Christine Cruzvergara is no stranger to speaking in front of large audiences, whether they consist of college students or top executives. As the chief education strategy officer at Handshake, she has over a decade of experience in media appearances and speaking engagements on both national and international platforms, ranging from high-profile conferences to higher education forums, policy discussions, boardrooms, and commencement ceremonies.
When Cruzvergara hears that her direct reports want to improve their public speaking skills, she offers them practical advice to help them grow. This is a common goal among professionals in their late 20s to early 30s, she notes.
“I often hear people say, ‘I want to develop more executive presence. I want to know how to communicate with senior leaders. What’s the best way to present myself in meetings? How do I write briefs or emails that will actually get read?’” Cruzvergara shares.
Here are her top tips for employees looking to become better public speakers:
### 1. Align Your Communication Style with Company Leaders
Improving your public speaking skills often depends on understanding how senior leaders in your organization communicate, Cruzvergara explains.
Start by observing the communication traits of your leadership team. “How does your CEO, COO, VP, or president communicate? What do they focus on?” she asks.
Pay attention to details: Are they concise speakers? Do they prefer short emails? Do they value context or rely heavily on data in their communication?
Understanding how your company’s leaders communicate “gives you insight into how they prefer to receive information and what matters to them,” Cruzvergara says.
“Once you understand that, you can start shaping your own messages—whether written or spoken—to align with their preferences,” she adds.
### 2. Know When to Lead with the Punchline or Context
Cruzvergara uses her experience at Handshake as an example: “Our leadership prefers the punchline first, followed by context. I share this with all my direct reports.”
“When our CEO asks a question, you need to answer it directly in the first sentence, then provide additional context,” she explains.
“If you take too long to get to the point, you’ll lose their attention, and no matter how valuable your information is, it won’t resonate.”
When preparing for a presentation, seek guidance from your manager. Understanding how to structure your message in a way that resonates with decision-makers can enhance your executive presence and help you gain support from key stakeholders.
### 3. Balance Confidence with Humility
Cruzvergara emphasizes that confidence comes with practice.
“People are smart. They have the right facts, know how to gather data, and have all the necessary pieces. It’s the delivery that often needs work,” she says.
To build your skills, collaborate with your manager to set incremental goals. Start with smaller meetings and gradually work your way up to larger audiences. Along the way, ask for specific feedback on what you did well and where you can improve.
Practice can help you feel more comfortable and reduce nervous habits, such as using filler words or being overly cautious in your statements, Cruzvergara notes.
She also advises rehearsing how to make clear statements and ask thoughtful questions. “You can be both humble and confident at the same time,” she adds.
By following these tips, you can develop stronger public speaking skills, boost your executive presence, and communicate more effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders.