Public speaking isn’t just for TED Talks and corporate boardrooms.
It’s for job interviews, networking events, PTA meetings, and any time you need to communicate clearly and confidently.
Yet so many of us hesitate—not because we don’t have something worth saying, but because we’re afraid of saying it wrong.
Wrong, as in:
❌ Offending someone.
❌ Sounding unprepared.
❌ Looking like we don’t know what we’re talking about.
But here’s the truth: Compelling speakers aren’t just confident. They’re also prepared and authentic.
The 3 Essential Traits of a Compelling Speaker
1️⃣ Confidence – Not something you’re born with—it’s something you build by proving to yourself that you can speak up and survive. Small reps lead to big confidence.
2️⃣ Preparation – Even the most “off-the-cuff” speakers have a game plan. Knowing your key points (instead of memorizing a script) frees you up to focus on your audience, not your nerves.
3️⃣ Authenticity – People connect with realness, not rehearsed perfection. Instead of trying to sound “polished,” focus on sounding like you—mistakes and all.
When you embrace these three things, speaking stops feeling like something you need to “perform” and starts feeling like a skill you can improve.
Want to hear how to put this into action?
Listen to the episode:
Dr. Sara Thompson
Dr. Sara Thompson is That Presentation Coach, with a mission to help folks become more confident, authentic, and prepared public speakers. With a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies and over a decade of public speaking coaching and consulting for individuals, groups, and organizations, there aren’t many public speaking issues that she hasn’t helped tackle. She uses humor, warmth, communications theory, and performer training techniques to help clients share their voices confidently and authentically with the world.
Website: https://thatpresentationcoach.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatpresentationcoach
