Power tools that amp up your speech – are you using them?

Tips for using delivery, appearance and storytelling to improve presentations

When you step to the podium or stand in front of a group, your words matter, but the way you deliver them matters more. Let me walk you through three essential toolsets — delivery, appearance and storytelling — that will transform your message from “passing” to “powerful.”

1. Delivery: diction, volume, tone, pace and repetition

Think of your voice as your brand’s audio identity. You can say the right thing—yet still fail to be heard or remembered. A great example is Martin Luther King Jr.: his speeches weren’t just powerful in content, but in delivery — diction clear, volume controlled, tone rich, pace intentional, repetition resonant.

Diction
If your words aren’t sharp, they won’t land. That means clear articulation, silencing filler words, pronouncing endings. Example: rather than “we gotta pull together,” opt for “we must work together — decisively and deliberately.”

Volume
Volume signals emotion. Too soft and people lean out; too loud all the time and you fatigue your audience. Example: at a point of reflection you might lean in softly:  “When we hesitate…” Then rise to a stronger volume when extending a call to action:  “it’s time we rise!”

Tone
Tone conveys attitude beyond the words. Is your message urgent, hopeful, sober, celebratory? Your vocal tone should match. Example: use an optimistic tone when saying, “This challenge is not our enemy — it is our opportunity.”

Pace
How fast you speak impacts comprehension and impact. Change your pacing to emphasize important key points. Try slowing down for key ideas; and speed up slightly when building momentum. Keep them hanging on your words with a pregnant pause. Example: “Today, we decide who… we become.” A pause before “we become” gives space for effect.

Repetition
Repetition is a tool for memory and emphasis. Think of the famous “I have a dream” refrain in Dr. King’s speech at the Lincoln Memorial. He repeats it at key points meant to build. If you re-read the speech, you’ll find a few other refrains that he repeats. Example: “We will innovate. We will persevere. We will succeed.” The repeated “We will…” ties the message together and sticks.

2. Appearance: dress, posture, movement, gestures and eye contact

Your audience sees you before they hear you. Physical presence sets the first impression—and sustained attention. Consider Steve Jobs. He famously used his appearance as part of his communication strategy: the black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers weren’t just fashion choices. They reinforced his message of simplicity, focus, innovation, and accessibility. The minimalist wardrobe became synonymous with his brand and helped frame every product announcement as an event built on clarity and vision, not ego or flash.

Dress
Your attire either supports your message or distracts from it. Dress one notch up from your audience, consistent with your brand, and avoid visual noise. Example: A sharp blazer for a business audience; neat, business-casual attire for a more relaxed setting.

Posture
Stand upright, shoulders back, head steady. That posture says: “I respect you. I am ready.” Slouched or unbalanced posture signals insecurity. Example: From the moment you walk onstage, plant your feet shoulder-width apart, weight evenly distributed. You’ll obviously move at certain points of your presentation, but this is where you start.

Movement
Walk with purpose. Don’t wander aimlessly. Move when you transition topics or emphasize a shift. Pause when you want the audience to absorb. Example: Step closer to the audience when sharing a personal insight; pause at center stage when delivering a key directive.

Gestures
Let your hands and arms reinforce your words — don’t let them distract. Open-handed gestures build trust and clarity. Avoid fidgeting and hand wringing. Example: Use your hands to show scale: “We started here…” (hands close together) “…and now we stand here.” (hands further apart)

Eye Contact
Genuine eye contact connects you to your audience. If you stare at notes, you lose that connection. Don’t dart all over; adjust your gaze methodically. Example: Hold eye contact with one person for 2–3 seconds, then shift to another. Sweep the room slowly.

3. Storytelling: stories, analogies and comparisons

Facts inform. Stories engage. Analogies clarify. Comparisons provoke “aha” moments. A speaker like Brené Brown uses storytelling, analogies and comparisons to make heavy ideas feel human and relatable.

Stories
Telling a well-chosen story invites your audience to feel as well as hear. It humanizes your message and makes it stick. Example: “When I faced my failure, I felt I had lost everything… but through that challenge I discovered who I truly am.”

Analogies
Analogies map an unfamiliar idea to a familiar world. They simplify, while preserving richness. Example: “Building trust is like growing a garden — you don’t plant and walk away. You water, you tend, you protect from pests.”

Comparisons
Comparisons highlight contrast and choice. They show the difference between Option A and Option B, making the preferable path clearer. Example: “You can wait for permission, or you can claim your space. You can be a spectator — or you can get in the game.”

Conclusion

In the end, the most important part is this: your audience doesn’t just need your information, they need your presence. Your voice, your body, your stories, all such tools turn your speech from “just something said” into “something felt and remembered.” Don’t let these tools become ill-timed accidents. As you prepare for your presentation, be very intentional and what tool you can use to pull the audience in and make them put their phones down. Choreograph it. Orchestrate it. Rehearse it. Earn their attention.

So, here’s your encouragement: pick one delivery tool, one appearance tool, and one storytelling tool. Practice them repeatedly before your next engagement. Try them out. See how your message lands differently. Because when you use these tools with purpose, you’re no longer merely speaking—you’re captivating your audience; you’re resonating with your audience; you’re persuading your audience. Good luck and let me know how it goes!