On this Memorial Day, it is proper to remember those who have given their lives so we may enjoy our freedom.

Memorial Day in the United States began as a way to honor and remember soldiers who died in military service, particularly those who died during the Civil War, both Union and Confederate.

Those families touched by the tragedy of war no doubt have memories of their fallen sons, daughters, wives, husbands, fathers, and mothers.

On this Memorial Day, we will explore what you, as a public speaker, want to be remembered for when you are gone.

Below are three traits that every public speaker wants to be remembered.

Authenticity

Your audiences will more likely connect with and trust you if you appear genuine and sincere.

Authenticity builds emotional connections. When you are perceived as authentic, your message is seen as more credible and relatable.

When you are genuine—sharing real stories, honest emotions, and personal experiences signals to your audience that you are trustworthy and human.

This emotional transparency helps break down walls, allowing your audience to relate to you on a personal level.

Research from Harvard Business Review (Gino, 2016) notes that people are more inclined to follow and believe leaders they perceive as authentic.

Your audiences remember how you made them feel. When you speak from your heart, the emotional resonance often outlasts your content.

Many speakers rely heavily on performance techniques, rehearsed scripts, or corporate jargon.

Your audiences can sense when something feels rehearsed or overly manufactured.

In contrast, authenticity cuts through the noise. It differentiates you from others who may prioritize polish over substance.

Speaking with vulnerability or admitting mistakes can appear more courageous and refreshing, increasing memorability.

This uniqueness can set you apart and become a defining part of your brand.

Aristotle’s ethos—credibility—is a key pillar of persuasion, and authenticity plays a critical role in building that credibility.

When you are authentic, your audience perceives you as having integrity and alignment between your words and values. This consistency strengthens your persuasive power.

Being remembered as authentic will make you more likely to be trusted in future engagements, recommendations, or leadership roles, giving your ideas more significant influence over time.

So, as a speaker, you want to be remembered for your authenticity.

You also want to be remembered for your clarity.

Clarity

A great speaker communicates complex ideas clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner.

Clarity ensures your audience can follow and retain your message, reducing the risk of miscommunication or confusion.

Clear communication ensures your audience grasps your core message without confusion or misinterpretation. When a message is structured and straightforward, it’s easier to follow and remember.

According to a study by the University of Washington, audiences retain significantly more information when delivered in clear, concise language than dense or overly complex speech.

Prioritizing clarity helps your audience walk away with actionable insights, making your message more impactful and memorable.

Communicating clearly demonstrates mastery of your topic. You’re perceived as confident and well-prepared, which enhances your authority and credibility.

In contrast, rambling, vague, or jargon-heavy delivery can suggest a lack of understanding, even if the speaker is an expert. Audiences naturally trust those who make complex ideas simple.

Clarity signals respect for your audience’s time and intelligence, showing that you value their attention.

Clear messages are more persuasive because they reduce cognitive load, allowing your audience to focus on your ideas rather than decoding your language.

Whether your goal is to inspire, inform, or persuade, clarity makes it easier for your audience to know what you want them to feel, think, or do next.

As communication expert Nancy Duarte says, “If you want people to follow you, you have to make your message clear.”

A speaker remembered for clarity becomes someone people listen to again because they know the message will be worthwhile and easy to act upon.

So, as a speaker, you want to be remembered for your authenticity and clarity.

You also want to be remembered for your ability to engage with your audience.

Engagement

An engaging speaker captivates their audience, keeps their attention, and provokes thought or emotion.

Engagement helps you maintain focus and makes your presentation memorable. It also encourages active participation and emotional investment.

When you engage, you transform a passive listening experience into an interactive conversation with your audience. This could include eye contact, questions, humor, or responding to audience energy.

Communication expert John Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Engagement signals that you value your audience’s presence, making them feel seen and heard.

When people feel involved, they’re more likely to emotionally invest in your message and remember it long after the event.

In a world full of digital and mental distractions, active engagement helps your audience stay focused. Interactive elements like polls, stories, or audience participation create mental hooks that maintain attention.

Research published in The Journal of Educational Psychology shows that learners retain more information when actively engaged, not just passively receiving information.

If you keep the room mentally and emotionally involved, you will stand out because you don’t just present; you hold the room.

Engagement creates a sense of ownership and alignment with your message. When people feel part of the journey, they’re more likely to act on what they’ve heard.

Public speaking is often about change—thinking, behavior, or belief. If you foster interaction, it builds rapport and trust, making your calls to action more effective.

As presentation expert Garr Reynolds puts it, “Connection is the currency of influence.”

A speaker remembered for their engagement becomes a catalyst, not just a communicator.

By being authentic, clear, and engaging, you’ll communicate effectively and leave a strong, positive impression that endures beyond your speech.

The impressions you leave with your audience stay with them even after you are gone. These impressions are your legacy.

Your legacy is immortal!

Call to Action

• Demonstrate authenticity with your audience. This builds emotional connections. When you are perceived as authentic, your message is seen as more credible and relatable.

• Ensure you are clear with your audience. This significantly increases their retention of your message and reduces the risk of miscommunication or confusion.

• Demonstrate engagement with your audience. This helps you maintain focus and makes your presentation memorable. It also encourages active participation and emotional investment.

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References

• Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. Gallo emphasizes that the best TED speakers show vulnerability and speak from personal experience, which enhances their authenticity and connection with the audience.

• Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Duarte highlights the importance of structuring presentations with clear, logical flow and using language that makes ideas accessible to all audience members.

• Carnegie, D. (1936). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Though broader than just public speaking, Carnegie’s principles underline the importance of making others feel involved and valued—the key to engagement.

Being a confident, engaging, and effective technical speaker is a vital personal and professional asset. With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.

Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent technical speeches and presentations. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be. Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation. Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks