“To be a very good public speaker, you have to do three things really well. You have to entertain. You have to inform. And you have to inspire.”

Eric O’Neill, Top Cybersecurity Keynote Speaker

What separates your average presenter from a good keynote speaker? These days, anyone who can use PowerPoint can be a decent presenter. But being a good keynote speaker is more than your ability to follow Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 presentation rules (Have no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and use a font size no smaller than 30 points).

Being a good keynote speaker requires a unique point of view, a passion for the craft, the ability to tell a story, and an expertise that goes beyond the keynote presented.

So, if you are thinking of becoming a keynote speaker, here are the four things you will need—according to top professional speakers.

4 Things You Need to Be a Good Speaker

1) Enthusiasm

“All I had was my genuine enthusiasm for my discovery and story and how that would serve the audience. That’s all you need to get started. Everything else can be built and gained.”

Jia Jiang, Top Resilience Speaker, and Bestselling author of Rejection Therapy

Good keynote speakers must have enthusiasm and passion for their topic. If a speaker is not excited to talk about the topic to small and large audiences, then no one will be excited to listen.  

If you are thinking about pursuing a career in keynote speaking, first consider if you would speak on the topic even if you weren’t being paid. If the answer is yes, then you are in the right field. Most of your first speaking gigs will be free when you start as you grow your speaking business.

2) A Unique Point of View

“One of the main reasons I feel very compelled to speak right now is because we live in a world where things fall apart. Whether it’s by your own hands or you are just dealt a bad hand. I feel very inspired to be an example that it’s not the end of the story and that you can have this incredible comeback.”

Molly Bloom, Top Inspirational Keynote Speaker and author of Molly’s Game

Do you have something new to give to the field of speaking? The world is filled with many keynote speakers on every subject you can think of (like motivation, teamwork, and personal development). But the one thing that separates the good keynote speaker from the average presenter is their unique point of view. 

For example, many people speak about leadership. There are thousands of leadership books in the world. You can find a dozen in any airport newsstand. It’s unlikely you will have new ideas about the principles of leadership that haven’t been written before. But what you do have is your unique perspective on leadership. It may be on how to be a woman leader or a tech leader or even how to get started being a leader. And this unique perspective audiences will want to hear.

3) Storytelling 

“Storytelling can educate and entertain. But, in the end, the most important thing that storytelling can do is inspire us, move us, change us, and have us think differently.”

Matthew Luhn, Top Storytelling Keynote Speaker

If you ask any professional keynote speaker what makes them successful, storytelling will be at the top of their list. Storytelling separates your average PowerPoint presenter from a good keynote speaker. Anyone can read from a PowerPoint slide deck, but not everyone can engage an audience with a story. 

Stories are what good speakers use to entertain, inspire, and connect with their audiences. People won’t remember facts, but they will remember all the anecdotes you use to illustrate your points.

4) Expertise

“The first thing you need is … something that will resonate with an audience. Something that is about your experience that makes you the expert that only you can stand up on stage and tell.”

Eric O’Neill, Top Cybersecurity Keynote Speaker

Good keynote speakers are good because they are experts in their subject. Anyone can present research to an audience. But people who have walked the walk will be more engaging to the audience. It’s the experience that gives them credibility.

So, if you have years of experience in your field, published a book on it, produced a podcast about it, or regularly authored a column, then your audience will find what you say more believable.

These aren’t the only four things you need to be a good public speaker, of course. However, these are the four essentials on which to build your career.

If you want to hire a good keynote speaker for your next event, contact BigSpeak Speakers Bureau.

To Learn More About Keynote Speaking, read:

What Makes A Great Motivational Speaker?

What All Keynote Speakers Should Have in Their Demo Reels

Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Become a Motivational Keynote Speaker

How to Create Inspiring Stories