Effective public speaking is a powerful tool for nonprofit professionals to inspire action, raise awareness, and connect with stakeholders.
Speaking with confidence is an essential skill. It can be exhilarating, exciting and satisfying. It can also be an anxious, uncomfortable or even terrifying experience. Whether one-on-one, small group or audience of 1,000, most of us experience some level of uncertainty or fear. Why? Before we can work on leveling up your speaking confidence, or polishing your speaking skills, we will explore the core issues, and then, discuss how to manage and mitigate them to increase your level of confidence and comfort.
Learning Objectives:
Introduction – speaking is an art and science. Speaking well and confidently can help you make a good impression, make your case with greater credibility, influence outcomes, shape opinion, and relieve stress associated with making presentations.
Personal Diagnostics – individual self-assessments intended to reveal core issues that may contribute to your level of speaking comfort and confidence; identifying those elements that impact our ability to speak with confidence informs how we change our response.
Insights – addressing aggregate core issues, and how they influence our public speaking capabilities; validating what we know to be true as a first step to moving beyond.
Solutions – tips, tools, specific strategies, and tactics to manage and mitigate each issue, reduce anxiety, and build confidence.
Audience Assessment & Connection – knowing who, what, where, when, and why prepares you for speaking with agility, less stress, and greater capacity.
Role Play & Practice Exercises – small group experiences and volunteer class presentations.
Trainer:
Linda DiMario- DiMario is an accomplished economic development professional with over 40 years of experience spanning public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She served as the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Executive Vice President, leading initiatives in business attraction, innovation ecosystems, and export strategies. Currently, as Director of the Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI), she oversees community initiatives like Women Leaders of Octane, STEAM Ahead, and the Non-Profit Accelerator, focusing on empowering underserved and underrepresented communities.
Previously, she led DiMario & Associates, a consulting practice aiding over 100 U.S. cities and organizations in economic revitalization. As CEO of the Arlington (TX) and Long Beach Area (CA) CVBs, she played key roles in transformative projects, including the Dallas Cowboys Stadium development.
DiMario serves on the boards of OCTANE and the OC World Affairs Council and contributes to fDi Alliance magazine. Her numerous accolades include World Trade Week Global Leadership and OCTANE’s Leadership in Success. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Central Washington University and is a U.S. Air Force veteran.