Self-Awareness and Mindset for Speakers: Fix the Internal Problems First with Michael Delisser

Most presentation problems are not technical. They're internal.Speakers obsess over slides, structure, and delivery mechanics while the real issues -- self-awareness, mindset, and genuine focus on the audience -- go unaddressed. Fix those, and the technical problems often resolve themselves.Michael Delisser is an executive communication coach who has spent his career helping leaders and speakers identify the blind spots that are quietly undermining their impact. His approach is direct, practical, and grounded in a simple truth: you cannot improve what you cannot see.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy most presentation problems are internal rather than technical, how a humiliating early experience with filler words changed Michael's entire approach to coaching, why recording yourself is one of the most powerful self-awareness tools available, how to reduce distracting habits without sounding robotic or over-rehearsed, why perfectionism actively harms your development as a speaker, how to identify your strengths and minimise your fatal flaws, why starting with outcomes rather than content changes everything about how you prepare, the most common presentation pitfalls Michael sees repeatedly, how to build genuine emotional connection with an audience, the trust-logic-emotion framework for persuasive communication, why you must address the audience's pain before presenting your solution, and how communication skills will matter more not less in the age of AI.About Michael DelisserMichael Delisser is an executive communication coach and author of Leadership Accelerators, which covers emotional intelligence, communication habits, and personality-based leadership. Connect with Michael to find out more about his coaching work.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: Why Nice Feedback Is Killing Your Speaking GrowthMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.SPGFS - Hiro.fmBecoming known will always make it easier to get booked and podcast guesting is one of the easiest ways to make that happen, when you have the right strategy. This program will teach you everything you need to know about podcast guesting, from the tech stack to making an impact. You'll get all the tools to stand out as an amazing podcast guest and get booked on great shows.