Public speakers who teach presentation skills often blend mechanics (e.g., voice, body language, structure) with the benefits (e.g., career growth, influence, clarity) to make their message more compelling and actionable.

Below are three key ways they can do this:

Framing Mechanics as Tools for Personal and Professional Success

Speakers often position core public speaking skills — like vocal variety, eye contact, and stage movement — not just as techniques, but as enablers of confidence, credibility, and career growth.

Carmine Gallo, in “Talk Like TED”, connects the use of vocal variety and storytelling to increased emotional connection, which boosts persuasion and leadership presence.

Frame technical skills (e.g., vocal variety, pacing, clear articulation) as accelerators of leadership visibility, promotion opportunities, and professional influence.

When you master vocal variety and confidence on stage, you’re not just performing — you’re positioning yourself as a leader others want to follow.

When you master these, it shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to greater visibility, which leads to leadership opportunities.

You can link physical presence to executive presence by teaching posture, gestures, and eye contact not just as body language skills, but as elements of executive presence, which drives trust and authority in high-stakes environments.

The way you stand and move isn’t just about looking polished — it helps people believe in your competence and credibility.

When you master these, it shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking establishes your presence, which leads to your credibility and influence.

Showcase your storytelling and structure as tools for your thought leadership.

Storytelling techniques, structured messaging, and rhetorical devices are key to the ability to move audiences, shape culture, or drive change.

A well-structured story with a clear message isn’t just memorable — it’s how ideas go viral and thought leaders are born.

When you master storytelling and structure, it shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking clarifies your message, which leads to your impact and influence.

So, framing public speaking mechanics as tools to further personal and professional advancement shows the benefits of excellent public speaking.

Linking structure and clarity also shows the benefits of excellent public speaking.

Linking Structure and Clarity to Audience Impact

Public speaking educators explain how structuring a presentation — using clear openings, signposts, and conclusions — directly supports comprehension and memory, increasing the value delivered to audiences and stakeholders.

Nancy Duarte emphasizes structure through storytelling frameworks (like the “hero’s journey”) and shows how this enhances audience engagement and retention.

Frame your presentation structure as a cognitive roadmap for your audience.

Help the audience mentally organize your ideas by using clear sections, signposts, and transitions. This increases retention, comprehension, and actionability.

A well-structured talk is like GPS for the brain — it reduces mental effort and increases understanding.

When you have a clear, structured talk, it shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking fosters mental clarity, with the result being better retention of your message for your audience.

Use clarity to build trust and reduce confusion.

Explain that simple, jargon-free language builds psychological safety and makes the speaker more trustworthy, especially for technical or diverse audiences.

When you simplify your message, you don’t dumb it down — you invite people in.

When you have clarity in your message, it shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to clear language, which leads to trust, which broadens the reach of your message.

Show that clarity fuels action. Demonstrate how concise calls to action and logical conclusions empower listeners to take the next step, be it adopting an idea, changing behavior, or sharing your message.

Clarity isn’t just about being understood — it’s about making it easy for others to act on your message.

Clarity of action shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to focused clarity, which leads to actionable insight, which leads to real-world results.

So, framing public speaking mechanics as tools and linking structure and clarity shows the benefits of excellent public speaking.

A third way of showing the benefits of excellent public speaking is to demonstrate confidence techniques as catalysts for leadership and influence.

Demonstrating Confidence Techniques as Catalysts for Leadership and Influence

Public speaking coaches teach physical presence and vocal control not only to reduce nervousness but to embody leadership, which in turn increases trust and authority.

Chris Anderson, TED’s Head Curator, explains how mastering delivery mechanics can transform speakers into thought leaders, giving their ideas broader reach and societal impact.

Model calm, controlled body language as leadership presence. Teach that standing tall, grounding your stance, and using deliberate gestures signal authority and stability, which audiences associate with leadership.

Modeling calm, controlled body language shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to grounded presence, which leads to perceived authority, which leads to trusted leadership.

Use vocal confidence to project your vision and resolve. Show how a steady pace, strong volume, and vocal energy help convey clarity of purpose, inspiring others to listen, believe, and take action.

A confident voice isn’t loud — it’s centered. It tells people, ‘I believe in this, and so should you.

Using vocal confidence to project vision and resolve shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to vocal command, which leads to persuasive delivery, which leads to influential leadership.

Demonstrate poise in uncertainty to earn respect. Emphasize that staying composed during technical glitches, questions, or pushback builds credibility and shows you’re a leader who can navigate pressure.

Leadership shows up when things go off script — staying poised tells your audience you can handle complexity.

Demonstrating poise in uncertainty shows how mastering the mechanics of public speaking leads to grace under pressure, which leads to audience confidence, which leads to influence and respect.

So, framing public speaking mechanics as tools, linking structure and clarity, and demonstrating confidence techniques as catalysts for leadership and influence shows the benefits of excellent public speaking.

As a public speaker teaching presentation skills, you must deliver the proper balance between public speaking mechanics and still motivate your audience by making clear the personal and professional benefits of practicing excellent presentation skills.

This is your mission if you wish to accept it!

Call to Action

• Connect the use of your vocal variety and storytelling to increase the emotional connection with your audience.

• Help the audience mentally organize your ideas by using clear sections, signposts, and transitions.

• Stand tall, ground your stance, and use deliberate gestures to signal authority and stability, which audiences associate with leadership.

References

• Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. St. Martin’s Press.

• Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Wiley.

• Anderson, C. (2016). TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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