What Makes Great Speakers Truly Great – by guest writer, Mark Sanborn

Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE is a bestselling author and professional speaker based in Denver, CO

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There are several ways you could analyze what makes any speaker great. The most obvious would be to assess his or her skill on the platform and the components of what enables the speaker to connect with and positively influence audiences.Cavett Robert and Charlie Tremendous Jones are two legendary speakers who have addressed thousands during the course of their respective careers. Cavett (now deceased) and Charlie were very different in their on-stage personas and performances. But one key to their greatness was as much as how they both lived their lives off-stage.

Reverence is a TREMENDOUS Thing

A lot of people might say that we don’t revere our heritage. But, if you look around a bit, you’ll find reverence all around you. Public radio’s “Marketplace” reveres Frank Stanton. The Poynter Institute reveres Nelson Poynter. And the National Speakers Association reveres Cavett Robert. Why?