It's time to share your expertise! Not simply for the sake of sharing, but to position yourself as a confident leader in your company, thought leader around a key message, and leading expert within your industry and community.

Are butterflies holding you back? Afraid you'll blow it and not easily recover? Not sure you're the right person to deliver an important company message? Don't have the time? Maybe you simply haven't considered the value in speaking as a critical element in your leadership role.

A powerful message, delivered by top business leader Nido Qubein at our annual National Speakers Association conference in Atlanta, challenged speaking professionals to become great business people. In the same spirit of immense possibility, I challenge you as a business professional, to become a great speaker.

It takes BOLD! courage to step up, stand strong, and deliver a message that matters. Most likely the same steps you've taken throughout your business and life adventures that led you precisely to where you are now.

Your rich experiences are filled with keen insight and your own unique point of view on any number of key issues. Whether you're communicating a difficult decision, enlisting buy-in for a new concept, or helping others ignite success, the basics are the same. As Roger Ailes reminds us, in his must-read book by the same title: "You Are The Message!"

One of the big mistakes business leaders make when approaching a speaking opportunity is diving head-first into creating the content of the message. This is not where you want to start. You're likely not there yet.

Before considering content, you'll need to consider and apply a few BOLD! strategies for speaking success…sure to set you and your key message apart in your own unique way:

1. Adjust your focus from ME to THEM.
Keep in mind the radio station your employees or audiences are tuned into: WIIFM: What's In It For Me! Know who your group is, what their individual reality is, and what their struggles are. Adjusting your mindset from addressing your topic from a Me perspective (what do I want to say) to a Them perspective (what do they need from me) is the place to start.

2. Be sure to LET OTHERS IN.
Letting others get to know, respect and trust you is important to your success in many areas, and is key in speaking. The longer you wait to start letting others in, the thicker the divide that separates you. Be likeable, even when being respected is more important than being liked. Your credibility does not come from your title or position. In fact, your title can build distance with some you are trying to get close to with your message. Let them get to know you in a way that strengthens the bond, yet is appropriate for the situation. Include personal insights and tidbits that let them see the real you. When used effectively, letting others in is key to connectivity.

3. CONNECTIVITY is up to you as the speaker.
This is no time to sit back and expect your employees or audience to *get* you. Beyond letting others in, it's up to you to find commonalities that matter. Have you been in their situation? Let them know. Have you struggled with this same concept you're asking them to accept? Tell them. Is your purpose to recognize and celebrate their achievements? Then this is not the time to tell them about yours, but instead honor all they've done to get there. Connect by letting them be the hero. Let them know you respect what it took to get there, and what it will continue to take in the future.

4. Speak WITH them as INDIVIDUALS, rather than TO them as a GROUP.
This strategy works for introverted professionals who simply have a harder time addressing groups of people. It's important for extroverts as well, not to speak to the masses, but with individuals. The differences are subtle but have a huge effect. Make eye contact with one person at a time, rather than swarming the crowd with a group glaze. For that moment, you are making a connection with one person who will notice. This is a brief connection, then move on to others. If you make a point of meeting your participants before taking the stage, you will already have many supporters in the room. After any presentation, try to re-connect with a few who shared their energy back with you. Connecting with individuals within a group can be the spark that changes everything.

5. Share more STORIES, less STATISTICS.
When you want to emphasize a point or make it stick, share a story rather than a statistic. Statistics are important to support your message, but the stories are what make you and your message memorable. If statistics are key to your business presentation, make sure you balance them with stories that show why the statistics matter. You don't need to be a great storyteller, but you do need to let them see your passion. Sharing a few personal stories is a great way to build credibility and let them get to know you, but make sure you're not the hero in every story. Notice how often it's the stories they comment on and remember, more often than statistics.

You're on your way, so don't stop there! Seek out speaking opportunities within your team, division, company, industry, and community. Keep your focus on others, let them get to know you, create meaningful connections, interact with them as individuals, and share stories from your heart to make any fact or statistic memorable.

It's time to share your expertise as the business, thought and community leader you are…by BOLD!ly stepping up to the podium!

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