What Sets Great Speakers Apart: It's Not Just the Words

I recently emceed an event with a variety of motivational speakers. Some of the content was brilliant—authentic, personal stories delivered with heart. But as I watched from the wings, one thing stood out clearly: a few speakers had something more.

I’ve written about it before, but it remains one of the clearest differentiators on stage.

It’s the “It Factor.”

For years, I’ve tried to define exactly what the “It Factor” is—because audiences feel it, meeting planners want it, and every speaker chases it. While I do believe some people are naturally wired with it, there’s one element that seems to be at the core:

Energy.

Not frantic, nervous energy. Not forced enthusiasm. I’m talking about a deliberate, grounded energy that expands beyond the speaker and fills the entire room. It’s the kind of energy that can carry a story, a song, or a speech—no matter the pace, tone, or emotional range.

And here’s the catch: most speakers unintentionally leak their energy.

When you’re excited or nervous, your body wants to release that charge. If it’s not channeled with purpose, it escapes in distracting ways:

• Pacing
• Popping your knee or toe
• Talking too fast or too earnestly
• Fidgeting with your hands
• Stepping backwards
• Running out of breath
• Shaking

These small habits drain your presence and make you appear less confident than you are.

The good news? You can train yourself to control your energy—and command the stage like a pro.

Start here:
Plant your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your knees soft. Stand tall, but not rigid. Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet deep into the ground, keeping you steady and strong. Just like trees bend with the wind, your body should stay relaxed, never stiff.

Now, shift your focus inward. Feel the energy in your core—right in your belly—and visualize sending it up through your body and out over the audience’s heads, all the way to the back of the room.

You’re not pushing energy; you’re extending presence. You’re comfortable in silence, stillness, and movement—because you’re in control.

This isn’t woo-woo. Emotions are physical. Nervous energy needs somewhere to go. So give it a job. Let it support your voice, your posture, your delivery. Let it be part of your message, not a distraction from it.

The “It Factor” isn’t about being loud or dramatic. It’s about presence. Stillness. Control.
The ability to hold attention without even speaking—and then, when you do speak, your words land with clarity, confidence, and ease.

That’s what sets a great speaker apart.

And the best part?
You don’t have to chase the “It Factor.”
You just have to stop leaking it.