One of the greatest struggles novice presenters face is finding their own voice.

Allow me to explain with part of my own story.

I preached my first sermon when I was 15. While a sermon is its own specific type of public speaking presentation, it is no less a speech. Thus, at 15, I was drafting and presenting a 30-minute speech for the first time. That was both exciting…and terrifying.

Since that first time went ok, a few months later I was asked to speak again. Then, a few months later, I was asked to speak once more. Then, somewhere along the way, a loving person pulled me aside to say, “Mark…you’re not speaking like you. Instead, you seem to be mimicking other preachers that you have heard.”

And…he was right.

In my own mind, I had a perception of how a speaker was supposed to sound. I had an underlying assumption that successful communication would occur best when I imitated (even unintentionally) others who I considered to be good speakers.

Please don’t misunderstand me. There can be incredible value in listening and learning from effective speakers. The difference is whether you are learning FROM them, or pretending to BE them.

Anyone who knows me personally will tell you that I am quirky. I am goofy. One of my personal mantras is that “I take what I do very seriously, but I don’t take myself seriously.” So, when speaking, these pieces of my personality should come out. Granted, they should not overshadow the presentation (something quite possible), but these attributes should definitely be present.

Why?

Because YOU are the one presenting. And a major part of what will set your presentation apart from any other, is your voice, your mannerisms, your personality, and your style.

So allow me to ask, what is your style? What is your personality? How does it come through when you speak?

Are you generally more left-brained, logical, and methodical?Are you more right-brained and creative with abstract and artistic approaches?Are you conversational on a daily basis?Are you more of a larger-than-life personality?Are you someone who is gregarious and always the life of the party?Are you naturally more soft-spoken and quiet?

Yes, there are considerations regarding good speaking practices (projecting your voice, speaking with a language your audience can understand, etc). Furthermore, bad habits should never be dismissed as just “part of your personality.”

However, your natural personality should flavor your speech, lesson, business pitch, or sermon in a way that makes it uniquely yours.