I recently had the pleasure of working with Executive Presence Expert and Style Coach David McKnight on a corporate presentation he was giving on executive presence. ⠀ ⠀ We then sat down to talk about starting a business and the importance of embracing your personal style when speaking in public. You can read excerpts from our interview here.
What role does image and style play when someone is giving a speech or presentation?
It’s so important to embrace your personal style when you’re taking center stage –that includes not only your attire but also your unique voice and a presenting style that suits you. Too often people get caught up in the idea that they need to look or sound a certain way in order to be effective.
You don’t need to be a big performer in order to captivate a room. In fact, I think that listening is one of the most overlooked skills, and introverts make great public speakers because they can really tap into their audience.
The best way to connect is to be yourself. Don’t try to be over polished or you might look like a robot. Lean on your strengths and remember that your audience isn’t perfect either.
Do you touch on this topic when you are coaching your clients? If so, how do you approach it?
I was teaching a workshop at FIT and someone asked me what they should wear when presenting. I don’t have a specific formula (that’s more your department) but here are a few guidelines.
Wear something that makes you feel powerful.
Wear clothes that are comfortable (this doesn’t mean causal but you do want to feel good in your clothes when all eyes are on you).
Wear something that is appropriate for your audience.
If you’re nervous and tend to sweat, wear darker colors.
If you’re speaking on a panel, make sure you can comfortably sit in your outfit.
How has your awareness of your own personal style evolved as you transitioned into your role as a full-time speaker and presentation coach?
I define my professional wardrobe with bright colors and bold patterns (think Merimmeko and Pierre Cardin).
I used to wear a lot of black (and still love a good black shirt dress,) but I’ve become bolder in my color choices as I’ve embraced my voice. My go-to looks are dresses or jeans, blazer and boots and I always include something colorful.
Wearing bright and colorful pieces to an event is a great way to stand out. It invites people to talk to you and makes you memorable.
It’s also an integral part of my brand. You see color and pattern in my website and marketing materials and it helps express my playful, creative style.
I hired you to work with me one-on-one to help me prepare for a big speaking opportunity. What are some of the other ways that someone can work with you?
I teach a small group class called Speak with Impact, a 5-week immersive experience where you write and practice a presentation in a group and learn how to stop doubting yourself and confidently articulate your vision.
I work with people 1:1 in a program called Craft your Talk which provides guidance on every step of creating your signature talk and delivering it with authority.
And I teach workshops for teams on presentation skills and interpersonal team communication.