6 public speaking considerations you should stop caring about

Many public speakers stall in their development because they focus too much on the wrong things—on approaches, notions, and standards that have little or no practical impact on their audience.

These are ideas they may have seen on television, heard from colleagues, or even read on the internet, but they ultimately make no difference because they’re targeting the wrong communication objectives.

But before I share a list of popular communication considerations that don’t matter, I want to reinforce the one that matters most: knowing and conveying your point.

This is a crucial understanding because if you don’t know your point well, no amount of communication skill or experience, no amount of charm or charisma, and no amount of intelligence or knowledge will overcome that handicap. Remember: Your job as a presenter is not to be enjoyed, admired, or even remembered; it’s to convey your point so powerfully that your audience is inspired.

That’s the most important consideration. Now, here are some of the least important:

1. Your appearance.

Although you should never dress inappropriately for a speaking event, the color of your tie, teeth, or tiara has little impact on your ability to champion your point.