Happy Professional Speakers Day! 🗣️ Today, we’re celebrating the powerful voices that move us, not just with polished presentations, but with heart, purpose, and authenticity. Whether they’re on stage, in a meeting, or behind a screen, they share ideas that shape how we think, work, and grow.
But what makes someone a truly impactful speaker? To find out, we’re diving into the stories and lessons of phenomenal speakers who’ve walked the path, from creative directors to TEDx presenters to leadership coaches. Along the way, they’ve picked up some timeless insights that anyone, yes, even you can use to communicate more effectively. Let’s explore their words, and extract some advice you can apply in your own career, leadership journey, or next big presentation…
Scott Gould a Keynote Speaker, Author & Poet – From Creative Director to Keynote Speaker:
“Despite my failures, I kept going at speaking. It just seemed to be something that no matter how well or bad I felt I had done, at least one person always came up to me afterwards and said it helped. I also went on to be a lecturer. So much of my career has centred around my ability to communicate well, even if I felt I didn’t.
Valuing the time and attention of your audience, and rewarding it with two things: the first is your honesty, and the second is a pure idea that is memorable and usable.”
What we learn from Scott: You don’t have to be flawless to be effective. Speak honestly, and focus on delivering just one idea that matters. That’s more powerful than a hundred polished lines.
Todd Cherches, a Leadership and executive coach – From Childhood TV Fan to TEDx Stage:Â
“As I speak about in the opening lines of my TEDx talk, when I was a little kid I was obsessed with television. After that, in high school and university, the focus of my studies was English literature and poetry.
So, what is the connection here? All of these various mediums have to do with some combination of visual imagery, creative language, character development, plot, and storytelling!
Stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. There are villains, victims, and heroes. There is a goal or a quest. And obstacles, barriers, or challenges that stand in the way and need to be overcome. And, at some point, there is a resolution, a transformation, and lessons learned.”
What we learn from Todd: Humans are wired for story. If you want your message to land, make it a journey, something with emotion, characters, challenge, and change.
Lance Loya, Author, Keynote Speaker & Coach – The Speaker Who Cares About What Happens After the Applause:
“While I’m speaking, I look for heads nodding affirmatively. That’s usually a pretty good indication that the audience is engaged. When the presentation ends, I want enthusiastic applause and people coming up to privately let me know that something I said resonated with them. But if a presenter does a good job everybody tends to love them at the end of a presentation.Â
To me the best indication of success comes days, weeks, or even months afterwards when an attendee reaches out with a question or to share a success they’ve experienced with their team after implementing what I’ve taught. That tells me that my message latched onto their heart. There’s nothing I like more than having someone tell me that what I said changed the way they approach life.
Here’s to all the professional speakers who shape our world with their words. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and passion! “
What we learn from Lance: Real speaking success doesn’t happen at the mic, it happens in the minds and lives of people afterwards. Aim to make a difference, not just an impression.
Ben K. Ellis,Social Intelligence Researcher and Consultant – Where Data Meets Human Connection:Â
“Data analysis: a strong foundation in quantitative and qualitative analysis methods is crucial to understanding the nuances and context behind the data.
Critical thinking: the ability to interpret data, identify patterns, and draw meaningful conclusions is at the heart of social intelligence. This requires a curious mindset, a great eye for detail, and the ability to see the big picture.
Research methodologies: understanding the strengths and limitations of different research approaches is essential for designing social intelligence studies while ensuring that your insights are reliable, representative, and bias-free.
Communication: learn how to speak the language of your stakeholders, visually and verbally, tailoring your insights and recommendations to their needs and priorities.
Adaptability: learn about advancements in social platforms and analytics tools, experiment with new techniques, and be open to new ways of thinking about social data. At the same time, recognise that you may not always be able to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the social media landscape – and that’s okay. The key is to do your best, stay curious, and be willing to learn and grow.”
What we learn from Ben: Even the most complex information can and should be communicated simply. Speak clearly, adapt constantly, and never underestimate the value of curiosity.
Each of these speakers reminds us that communication is about more than polished delivery, it’s about connection, clarity, and care. You don’t need a stage to speak with purpose. Every meeting, message, or moment is a chance to impact someone’s world. So here’s to the voices that lift us up and to your own voice, ready to make a difference!