HELLO BRAVE SPEAKER!

I suspect you downloaded this because you already know that

being able to speak your ideas with confidence, clarity and gusto
is an essential skill in order to move forward in your career, grow
your business, get buy-in from your team and have the impact
you want to have in the world.

Whether you’re a C-level exec, a business owner, a solopreneur or

a community change-maker, how effectively you communicate
your ideas can make or break the success of your mission.

I’ve seen way too many speakers say “I’ve got this!” and then take
the stage with a whole bunch of unconscious habits, thinking
they’re sharing a boatload of value, but because of a few unconscious
habits, they make some big fat mistakes that undermine the power of
their message.

Whether your audience is 2 or 2000 people, an When you’re done, shoot me an email at
unclear message poorly delivered is sure to send jw@johannawalker.com and tell me what your biggest
your audience walking — Or at least send them to take-away is. (Or tell me what your favorite breakfast food
check their phones & take a little nap. is. For me it’s kale & eggs)

Noooooooooo! If you want support eradicating some of these BIG FAT

DONT’s, go here and apply for a Discovery Call. I’d love to
I believe we all have the power to take the stage, help! https://www.johannawalker.com/discovery-session
own the room, and change the world.

A few simple tools can turn your message into a xo Johanna

message that does just that.

That’s why I created this blueprint with some of the

key mistakes I’ve seen even the most experienced
speakers make — plus what to do instead.

Once you get these dialed in, your audiences will

take action and say yes to your idea.

They’ll jump out of their seats and say WHERE DO I

SIGN UP? or WHO DO I MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO?

Then they’ll tell their friends about you.

JOHANNAWALKER.COM
 OWN THE ROOM and lead your audiences to
inspired action — 5 mistakes to avoid
(and what to do instead)
ONE: DON’T START WITH YOUR CREDENTIALS WARNING! On the flip side, don’t overuse your pauses. It’s essential to
balance your pauses with plenty of energy, but balance is key so your
Your credentials are probably in the program that we’re holding in our audience stays with you the whole time. Use the momentum to find energy
hands. Or we just heard them in your intro. in your talk, but always come back to the pause.

When your talk begins, I want to know that you’re going to deliver value to
me. I want to know how much you care about your topic. I want to know that FOUR: DON’T SAY “LET’S GET STARTED” WHEN YOU’RE
you’re someone I can trust as a fellow human. I want to be surprised and
delighted by what you share right out of the gate. ALREADY 15 MINUTES INTO YOUR TALK.
Your talk started the moment you walked on stage. If you say Let’s get
And starting with your credentials — or even spouting them early on in your started when we’re well into the talk, it leads me to wonder… “What were we
talk — is a sure way to send your audience to yawns. doing up till now? Was that all fluff? Didn’t we start already?”

DO: Write your own intro and hand it to the meeting organizer. Include your Everybody’s all about filler words like um and so, but these “filler phrases”
essential credentials in the program blurb, so the key accolades you want similarly take a away from the power of your content. Phrases like “Let’s get
your audience to know about you are right in front of them started” and “I’m going to tell you a story” (just tell it) and “Does that make
sense?” and “Right?” and “I guess that’s it.”
DO: Weave your credentials into a story that you tell. I’ll care way more if
you give meaning and context to the credentials, rather than just spouting Every word you say must have value, and when you say “Let’s get started” it
your resume. sends a confusing message and takes the power away from all the words
that came before and the ones coming after.

TWO: DON’T CRAM EVERYTHING YOU KNOW INTO YOUR TALK DO: Craft an audience journey that engages them from the moment you
I know I know. You want to deliver value. You might think you’re delivering walk on stage to the moment you walk off. Know how one idea leads to the
value by delivering more information, but the more you cram into your talk, next. And how that journey leads to the action you’re calling your audience
the more your audience will need a nap or a vacation when you’re done to. Engineer that talk to deliver great value and to lead your audience
sharing those 43 bits of information. directly to the next step that will make their lives better. This clarity will help
eradicate filler words & phrases, AND more effectively lead your audiences
I recently watched a talk that was something like this: to inspired action.
Great intro
Info info info info info info info info fact fact fact list of 12 things info info
info list of 22 things list of 9 things info info fact fact info info fact fact FIVE: DON’T “WING IT" IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU’RE HEADED
Great close I get it. You might be a brilliant it-winger. If that’s working for you, more
power to you. Even if you “wing it” it’s essential that you know exactly where
Great intro is super important, but my biggest take away from that talk you’re headed and how you’re going to get there.
had nothing to do with the content. My biggest take-away was DON’T
cram everything you know into your talk, because at the end all I wanted If you’re unclear, your audience will be unclear, and space out, and not
was a vacation. remember anything about what you said, even if what you said was the
most brilliant thing since sliced bread.
DO: Develop and hone in on one central and crystal clear idea. I promise
your audience will get way more value from that! One crystal clear idea If you wander on the back roads, your audience will get lost on the back
will STICK with your audience. That’s when they’ll remember you. roads. If you’re not certain what action you want your audience to take,
THEY’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT!
DO: Thin ruthlessly while you’re developing your talk. What content is truly
essential to effectively convey your message? There’s way more you can let DO: Be crystal clear about the ONE ACTION you want your audience to take.
go of than you probably think. Do it. Let go. Thin ruthlessly. That’s one thing, not 20 sort of related things they maybe could do if they’re
in the mood. A call to action is a call, not a whimper. When you’re clear, it
becomes a no brainer to take the action.

THREE: DON’T GET CAUGHT ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN DO: Start with the end in mind. Know exactly where you want your audience
Sometimes momentum can get the best of you. Don’t get me wrong. to end up—not just at the end of your talk, but a week, a month, a year
Momentum is awesome. But sometimes that momentum takes you off on down the road— and work backwards from there.
a train to nowhere and you’re no longer in the room. Your nerves turn into
a speedy talking engine, and you steamroll over the pauses and the DO: Say way less than you think you need to say. The less you say, the more
moments of connection and the space for your audience to actually they’ll hear.
integrate what you’re saying.
What’s the one thing you want them to remember? Say that.
If you find yourself on a runaway train to nowhere, it can feel like it’s too late What’s the essence of the struggle they’re facing? Say that.
and there’s no getting off. But it’s never too late. You can always take a What’s a story you can tell to convey the big idea? Say that.
breath and come back to THIS moment. Here’s what to do instead: What’s the vision of what’s possible? Say that.
What’s the ONE ACTION you want them to take? Ask for that
DO: Pause. Slow down. See your audience. Take. Your. Time. Find the space
between the words you’re saying. Pause long enough to connect with Then put a period at the end of it and send them off to change
yourself, and to connect with your audience. the world with your idea.

DO: Let yourself be impacted by what you’re saying. Feel the impact your
message is having on the audience.
NOW THAT WE’VE FIVE: DO HAVE FUN
If you’re having fun, your audience will feel that, and they’ll have fun
too. If you’re stressed and anxious, your audience will. Consider it a

GOTTEN THOSE DONT'S

privilege that you get to do this. Let whatever nervousness that arises
be sensation, not story. Turn off the story that tells you there’s a
problem, and lean in to the sensation. Let the fear be excitement, and
let it become your battery pack. That will be way more fun for you, and

OUT OF THE WAY, check

way more effective in terms of making real, human connections with
your audience. The kinds of connections that can change the world.

out these bonus DO’S: WHAT’S NEXT?

When you put your attention on growing your skills as a speaker,
you’ll start to see there’s so much more to consider.
ONE: DO GIVE VALUE. TONS OF IT.
You’ll want to think about:
If you show up desperate to make a sale, to get your boss or your
• What it takes to truly integrate your new speaking skills to support
mom or your boyfriend to notice you, or to get new followers
you in being a completely bad-ass speaker
that will benefit you in some way in the future, your audience can
smell that a mile away. Even if you WANT to make a sale, your
• How to tell a story that is compelling and engaging, AND that conveys
presentation must be about giving value. Yes you can get sales
your message.
from your talk, but people will be way more likely to hire you if
you don’t cram a sale down their throat on the first date.
• How getting clear on your why will slice through all the fear racing
through your head & body
So show up ready and wanting to give value and your audience
will lean in to want more. They’ll follow you. They’ll buy from you.
That’s why I work with my clients to hone in on the heart of their
They’ll talk about you with your friends. That’s way more valuable
message and communicate it with power and gusto.
than a quick sale.

If you’d like to learn more about how to eradicate

TWO: DO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW. negative self-talk, hone your public speaking skills
Got imposter syndrome? Worried that your expertise is not
and nail your next presentation, email
expertise enough? Talk about what you know. Talk about
something you care about. Tell a story that is true to you. Don’t concierge@johannawalker.com to set up a call.
try to tackle a topic that you’re not actually an expert in. That
doesn’t mean don’t go to your edge, but if you’re talking about
something you know, you just get to stand in that knowledge
and own it.

THREE: DO OWN THE ROOM WITH YOUR PRESENCE.

I know I know it’s scary up there on stage. But you made your
way there so why hide now? I bet you can come up with a whole
bunch of reasons why you should hide up there, but I’m here to
give you permission to take up space with confidence and glee.

Here are a few things to try to help you own the room:
1.Begin with silence. Rather than steamrolling right into your
content, this pause sends a message that you are in charge.
Don’t rush to start. I promise your audience will lean in to listen.

2.Rather than skirting your eyes over the whole audience, let
your eyes land and make a connection. Then let your eyes land
somewhere else.

3.Hang out and receive applause. Don’t run off stage. Let it in.

FOUR: DO KEEP IT REAL & HUMAN About Me

Hi! Thanks for downloading the blueprint. I’m Johanna Walker, aka the
It’s you up there on stage doing your best in the world, talking to
fear-blasting, storytelling maven for coaches, consultants, leaders and
a bunch of regular human folks who are also doing their best.
change-makers. As a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, I’ve
The more you show up AS YOU, without apology, the more your
presented for corporations, non-profits, start-ups, community
audience will like you and trust you and want to hear what you
organizations, and the TEDx stage. I help audiences develop authentic
have to say.
presence as speakers, find the ideas they want to be known for, and
craft those ideas into compelling presentations.
Tell stories — not just for the sake of telling stories, but for the
sake of making a connection, and as a way to serve your
I’m the founder of Women Who Speak, a transformational speaker
message. Show your humanity. When you show your humanity,
coaching program for female leaders, and The Speaker’s Playground,
you’ll open a door for someone in the audience to show theirs,
an unconventional training & practice group for speakers. I’m also the
and that humanity will ripple through the world in powerful
co-founder of Boulder’s popular story slam series, Truth Be Told. I live
ways. It’s that simple.
in Boulder, Colorado, where, if you’re lucky, you might spot me riding
around on my bicycle wearing wings and a red polka-dot dress.

JOHANNAWALKER.COM