How to Easily Build Credibility as a Speaker

Have you ever watched a speech and wondered why some speakers are able to command an audience’s attention so well? The secret isn’t just pure confidence. It’s credibility!

When you’re giving a speech, there’s a lot of classic advice that you will inevitably hear: Know your audience! Use body language to your advantage! Practice as much as possible! While these are all very important points, and we’ve explored each of them on this very blog, it is important to realize that one of the most important things when it comes to speaking is trust. If your audience doesn’t trust you to know what you’re talking about, why would they listen to anything you’re saying?

Credibility is, in essence, another word for trustworthiness. We use this concept all the time in our daily lives! For example, in school, you might have learned about the danger of fake news. Why do you think parents and teachers ask you to find trustworthy sources rather than learning everything about the world from Wikipedia or from Instagram? Those sources could’ve been written by just about anyone, so they aren’t as credible as information from a peer-reviewed book or website.

In public speaking, the speaker has to present themselves as credible and the audience has to accept their credibility as well. This doesn’t only apply to informative speeches – credibility has to be built into great persuasive or entertaining speeches as well. Here are some tips on building your credibility as a speaker: 

1. Present yourself well. Dress well, according to the occasion. If that means dressing formally, do that! If you’re ever unsure about the dress code, see if you can find it in the details for the event or if you know anyone else going, ask around.
2. Talk about yourself at the beginning. Explain why you are qualified to speak on the topic without coming across as frustrated or defensive. Speak clearly and openly about how the topic first grabbed your interest and how you researched it to prepare for this speech.
3. Connect to your audience. Be as truthful as possible – if you face any roadblocks or obstacles along your journey of becoming an “expert,” share them! Or if your speech is more of a personal story anyway, show your vulnerability by speaking about your emotions and inner thoughts. 
4. Deliver your speech with confidence. Use open body language and plenty of gestures to show your confidence and enthusiasm about your material. This will make sure your audience pays attention but also comes away from your speech realizing how much you know about your topic!
5. Be knowledgeable, but not overconfident. After your speech, if you are able to, take questions from the audience. Do your best to answer to the best of your knowledge, but don’t make up answers.

By taking these steps, you can build the credibility you need as a speaker and connect with your audience like never before.