Public Speaking: Creating Presentations that Are Awe Inspiring Not Yawn Producing

Many physicians want to improve their public speaking skills. Here are some tips that can show you how to connect with your audience and make you a memorable presenter.

The Opening

We suggest that you open your presentation by listing the goals and objectives that you expect to accomplish during the program. This needs to be accomplished in the first 30 to 45 seconds of your program. If you want to attract the audience’s attention, you have to use those few seconds in the beginning of the program to make that critical connection between you and the listeners. Find an engaging opener, or a “grabber,” such as a question, a quote, a factoid, or an anecdote that will get the audience involved. For example, I (NB) have opened a program on prostate cancer with the statistic that 40,000 men, which is half the capacity of the Super Dome in New Orleans, die each year from prostate cancer.

Next, you want to bring the “value” to your audience in the very beginning of your program. An example of value is that you will provide information and examples to physicians on managing their patients with a certain problem in a noninvasive and cost-effective fashion. Think about the value that you bring to the program. If it is just a meeting and dinner but offers no value, you will not be able to engage your audience.

We recommend thinking about “Station WIIFM,” or “What’s in It for Me.” You are asking the members of your audience to pay attention to your presentation, and they need to know from the very beginning of your program that there is a benefit to them for listening. Be sure to state your purpose as well during the opening few seconds. Adult learners want to know why they are there. It may be helpful to offer a case study or a patient scenario that the audience members may recognize as similar to patients in their practice.

After the opening, explain your agenda. Let’s be honest; doctors are tortured by lots of meetings and pharma programs. Tell the audience exactly what’s going to happen. For example, you might say, “We will have dinner, I will speak during [or after] your meal, and we will be done on time.”

Also tell the audience how you will be managing the question and answer session. Will you take time at the end of the program for Q and A, will you take questions and interruptions during the program, or will you remain after the program is over to answer any questions? If you plan to distribute a handout, let the audience know. If the talk is accessible on the Internet, be sure to point that out.

Ultimately, your agenda is building a roadmap for your audience. You are letting the audience know where you are going to take them by giving them an overview.

It is important to also provide the housekeeping rules, perhaps suggesting that even doctors either turn off their cell phones or at least switch them to vibration mode.

Presenting Your Program

Your physical delivery skills such as eye contact, voice, gestures, posture, movement, and limiting vocal pauses can enhance and reinforce your message. These practical techniques can make the difference between a good or great presenter.

Eye contact is one of the best ways to keep people listening. What the face and eyes say is tremendously important for communication. This is a way for you to say to everyone in the audience, “You are important.” Connect with one set of eyes, instead of scanning the entire audience. Make a verbal point while looking at one person, and then move on. Good eye contact is equated with openness and honesty. Be sure to avoid the tendency to ping-pong back and forth to the same people in the audience, as this gives the impression that they are the only ones that are important.

The use of vocal dynamics will engage the listener with animation and a varied pace. Raising the volume will provide natural animation to your voice, which engages the listeners’ ears. Avoid a flat, noninflected voice that will put audience members to sleep or lose their attention.

“What do I do with my hands?” is a common concern of many presenters. Let your hands complement your language and vocal expressions naturally. Use open hand gestures that are natural to you and appropriate to your topic. When hands are not in use, they should fall naturally to your sides. Keep your hands apart as much as possible to keep your body posture open. Common gestures to avoid are the “clamp-on” to the podium and “frozen elbows” with the laser pointer, which is used to prevent a tremor at the end of the pointer.

A grounded stance with deliberate movement communicates professionalism and presence. Feet should be hip-width apart and firmly on the floor, with your weight evenly balanced. This provides a strong, grounded base.

Have you ever lost your train of thought? It’s common to fill that space with vocalizing an “um” or “ah.” To get rid of vocal pauses, replace them with silence. Practice pausing before speaking; this will help to limit vocal pauses. It may be appropriate to silently review your notes or your visual support materials in order to find your place.

Finally, your image should be appropriate for you and for the situation. Dress with professionalism and respect for your audience. Following these tips will enhance and support your message.

The Closing

You want to end your program with a summary of the key learning points and a “call to action,” or a power close. This is where you wind back to your opening remarks and restate what you said at the beginning. For example, you might say, “I hope you can see that this treatment will improve the quality of life of your patients, that the safety profile is very favorable, and that the treatment is covered by most insurance companies.” Another way to close is by using a factoid or something memorable.

If you opened your program with a case study, you might finish your program with discussing how you resolved the medical problem. You might want to finish by offering something of value such as a handout, an article, or a patient education piece that will help embellish your message for patients in the doctors’ practice.

Bottom Line: Whether you are speaking one-on-one, to a small group, or to a large audience, you want your peers and your audience to remember your message. You want the audience to remember your key points long after you have left the podium. By using a few of the techniques described in this chapter, you will be able to make that memorable presentation. So speak up!

Excerpted from Communication Skills, Executive Leadership, and Career Growth for Physicians (American Association for Physician Leadership, 2025).