How to Speak Impactfully in Meetings & Presentations
You know that feeling when you leave a meeting and immediately think, "I know I rambled"? Or the one where someone asks what you're working on, and instead of just... telling them, you shrink the answer down to almost nothing?
I see this constantly with clients, and get the same questions during my corporate trainings.
Here’s the key: it has nothing to do with whether you're a "good public speaker." Most of what we call public speaking isn't public at all. It's a conference room. A Zoom call. A five-minute window where you need to make your point before someone else jumps in. That's the real arena — and almost nobody is training you for it, because everyone assumes "public speaking" means a stage and a microphone.
I spent almost 20 years in media — Netflix, Fox, Inside Edition, Us Weekly, where I launched their entire video unit — and I'll tell you something a little embarrassing: a lot of what I teach now, I wasn't even doing well back then. I learned this the hard way, in real rooms, under real pressure. I didn't speak on an actual public panel until I was almost 10 years into my career. So if part of you is waiting for "the big moment" to justify working on your communication skills — stop waiting. The return on investment is in the room you're already sitting in today.
The Framework: Mindset, Skill Set, Mastery
Mindset first. Get honest about why this matters to you — better collaboration, buy-in on an idea, not freezing when your boss asks a follow-up. That "why" is what gets you to actually practice instead of nodding along and never using it.
Then skill set — the tools, two of which are below.
Then mastery — just repetition, a little better every time. I'm not chasing perfect. I'm chasing progress.
One honest note: fear doesn't go away. Bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's doing the thing anyway.
Skill #1: The Four S's
My go-to tool for physically overriding nerves before anything that matters:
Strong — body and voice. Shoulders back, a voice stronger than your default.
Silly — loosen up beforehand. Tongue twisters, a weird face in the mirror.
Soothe — breathe deliberately.
Smile — Right before you speak!
Bonus: Bring Dinner party energy — think about greeting someone at your front door. Warm, maybe 10–20% bigger than your normal talking voice, but still natural. Not a game show host, not flat and mumbly. That's the energy you want walking into a meeting or turning on your camera.
Skill #2: Bragging vs. Data
The one that trips up almost every client, especially women: talking about your own wins without it feeling like bragging.
My reframe — borrow this language: it's not bragging, it's data. When you tell someone about a project that worked, you're not showing off. You're giving them information to make a better decision about you, your idea, or your team.
In high school, my mom used to introduce me by listing everything I'd done, and I was mortified. Years later, running my own company, I caught myself doing the exact same thing — because she wasn't standing behind me at the networking event anymore. Nobody is. If you don't say it, no one knows.
Still feels uncomfortable? Flip it: talk about your team's win instead of "my" win. Same data, easier delivery.
Your Homework
Before your next meeting that matters: write down what you want out of it and no more than three points to make. Do your Four S's beforehand — even thirty seconds counts. And this week, share one real win with a colleague or your boss. Not a brag. Data.
Mindset, skill set — mastery is on you now.
Want to help your team communicate with impact at your next team offsite, sales kickoff or ERG event? I lead live, interactive sessions on exactly this — see keynote topics and speaker reel at https://www.kimrittberg.com/speaker or reach out directly at https://www.kimrittberg.com/contact to check dates.