’re sneaking into class late. Walk like you belong. People decide how to treat you before you even speak. Let them decide well. Now, here’s the speaking part broken down like I explain it to my clients: 1. Stop obsessing over fancy slides. Start with the one thing you want them to remember, then build backward. 2. Drop the “corporate voice.” & speak like you talk to your friends. Clarity + authenticity beats formality. 3. Nervous? Good. Breathe deeper, start slower & let your body catch up to your brain. 4. Don’t shout to sound confident. Use your voice like a highlighter - slow down, drop tone, pause. 5. Tell real stories because a moment they can feel > a metric they’ll forget. 6. Don’t scan the room. Hold eye contact for 2–3 seconds, make them feel seen. 7. Use your hands, it makes you look alive, not rehearsed. 8. Don’t memorize. Rehearse the flow, not the script! Most importantly? Don’t end your talk wondering, “Was I good?” Ask: “Did they feel something?” Because that’s what they’ll remember. P.S. I teach all of this (and more) in my Sunday masterclass - https://divasgupta.in/Li But honestly, even if you never join, take this post seriously. I built it from scratch, brick by brick, after years of stammering and silence. And if it helps even one person walk in, speak up, and own their story - It’ll be worth it. #PublicSpeaking #Communication

Public speaking used to terrify me. I'd lose sleep the night before... go completely blank in front of a room. I used to dread every presentation. I’d stress over every word. And when I’d finally get up there...nothing. My mind would go blank. Fast forward to today... As a coach, I now run workshops, facilitate, and speak publicly with confidence. This morning, I shared my top 5 tips with the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS) on how to "Speak to Influence". Here’s the breakdown: 1️⃣ Hook them early — 5 ways to open strong: ↳ Tell a story: “I once stood in front of 30 people... and forgot everything I planned to say.” ↳ Ask a question: “What if your biggest fear became your biggest strength?” ↳ Make a bold claim: “Most presentation advice is wrong—and here’s why.” ↳ Drop a stat: “75% of professionals fear public speaking. I used to be one of them.” ↳ Lead with WHY: Not what you're saying—but why it matters. 2️⃣ Prepare with the end in mind Ask yourself: ↳ What do I want the audience to feel? ↳ What do I want them to do after? Design everything—your tone, structure, slides—to drive that outcome. 3️⃣ Say it out loud—before you write it down ↳ We don’t speak like we write. So prep like this: ↳ Speak your ideas aloud. ↳ Then shape them into your script. (Because “Henceforth, furthermore…” doesn’t land in real life.) 4️⃣ End on a peak People remember two things: the peak and the end (Peak-end effect bias). So don’t fizzle out. Close with: ↳ a challenge ↳ a poll ↳ a call-to-action ↳ Or a simple mic-drop moment Make it stick. 5️⃣ Use story structure ↳ Forget data dumps. ↳ Build a narrative: set the context → introduce the hero → the pain → the climax → the solution. Most importantly, Don’t try to be Obama. Be you. Flaws and all. "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde If you’ve ever frozen in front of a room, I’ve been there. And I promise. It gets better. Which tip above would’ve helped you the most? P.S. If this helped, consider reposting ♻️ and share it with someone who's prepping for their next big talk.

Siddharth reached out to me with a peculiar challenge: 👉“People join my webinars... but they don’t stay till the end.” He had recently started hosting online sessions - but found it tough to hold his audience’s attention. When I watched his recordings, a few things stood out: 🔹 Monotonous voice 🔹 Lack of facial expressions 🔹 Poor posture 🔹 Struggles with storytelling 🔹 Difficulty answering on-the-spot questions Like many introverted professionals from a technical background, Siddharth was more comfortable behind the screen than in front of an audience. But he was committed to changing that. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. I attended his webinars, watched his videos, and created personalized practice sessions. We worked on: ✅ Crafting relatable narratives using his tech expertise ✅ Adding vocal variety and expression ✅ Strengthening his body language and posture ✅ Handling Q&A with confidence ✅ Delivering content that resonates - not just informs In just 3 months, a lot changed! 🎯 His confidence grew. 🎯 He started speaking with energy and passion. 🎯 His audience started staying till the end. Was it easy? Not at all! But his consistency, openness to feedback, and willingness to step out of his comfort zone made all the difference. If you're someone who’s great at what you do - but struggle to express it clearly and confidently - know that transformation is possible. You don’t need to be born a speaker. You just need to learn how to connect. #PublicSpeaking #PresentationSkills #Communication

Still nervous before every presentation? Still reading from slides like a robot? Still losing your audience after 2 minutes? You don’t need “natural talent” to fix this, You need the right playbook. After coaching 100+ speakers, here’s what I’ve seen consistently work 👇 1. Master your topic No shortcuts here. Know it inside out or don’t speak about it at all. 2. Research your audience Age, background, expectations, tailor your delivery to who’s listening. 3. Keep it simple If you can’t explain it to a 10-year-old, rework it. Clarity > complexity. 4. Use visuals wisely Slides should support, not replace you. (And please, no clipart from 1995 😅) 5. Vary your delivery Monotone kills energy. Change your pace, volume, and tone. 6. Tell stories Every great talk has at least one story. Stories stick. Data fades. 7. Own the stage Confidence doesn’t come from magic, it comes from preparation. 8. Get people involved Ask questions, run an exercise, start a discussion. Engagement = impact. 9. Practice until it feels natural And when you think you’re ready, practice 3 more times. The truth is: Great speakers aren’t born, they’re made. And with the right structure and practice, anyone can hold an audience. So tell me, Which tip resonates with you most? Drop it below. P.S. Public speaking is just one part of stepping into your spotlight. If you want more updated insights, exclusive strategies, and step-by-step frameworks to grow your confidence, communication, and career, Join my Career Spotlight Group for insider tips and live sessions designed to help you stand out. 📌 Join here - https://lnkd.in/gB22r3_b #publicspeaking #communication #speaker

I've invested over $100k learning how to become a better public speaker... ...books, courses, programs, webinars, coaching, seminars and a BA in communication. Here's a list of some of the incredible people I've learned from: Pat Quinn Josh Shipp Brian Bosché Gabrielle Bosché Grant Baldwin James Malinchak Russell Brunson Nick Unsworth Vinh Giang Donald Miller Kristin Lindholm Stephen E Lucas Pete Vargas Aristotle Taylorr Payne 🎤 Eileen Wilder Michael Port Andrew Davis Ty Bennett Scott Goodwill John Mark Comer Craig Groeschel Louie Giglio Erwin Raphael McManus Stacy Huston Richard Greene Chris Anderson Simon Sinek and soooo many more. I've also studied the top speakers in the world, the most viral Ted Talks, and the most inspirational leaders. Here's some things I've learned: 1. Authenticity is more important than "following the rules" -Some of the greatest speakers in history said "um" and put their hands in their pockets. Be yourself. 2. Conviction is more important than "presentation skills" -If you believe with every fiber of your being that what you are saying matters, it solves 90% of your problems with gestures, tonality, tempo, posture etc. 3. Every great keynote should have exactly 1 main point -It's better make 1 point 10 times than 10 points 1 time. 4. Tell stories in the present tense -Instead of "I looked at her and cried" say "I look at her and begin to cry". It helps the audience relive the moment with you. 5. Your structure matters -Your audience needs to know 1. what's in it for them and 2. why they can trust you, before they will receive your content 6. Humor and vulnerability are the quickest ways to make a connection with the audience 7. Confidence comes from being secure in your identity -Speaking is a form of self expression. Most people aren't afraid of public speaking. They are afraid of being fully seen. I hope this serves you!

"Don't say UM" For many years as I was coaching sales reps on presentation skills, this was probably my number one piece of feedback. Then about 5 years ago (I'm kind of a slow learner) I realized that telling somone NOT to do something isn't effective. Giving them a new tool to replace UM actually works. This is the premise of Michael Chad Hoeppner's new book "Don't Say Um". You would think by the title that it is going to be a rehash of all the old tropes about effective public speaking but don't be fooled. This book is a masters degree in delivering effective public presentations. Each chapter uncovers specific challenges and then goes into the excercises (yes, you have to take action) that will help you overcome and avoid those challenges. From Enunciation to Breathing to Gestures, Michael has great prescriptions to help you become a more confident, competent and effective speaker. My favorite was using the Three F's to Recover from Mistakes. And no, they aren't the biological reponses of Fight, Flight or Freeze; they are the much more actionable Fake it, Fix it and Feature it. He gives you specific approaches to correcting a mistake and NONE of them include apologizing. When I am working with students on the job search, I am almost always asked what I look for in a candidate. The first three are Proven Work Ethic, Technical Aptitude and Curiosity but the fourth and probably most impactful is Effective Communicator. Michael's book can empower the fourth fundamental. If you are a tenured professional looking for ways to help you grow you career, this book is for you. If you are the parent or mentor to a high school or college student this book is a generous book you can give them. Micheal closes the book with this three-part statement and I will close this post with is as a summary: Communications matters, it's more phyical than you think and there are things you can do to improve it. Use the tools in this book to make those improvments. https://lnkd.in/gSdWPrb8

In 2024, we hosted a professional development lunch & learn once a quarter. The team asked if we could do them more frequently, so now we host them once a month. Q1's theme: Public Speaking. Public speaking is one of the most important skills in business. It allows you to articulate your ideas, to be heard, to convey an emotion or sentiment, and to capture and maintain attention. The list of benefits go on. Any time you are speaking to another person - you are public speaking. Whether that's an internal call, an external meeting, or a thousand-person audience, you must utilize the same skills. 1. Structure your point 2. Don't use filler words 3. Keep a steady pace 4. Use inflection properly INTRODUCING THE VIZER "TOASTMASTERS" CHALLENGE (Note: This challenge is inspired by Toastmasters, but not the traditional Toastmasters structure. 🍞) 1. Assign roles. For round one, five people had auditing roles, but the group didn't know what they were being evaluated on. So, by all accounts, they were flying blind. Our auditing roles: Pacing, Personality, Presence, Structure, and Filler Words. 2. Have people stand and speak for two minutes each. To keep it easy, I asked people to talk about something they LOVED or HATED. In theory, this would give them a ton of material, so we could focus on delivery vs. content. 3. Have each evaluator stand and present their feedback to each member of the group round-robin. Public speaking nerves tend to come from an emotional charge. How would pacing, presence, and structure shift when providing constructive criticism vs. affirmation? We had two evaluators poised to discern if there was a difference and we definitely noticed changes. 4. Final round. I asked everyone to reflect on the feedback they received. Then I asked them to stand and speak for two minutes on how their life & role would look different a year from now if they were a stronger public speaker. How would their day-to-day look different? What opportunities would it open up? The transformation was clear and immediate. We had one person go from using SEVENTEEN filler words in a two-minute speech to using ONE. The biggest fallacy in business is that some people are born with certain talents and others are not. The truth is, skill-building requires focused time, attention, and care. "The poet who is 'born not made' works hard for what you consider his birthright." - Maria Popova TLDR: a two-hour investment at the end of each month = exponential ROI across all departments & teams.

Most people think public speaking is a gift. The truth? It’s a skill. I used to avoid presentations at all costs. Now I keynote at global tech conferences. Here’s what helped me go from stage fright to spotlight 👇 🔹 1. Start painfully small I began with 5-minute team updates. Then department talks. Then client briefings. Each win stacked confidence for the next level. 🔹 2. Reframe the audience They’re not judges. They’re people that need to hear your message. That mindset changed everything. 🔹 3. Record. Watch. Repeat. Yes, it's awkward. But that’s where the magic is: → Voice → Pace → Posture → Filler words You’ll only fix what you can see. Here’s the truth: Most “natural” speakers you admire? They practiced. A lot. I still get nervous. But now, I use that energy to deliver with purpose. If you're working on your first talk, start small. But start now. 📩  Every week, I share real lessons from the stage, boardroom, and behind the scenes in my newsletter. Subscribe link in the comments. ♻️ If this helped, share with someone who needs to hear it.

Since I started my executive speaker coaching business five years ago, I’ve been challenged repeatedly to explain WHY the ability to speak with clarity and impact is a strategic necessity. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲- 𝘁𝗼-𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱. Warren Buffett, an avid proponent of leadership communication training, said: “𝘐𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦.” I could not agree more. Yet, I’ve concluded that public speaking coaching is misunderstood because the visible symptoms of poor communication--nervous gestures, filler words, shaky voice—are easier to spot than the deeper dimension that speaks to reputation and business strategy. The real value of my work lies in helping executives think, structure, and deliver communication that drives results, not just in addressing poor habits. That’s why I wrote my latest blog (link in the comments) to explain how expert speaker coaching works and why it’s indispensable for high-stakes moments that can define your leadership. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀. Executive public speaking coaching goes far beyond eliminating filler words and conquering stage fright. It helps you: ✅ Clarify complex messages into persuasive, memorable stories ✅ Strengthen executive presence and influence ✅ Deliver with confidence under pressure ✅ Connect authentically with your audience A tailored coaching approach, focused on your cultural background, personality, speech patterns, business context, target audience, and desired outcomes ensures that you embody your message in a credible and natural manner. And, most importantly, it ensures that your message lands and inspires action. 👉You can read the full Master Communicator blog post (link in the comments) to discover why top leaders invest in public speaking coaches and how to choose the right one for you. #leadershipcommunication #executivecommunication #executivespeakercoach #publicspeakingskills #publicspeakingcoach #presentationskills

When I coach public speakers, we don’t aim for perfection. We aim for authenticity. Here’s why: Most of my clients deal with the same struggles - even though no one knows they do: 1. Imposter syndrome. 2. Fear of judgment.
 3. Those nerves that hold them back. The real challenge they face is not mastering every line. They struggle with finding their voice. My approach: → Start with strengths: We dig into what makes them unique. → Build on confidence: We tap into their story, their style, and their why.
 → Refine their message: We achieve this through practical, hands-on training. The outcome? They don’t just speak on stage. They connect. They inspire. They leave an impact. The truth? People don’t want a perfect speaker. They want you. ♻️ Share this with someone who needs to read this.