*Are you enthralled or rolling your eyes?

*Are you distracted by your phone or mesmerized?

*Do you feel like someone is reading your mind and explaining just how you feel or do you think they are from another planet?

Most importantly:

*Do you immediately know what you are going to do next?

Not only do I talk at many conferences each year, I also work with executives to prepare them to be brilliant on stage at internal company events or external industry conferences. 

Here’s five ways to make your next talk brilliant:

1. Ditch the slides! You do not need them. Jared Caretesten, CISO at RCH used five letters in his closing keynote. I’m a fan of being concise and his presentation was perfect. He had five letters, A,B,C,D, and E on five slides and shared a lesson for each letter. Memorable and the audience focused on what he was saying, not complex PowerPoint slides. 

2. Decide What Happens Next - what you want your audience to do differently after they have heard you.

3. Tell contagious stories that prompt others to tell their stories. I often tell the story how one of my CEO clients increased their share price by 37% in the first three months of her appointment. That prompts others telling me stories of success or not such great success of their first three months in their new executive role. 

4. Be brilliant at sharing your brilliance. What are you most proud of, how often do you tell the stories of your accomplishments? Too often we hold back, don’t want to appear to be bragging, or opt for being humble when your brilliance will truly help others. 

Now go command your stage!

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/