Engaging audiences

The three keys to a successful keynote: rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Savvy executives live by this advice…whenever possible. But when rehearsing is simply not an option, you can still knock it out of the park if you keep these four basics in mind once you’re on stage: 1) Make eye contact with different people in your audience (even if all you can see is a black void); 2) Slow down your speech and remember to breathe; 3) Pause between topics; and 4) Use your hands when you speak (it will help engage your audience and draw them in).

Being interviewed on camera? Here are some more insider tips to make sure you look and sound great: Tuck your jacket tail under and then sit on it. This prevents awkward wrinkles from appearing around your shoulders and neck. It also keeps you from slumping. Stay conversational, as if you were engaged in a friendly chat. And, as in a conversation, keep your eyes focused on your interviewer, whether live or off-camera. If you let your eyes wander, you’ll look shifty to the audience. Don’t act…relax, and be yourself.