292. How to Keep your Audience’s Attention

Yesterday, I visited my Toastmasters club and listened to six impromptu and three prepared speeches. I chose to sit at the back of the room so that, if I got bored, I could peek at my phone for some intellectual or visual stimulation.

Here’s an honest reflection on what I noticed about the speakers and how I felt as an audience member.

Moments When I Got Bored

• The speaker’s voice was too quiet, and I could not hear much

• A monotonous speech delivery made me instantly switch off from listening and look at my phone

• When they spoke too fast and did not have a clear speech structure

• When the speaker was relying too heavily on notes, it felt like they were reading a boring report rather than sharing a message

Moments When I Really Enjoyed Listening

• One of the speakers started his speech with a deep, intimate question; it felt like he was speaking to me directly. It was an amazing connection

• A few speakers made clever jokes and connected them to previous speakers. We all could relate to those jokes and have a good laugh

What Stood Out: Body Language

Finally, I would like to share what stood out to me. I paid attention to the body language because it speaks louder than words and tells a lot about a person. I find it fascinating:

• One speaker had a lifted shoulder and hunched back, which made him appear tense and uneven

• The Toastmaster of the evening hugged presenters, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere

• Some speakers looked very serious throughout, which made their talks feel heavy

Key Takeaways for Speakers

1. Open with a relatable question or story to capture attention

2. Project your voice so that people can hear you

3. Memorise the key messages of your speech and connect with the audience rather than reading a script

4. Create a clear speech structure, pause between paragraphs and allow listeners to absorb one idea at a time

5. Stand tall, open your shoulders and smile

I’d love to hear from you—what interesting things do you notice when people speak?

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

281. Executive Presence (4/4): Your Body Speaks

Executive presence is reinforced or weakened by nonverbal signals. Posture. Eye contact. Movement. Facial expression. Energy. Below are the most common nonverbal patterns that quietly undermine leadership presence — and what to replace them with.

1️⃣ Bad Posture

Rounded shoulders, lowered head, hunched back, uneven shoulders, lifted shoulders. - this signals hesitation or tension.

Instead:
Stand and sit upright. Open your chest. Ground your feet. Physical expansion creates psychological authority — both for you and for your audience. You can find posture and supporting breathing exercises in the app 4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause.

2️⃣ Avoiding Eye Contact

Looking down. Looking at notes excessively. Scanning the room nervously. This signals insecurity.

Instead:
Hold steady eye contact for a full sentence. When speaking to a group, anchor key messages by looking at one person at a time.

Eye contact equals ownership and reinforces your credibility.

3️⃣ Excessive or Nervous Movement

Fidgeting. Touching your face or constantly improving your hair. Adjusting clothing repeatedly. Shifting weight constantly. Movement without intention weakens presence.

Instead:
Move with purpose. Pause physically when making an important point.
Stillness is power.

4️⃣ Inconsistent Facial Expressions

Smiling when delivering serious information.
Showing visible frustration.
Blank expression when enthusiasm is required.

Your face must match your message.

Leadership requires emotional control — not emotional suppression, but alignment.

5️⃣ Open Gestures & Owning Your Space

Confident leaders take up space — physically and energetically.

People who lack confidence often shrink themselves. They cross their arms, keep gestures small and tight, pull their shoulders inward, or make themselves physically smaller in the room.

This sends a subtle but powerful signal: I do not deserve to take up space. I am unsure of myself.

Instead:
Use open gestures. Keep your arms relaxed and visible. Allow your hands to move naturally to support your message. Stand grounded, with a balanced posture. Sit fully in your chair — don’t perch on the edge.

Owning your space is not arrogance. It is a visible sign of self-assurance.

Executive presence happens when:

• Your words are clear.

• Your voice is controlled.

• Your body reinforces the message.

  When all three align, authority becomes natural — not forced.

This concludes the Executive Presence series. If you had to improve just one element — speech, voice, or body language which would create the biggest shift in your leadership impact?

Look forward to your comments

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

252. Speak Like a Leader

We’ve worked with ambassadors, business leaders, and top-level professionals through our elocution courses. Our work has helped them not only eliminate bad speech habits but also develop the language of power and leadership.

This article is based on the insights and methods we’ve used to support their transformation.

Avoiding Fillers

Filler words - "um, ah, like, you know, basically" - creep in when we speak without intention. They weaken your message, distract your audience, and make even strong ideas sound uncertain.

The solution is simple: slow down and pause. A pause is more powerful than any filler. It gives you space to think and gives your audience space to absorb your message. Confident speakers use silence as a tool.

Choosing Strong Words

Leaders choose words that are precise, vivid, and purposeful. Instead of vague language, they use words that clarify, energise, and strengthen their message.

Compare:

• “I think this might work…” vs. “This approach will give us stronger results.”

• “Maybe we should try…” vs. “Let’s do this.”

Strong words communicate leadership, conviction, and direction. They shape how others perceive you.

Speaking with Certainty

Uncertain language creates uncertain audiences. Words such as "might, maybe, probably, sort of, perhaps, etc." dilute your authority. While there is a time for caution, habitual uncertainty can undermine your credibility.

To sound more certain:

• Make definitive statements

• Replace vagueness with clarity

• Speak with intention, not hesitation

Certainty is persuasive because it signals confidence in your message.

Simple Language vs. Unnecessary Complexity

True intelligence lies in simplicity. Leaders can explain profound ideas in clear, accessible language. Overly complex or academic phrasing can alienate audiences and make your message harder to absorb. Simple language is not “dumbing down.” It is refining—expressing the essence of an idea without clutter.

When your message is simple, your audience remembers it.

Avoiding Repetition

Repetition can be useful for emphasis, but unintentional repetition weakens your impact. When you repeat the same words or phrases excessively, your message becomes dull and loses authority.

A strong communicator:

• uses synonyms and varied phrasing

• eliminates redundancy

• keeps the language fresh and dynamic

Variation keeps your audience attentive and your message persuasive.

Exercises for the Language of Leadership

These exercises we offer as homework after our elocution lessons:

Record your speech for 1-2 minutes. Choose any topic you can talk about comfortably.

1. Listen back and note every filler word. Write down the words or sounds you use: um, ah, like, you know, basically, etc.

2. Record a second version—this time replacing fillers with pauses. Focus on slowing down and using silence intentionally.

3. Listen again and identify any convoluted or uncertain language. Notice words like maybe, sort of, might, probably, or unnecessarily complicated phrasing. Rewrite these moments using clearer, stronger, and simpler language.

4. Record a final, polished version. Compare it with your first recording and observe how clarity, confidence, and simplicity transform your delivery.

More resources on www.batcsglobal.com

Olga Smith