Who’s Inspired You?

Growing up, we all had role models. They were the special people in our lives we wanted to be like. It might have been a favorite TV or movie actor, or the lead singer or soloist from a favorite group.

Maybe you had a teacher or coach who inspired you to reach higher than you thought you could. Maybe there was someone from the national scene, like human rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or the first woman nominated for a top political office, Geraldine Ferraro.

What does this have to do with public speaking? If we want to become one of those speakers audiences genuinely enjoy listening to, we need to understand what inspires audiences to listen to speakers in the first place. One of the best ways to do that is to find public speakers we admire, follow them, and pay attention to what they do.

In general, speakers try to excel at a variety of speaker fundamentals. But let’s look at five of these fundamentals, and what we can learn from role models who have mastered them.

Authenticity: Being genuine and true to oneself builds trust in two ways. First, when you’re sharing something you’re passionate about, it’s easier to trust in the value of using public speaking to share it. Second, authenticity builds trust with the audience. Who’s the most authentic speaker you’ve ever heard?
Delivery: A speaker’s ability to effectively communicate their ideas, whether complex or simple, is so important. Do you have a speaker role model who excels at speaking clearly and articulating their ideas… maybe an idea that was especially meaningful to you?
Storytelling: Speakers with the ability to tell stories effectively can make ideas more relatable and memorable in ways that captivate their audiences. What’s the most memorable story you’ve ever heard a speaker tell? Who shared it?
Confidence is key in public speaking. No secret there. But fundamentally, confidence isn’t just about knowing your content. It’s about making eye contact, handling your own nerves gracefully, your body language, and making sure your audience knows you’re there for them. Do you know a speaker who’s mastered this type of confidence?
Preparation: This shows in the way a speaker delivers their message. They deliver their content with ease, look forward to engaging with their audience, and handle questions confidently. Is there a speaker you know of who always comes across as being well-prepared?

And just to complete the circle, one of my public speaking role models is Grant Baldwin. I love Grant’s story about how he got started speaking and grew “The Speaker Lab” into a business that teaches people how to build a Paid to Speak public speaking career.

Three more speakers who have great fundamental speaker skills are: Brené Brown, who’s Power of Vulnerability TED Talk is one of the top five most viewed TED talks of all time. Simon Sinek, who succinctly and successfully shared a complex concept with audiences in this TED Talk. And Michele Obama, a person who’s public speaking has always turned my head and inspired me.

The good news is that it doesn’t really matter who or how many speaker role models you have. What matters is what you walk away with after a speaker captures your attention. Yes, there’s the takeaway from their content, but there’s an opportunity to learn from the speaker fundamentals they’ve just put on display for you in real time.

So……. Who’s on your list? Please share. I’d love to know!