TODAY'S TAKEAWAY
“How do you become a good speaker?”
💡 The quick answer: Be structured.
THE QUESTION
“My dream is to be an entrepreneur and communicating your vision is super important. How did you become such a good speaker?”
—Peter Walewender from Chicago, IL
GORICK'S RESPONSE
Hi Peter,
I’m honored to hear that you think I’m a good speaker! Here are my top 10 tips for becoming a powerful speaker:
1. Memorize a table of contents instead of a script.
I used to read off scripts until I realized three things:
A) Scripts make audiences question whether you really know your stuff.
B) You get bogged down trying to get every single word perfect.
C) Nobody but you knows what you accidentally left out.
Now, I only write a bulleted outline—like a book's table of contents. I note a few key phrases I need to hit, then I just speak, jumping mentally from one heading to the next.
2. Just keep moving forward.
Since no one knows your script, no one knows when you mess up. When I forget a detail (which happens a lot!) I just keep moving to my next point. If necessary, I’ll drop a "By the way..." later on, but I never pause to say "Sorry"—I just keep going as if everything is going as planned.
3. Deliver the bottom line upfront.
Before opening your mouth, isolate your main point. Say it, then pause.
Most people do the opposite. Instead of asking, "Are you available for coffee next week?" they say: "I'd love to pick your brain and happen to be in the office next week, so let me know if you have time to meet up, maybe we can get coffee or do a call..." That's a meandering mess of details that buries the lead.
4. Use examples over statements.
Clear people speak specifically. Unclear people speak in generalities that lead to ten people coming to ten different conclusions on what they mean.
If you catch yourself being abstract, pivot to a quick example. Sure, there may be a time and place to say something general like "I help business owners grow,” but, to a random person, saying "I helped Jenny, a retired teacher, launch her online coaching business” is a lot clearer.
5. Always give a “therefore.”
Listing problems sounds like complaining unless you provide a solution. If you say, "X is out of the office, and I'm running late," you’re just delivering bad news.
Follow it with a "therefore": "Therefore, let’s reschedule for a time that works for everyone." Always tell people what action to take next. Otherwise, they’ll walk away confused—and not doing what you want them to do.
6. When in doubt, add structure.
I learned this in management consulting: one of the easiest ways to sound smart is to bucket your thoughts into simple categories (e.g., “Internal vs. External” or “Short-term vs. Long-term”). If you don't have categories, just say, “I have three points: number 1… number 2… number 3…”
Here’s the secret of the best on-the-fly frameworkers: most of the time, they say they have three points when they really only have two. That third one? They made it up as they were saying the first two.
7. Vary your intonation, volume, and pace.
If you sound bored by your own voice, your audience will be too. Vary your delivery to keep people engaged: speak uuuuuuup and dooooooown, fast and sloooooowly, LOUDLY and softly. This variety not only keeps people engaged but also ensures that whatever you want to emphasize actually ends up being heard.
8. Speak loudly.
This is a straightforward one: make sure that whoever you’re talking to can actually hear you.
If you’re speaking to a group, pretend like you are speaking to the person farthest away from you. If you’re speaking in a loud place, feel free to say either, “It’s a bit loud here. Do I need to speak up more?” or even “Want to step over to a quieter place?”
9. Slow down… and pause… and breathe when you’re not sure what you might say next.
When you lose your train of thought, don't fill the silence with "um" or "like." Instead, deliberately slow down. Delivering. Your. Remaining. Words. Slowly. Buys. You. Time. To. Think. Use that extra runway to gather your thoughts. Once you've recovered, pick the pace back up. I do this one all the time.
10. Practice in low-stakes environments.
I’m sorry, but you can read this list a thousand times, and you still won’t improve in your public speaking. But guess what will?
Speaking a thousand times—and trying another bullet point from this list each time. Start in front of a mirror. Then, try it with a trusted friend. Then, try it with a close coworker. Then try it in a small team meeting. Keep extending that comfort zone and, before you know it, you’ll be comfortable in front of a crowd of strangers.
Bonus: Use this list to deconstruct good public speakers.
I still do this. Whenever I hear a great talk (in person or online), I return to this mental list and ask myself: what are they subconsciously doing that I like—and that I’ll try myself next time I’m in the same situation?
***
Am I missing anything? Let me know!
Hope this helps,
Gorick
WHAT I'M READING
Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):
- Hiring: Are entry-level jobs making a comeback? (MSN)
- 5 ways Pope Leo says AI could warp humanity (Axios)
- Trump administration to force foreigners in the U.S. to apply for a green card abroad (NPR)
MORE OF MY WORK
Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:
1. Keynote speaking: If your organization is looking for speakers for your internship program, new hire orientation, new student orientation, manager training, all-hands meetings, recruiting season, year-end performance evaluation season, or something else, let's chat!
2. How to Say It: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting via hundreds of fill-in-the-blank scripts (just like the examples above). Free shipping on all orders over $40.
3. The Unspoken Rules: My Wall Street Journal Bestseller that Arianna Huffington calls “a blueprint for anyone starting their career, entering a new role, or wanting to get unstuck.” Used by top companies and MBA programs.
4. Soft skills crash course: Hard skills get you hired, but a lack of soft skills gets you fired. Equip your interns and early career talent with the essential behaviors of high performers in just 3.5 hours.
