Public speaking is often treated like a talent, but for leaders it is a practical skillset that can be learned, trained, and improved through repetition. Whether it is a boardroom update, a team briefing, a pitch, or a keynote, leadership communication shapes decisions, trust, and momentum. DellonVille’s ISSOP programme is built around helping people speak with confidence, clarity, and influence using real life practice rather than passive learning.​

Many professionals are not held back by a lack of ideas, but by fear, lack of structure, and uncertainty about how to engage an audience. ISSOP explicitly teaches how to overcome fear and anxiety, how to structure a powerful talk, and how to engage and influence any audience. When leaders build these foundations, speaking becomes less about “performing” and more about creating clarity and moving people to action.​

Why speaking is a leadership skill​

DellonVille positions powerful communication as a cornerstone of effective leadership and highlights executive communication that strengthens clarity, presence, and confidence in high stakes communication and public speaking. In practical terms, leadership requires explaining direction, setting expectations, managing tension, and influencing stakeholders across different perspectives. If communication is unclear, even strong strategy can stall because people do not know what to do, why it matters, or how to contribute.​

Public speaking is not only the big stage. It includes weekly meetings, client conversations, internal updates, and any moment where attention turns to you for meaning and direction. Improving public speaking therefore improves leadership capacity in everyday work.​

Skill one build a clear structure​

Structure is the fastest confidence builder. ISSOP trains speakers to prepare and deliver with confidence and to structure a powerful talk, which matters because structure reduces rambling, anxiety, and over explanation. When a leader can organise a message into a simple flow, the audience feels safer, and the speaker feels more in control.​

A practical structure can be simple.

• Start with the point and the purpose so people know why they should listen.​

• Give two to three supporting ideas rather than ten scattered ones.​

• Close with a clear action, decision, or next step.​

This kind of repeatable structure makes it easier to speak confidently in any setting, which ISSOP lists as a core outcome.​

Skill two manage fear and nerves​

Fear of public speaking is common, even among high performers. ISSOP explicitly addresses overcoming fear and anxiety and uses a learn by doing model with live practice and feedback, which is often what nervous speakers need most. Confidence grows when the brain gets evidence that speaking is survivable and can go well.​

Practical nerve management is less about “calming down” and more about preparation and repetition. When speakers practise out loud, use a consistent opening, and plan how to transition between points, anxiety usually reduces because fewer moments feel uncertain. This is one reason ISSOP is designed around short lessons and live practice sessions with expert evaluation.​

Skill three use voice and body language intentionally​

How something is said often shapes impact as much as what is said. DellonVille’s public speaking offerings include learning how to use body language and voice effectively, which helps leaders signal credibility and calm under pressure. Small changes like pacing, pausing, eye contact, and grounded posture can significantly change how a message is received.​

This is also a major part of executive presence. When leaders speak with steady pace and clear emphasis, people perceive clarity and competence even in uncertain situations. This makes the leader’s communication feel more trustworthy and easier to follow.​

Skill four engage and influence your audience​

Leaders do not speak to impress, they speak to create movement. ISSOP includes learning how to engage and influence any audience, which is crucial because different audiences need different framing. A team needs clarity and confidence, investors may need logic and vision, and partners may need reassurance and alignment.​

Engagement can be built through simple practices.

• Speak to the audience’s needs before speaking about your own agenda.​

• Use concrete examples that make the message feel real and actionable.​

• Invite alignment by asking for a decision, commitment, or next step.​

ISSOP emphasises developing an authentic style through modelling strong speakers and receiving feedback, which supports influence without imitation.​

Skill five learn faster through feedback​

Speaking improves fastest when feedback is specific and timely. ISSOP highlights real time feedback and expert evaluations as a key advantage, which reduces the trial and error cycle many professionals get stuck in. DellonVille’s ISSOP case study describes a client who saw measurable improvement in speech structure and delivery confidence within two intensive sessions and successfully delivered an important speech.​

Feedback also reduces blind spots. A speaker might not notice they rush, apologise, hide behind slides, or lose the audience in the middle, but a trained evaluator will. When those blind spots become visible, practice becomes targeted and results come faster.​

How leaders can start this week​

Skill development does not require waiting for a perfect event. Use everyday opportunities to practise, such as opening a meeting, delivering a short update, or summarising a decision. The key is to practise intentionally, not just speak more often.​

A simple weekly practice loop aligns with ISSOP’s learn by doing model.

• Choose one speaking moment you will lead.​

• Prepare a short structure and rehearse aloud once.​

• Ask for one piece of feedback and apply it next time.​

This is how confident speaking becomes a habit rather than a rare performance.​

Call to action​

If public speaking is limiting your influence, the right programme can compress years of trial and error into weeks of structured practice. DellonVille’s ISSOP is designed to build confidence, clarity, and persuasive communication through experiential learning, behavioural insights, and expert facilitation. To explore the best fit, start with DellonVille’s free assessment or schedule a discovery call through the contact page.​