Don't be interesting - be interested

Most people seem to think the key to good speaking is having something clever to say. I don't believe that's true.

It’s making people want to listen.

That’s the real trick, which has less to do with words and more to do with connection. I’ve seen brilliant minds lose audiences within seconds because they spoke at people instead of with them. They aimed for perfection instead of presence.

When I’m coaching someone on their delivery, I often ask: “Are you speaking to inform or to connect?”

If it’s just to inform, you’ll sound like a robot who's focused on the slides. However, if it’s to connect, you’ll sound like a human being worth listening to.

Here’s a quick example: a client once practised a technical talk with me that was beautifully structured but emotionally empty. I asked her to tell me why she cared about it, why it mattered to her. Her face changed, she relaxed a little. The content stayed the same, but the delivery came alive. Suddenly, it wasn’t a talk; it was a story.

We often overcomplicate communication, especially when nerves start to creep in. We try to sound professional, polished, impressive. But people don’t want perfect, they want real. When you drop the act and just talk to them, you engage them and they really listen! They actually want to know what's coming next.

So, next time you’re about to speak to your team, your manager, or a room full of strangers, try this:

Don’t focus on being interesting.
Focus on being interested.

It’s the simplest, most powerful way to hold attention, because everyone wants to feel seen and heard. When they do, they’ll lean in, they’ll trust you, and they’ll remember what you said long after the slides are gone.

That’s not just speaking. That’s connection. That’s +1 Confidence.