News•Feb 10, 2026
Top 15 Characteristics of a Good Speaker
The article outlines fifteen core characteristics that distinguish a good speaker, ranging from confidence and clarity to storytelling and a strong conclusion. It emphasizes that effective speaking is a strategic skill for professionals involved in negotiation, leadership, and persuasion, not merely a performance art. The piece groups the traits into preparation, delivery, and connection, offering practical tips for development such as rehearsals, audience analysis, and visual aid management. It also extends the framework to keynote speaking, highlighting the need for a single central idea and the Aristotelian balance of ethos, pathos, and logos.
By Shapiro Negotiations Institute
