Diane DiResta is the CEO of DiResta Communications, Inc., a consultancy serving business leaders who deliver high-stakes presentations. As a certified speaking coach and communications professional, she coaches executives to be influential public speakers and delivers keynote speeches, seminars, and workshops to train teams in effective communication and leadership skills. Diane is also the author of Knockout Presentations and has been featured on CNN and quoted in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Although it may seem far-fetched, 78% of people would rather die than speak on stage. This is especially true for women, who often overanalyze their public personas. Yet public speaking is crucial for leaders who want to make an impact. How can you overcome your fears to deliver confident speeches?

Master presenter Diane DiResta maintains that since the presentation is for the audience’s benefit, to be nervous is to be self-centered. Instead, shift your perspective to create an informative and memorable experience for your listeners. Delivering powerful speeches requires understanding yourself, your audience, and your message without relying on memorization or using passive phrases such as “like” or “I think.”

In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Diane DiResta, the CEO of DiResta Communications, joins Andrea Heuston to discuss how to communicate with confidence and intention. Diane talks about her military upbringing, how she leads like a woman, and the dos and don’ts of Q&A sessions.