Letters To RainToday: Jeff Wolf: Speaking Your Way To Business

Speaking skills are like a clean house: every one notices if you don't have it. Given the hundreds of thousands of meetings conducted every year, the background noise is too high to expect great presentation skills to carry the entire load of leverage. A speech is a focal point for other marketing activities. The time to start leveraging is when you accept the invitation, not when you approach the podium. You can invite potential clients, interview industry thought leaders for examples, write an article in the group's publication to promote the event...the list goes on and on. Having a plan to leverage before, during and after the speech can ensure that you'll get more clients before you ever open your mouth.