A compelling signature talk is a must-have. It’s a powerful tool to elevate your brand, attract clients, land investors, and establish yourself as the trusted authority in your field. No matter what your goals are, your ability to deliver a memorable message can set you apart.

Creating a message can be difficult and time-consuming, taking up time that could be spent on other, more important tasks, such as actually writing or practicing the speech. My pro tip is to remember your purpose.

When I work with my clients, I often ask them, “Who’s a speaker you admire?” At least 90% of them say, “Barack Obama.” In this short list, I’m taking a look at the speech that put President Barack Obama on the map and showing you the elements that make it a great speech.

If you need to improve your public speaking skills, you may want to join Toastmasters, or you may want to hire an executive coach. Which is better - a speaking coach or Toastmasters? Both have their benefits. Here are some facts and observations about each; you get to decide.

Nothing sucks the air out of a presentation like a long, boring introduction Here are the best 3 tips for introducing yourself. Kick off your speech and get your audience engaged. Your audience needs to know why you’re the expert - not your entire resumé.

Among some of the best places to practice public speaking, one of my favorites is Pecha Kucha. This in-person presentation show features presentations of 20 slides shown for 20 seconds each. The slides auto-advance, so the speaker has to keep up - and get their message across in 6 minutes and 40 seconds.