1. HOW TO BE A MORE
ENGAGING SPEAKER

2. Engaging Speakers Have Three Things In Common:
something useful to say,
a well-planned presentation, and

3. Engaging speakers have three things in common:
and
(3) the ability to keep people's attention.

4. When you're an engaging speaker, others give you their full attention.
Learn to Connect With Others One-On-One
Maria has just bumped into her organization's CEO, Arnav. She had an idea that could improve the company's image, and this is a great chance to make her proposal.
She asks politely for a few minutes of his time, then presents her pitch. Her eyes sparkle, her gestures demonstrate her enthusiasm and excitement, and she sells her idea with a compelling story. When she's finished, she gives him her full attention, listens to his questions intently, and provides short, thoughtful answers.
When you're an engaging speaker,
others give you their full attention.

5. When you're an engaging speaker, others give you their full attention.
Learn to Connect With Others One-On-One
Their brief conversation impresses Arnav. Maria's idea is good but, more than that, the way that she communicates her excitement grabs his attention.
He gives her positive feedback, and asks her to set up a meeting, so that they can discuss her idea further.
When you're an engaging speaker,
others give you their full attention.

6. Why is Engagement so Important?
Stop and think about the individuals you've spoken to in the past who grabbed your attention.
Chances are, the conversation was dynamic and informative.

7. Why is Engagement so Important?
When you engage people;
you spark their interest,
connect with them heart and mind, and immerse them in what you have to say.
What's more, when it's their turn to speak, you give them your full attention.
NB: Showing people that you want to listen to them is a powerful way to build trust. 

8. Why is Engagement so Important?
The ability to engage someone has many benefits.
It allows you to communicate more effectively during meetings, negotiations or job interviews, and
it can also make it easier to persuade someone to see your point of view.
Finally, it can enhance your reputation and open doors in your career. 

9. How to be a More Engaging Speaker
You can use the techniques below to become a more engaging speaker, one-on-one or one to many .

10. Use Positive Body Language
Imagine listening to someone who rarely looks you in the eye.
His shoulders are slumped, his face is blank, and his voice is a monotone.
Even if his topic interests him, he appears not to care about what he has to say!

11. Use Positive Body Language
Your body language  communicates much more than words can alone.
That's why it's so important to appear confident, interested and passionate when you speak with others. Your posture, gestures, facial expressions, and vocal tone are the first things that engage your listener.
Show your listener that you're confident by standing up straight. Look him in the eye, smile and use deliberate, purposeful hand gestures.

12. Use Storytelling 
Think back to the last time a compelling story captivated you. It might have been an intriguing book, a movie or a cautionary story that someone told you.
Telling stories is an extremely effective way to capture someone's heart and imagination, and to engage and connect with them. You can tell stories to explain who you are and why you're here, and you can use them to teach, motivate, communicate a your intention to the client.

13. Storytelling Continued;
Start your story by providing a context that resonates with the other person (Especially, a context that suits your policy). Next, make sure that there's action, such as a conflict, problem or struggle. Finally, use a good ending, with a clear scenario of how your policy can help solve the problem.

14. Storytelling Continued;
When you tell your story, focus on creating an experience for your listener. Include details that appeal to all five senses, and use gestures and body language that will engage the client.
You can also use metaphors/parables/scriptures to reinforce your message and make a connection at the heart.
These liven up your narrative, and allow them to interpret what you've said. They are especially useful when you need to explain complex or ‘bitter’ aspects of your policy that might be hard for others to relate to.

15. Articulate Clearly
It's important to speak and enunciate clearly when you communicate.
Your listener might become irritated quickly if he can't understand you. Slurring your words, or talking too quickly or quietly, also inhibits the connection that you want to make with others.
One way to improve your enunciation is to practice in front of a mirror. As you do this, watch your face carefully.

16. Use Silence to Your Advantage
Silence can be a powerful tool when you communicate with others. It relays many different messages, depending on the timing, context and body language that you use.
Create an impact by using focused pauses to make your point. Silence gives your listeners a chance to digest what you've just said, it allows them to form their own opinions, and it controls the pace of the conversation.

17. Control Your Nerves
Most of the time, nervousness shows. Your voice may be weak or shaky, your hands might tremble, you could appear flustered, and perhaps you speak faster than normal because you're tense or out of breath.
These obvious signs of nerves affect how you communicate and can have an impact on your ability to connect with others.

18. Control Your Nerves
You can do several things to control your nerves. First, use deep breathing to relax, slow your heart rate, and pace yourself techniques to calm down.
Another way to relax is to smile and look the other person in the eye. Regardless of whether you plan to speak to a new colleague, a potential client or an interviewer, remember that this person is just like you.
Focus on making a genuine connection.

19. Develop Charisma
Charismatic people are engaging, assertive, inspiring and warm, and others tend to listen to what they have to say.
To develop charisma, start by paying attention to others: this is what gives you "presence." Remember, communication is a two-way street, and hearing what others have to say is important, so practice active listening to improve this skill.

20. Develop Charisma
Next, work on developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. These two traits will help you tune in to your own emotions, and understand how they affect the people around you. You can then respond appropriately during conversations.
Last, use empathy when you communicate. This enables you to see a situation from a different point of view. While listening is an important part of this, it's also critical that you try to understand the other person's perspective. Show a genuine personal interest in her, and in her life or experience.

21. Communicate Reliable Information
Reliable data is part of the foundation of good communication.
If you want others to pay attention when you speak, they have to be able to believe what you say. This means that you need to use good information-gathering   strategies, so that the facts you use to back up your points are solid and trustworthy.
Where possible, use appropriate, honest, checked statistics to add weight to your message. These strengthen your argument and help to build trust with the person you're speaking to.

22. Get Heard
Imagine that you're in a meeting where people are talking over one another, yet there's something you need to say. How do you get them to listen?
First, try standing up if everyone is seated. This physical act will let people know that you have a point to make.

23. Get Heard
Another way to join in is to summarize what another person has said. This "gets your foot in the door" of the conversation, it shows the other person that you've listened, and it provides you with an opening to communicate your ideas.
Others will also notice you if you say what needs to be said. For example, if everyone else has avoided a topic that you need to discuss, bring it up yourself.
This shows courage, assertiveness and interest.

24. Key Points:
Engaging speakers know how to pull their listeners in to what they have to say.
Captivate people's hearts and minds, and keep their interest throughout the conversation. As you might imagine, the ability to engage others can enhance your reputation and open doors in your career.

25. Key Points:
To be more engaging, start by making sure that your body language communicates your passion and interest.
Use storytelling techniques to captivate others and create an experience for them. Speak slowly, enunciate your words, and use strategic pauses to reinforce important messages.