Star light, star bright, let my speech go well tonight. Reading your weekly horoscope is all fun and games, but can your star sign actually give you insight into what makes you a good (or bad) presenter?
Use your astrological profile to find out what your best attributes are, then apply them to your next speaking gig. Even if you don’t feel comfortable in front of a crowd, every zodiac sign is unique in their own set of special gifts and personality traits. Regardless of whether you’re confident, personable, persistent, or a crowd-pleaser, we’d be willing to bet that one (or more) of your attributes can be used to make you a better presenter.
Let’s dive in and see what your public speaking strengths (and weaknesses) are according to your horoscope.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Bold rams are passionate and confident fire signs with natural leadership abilities. However, this “singular spirit” loves a job well done, so they have a tendency to get wrapped up in their work. If you’re looking to adopt some of that Aries take-charge attitude, focus on “getting in front of the room,” author and keynote speaker Patti Johnson suggests. She recommends facilitating small community meetings, such as hosting a book club once a month, to help you nail down the skills that will captivate an audience and build up some good self-esteem.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Ruled by Venus, the Earth sign Taurus may love a relaxing day at the spa, but they understand the importance of getting down to business and making a buck. Ambitious and focused (and okay, at times extremely stubborn), this fixed sign is great at prioritizing, scheduling, and keeping things consistent. A Taurus also doesn’t like to waste time, so their presentations likely won’t be any longer than they have to be, a good tip for any sign. Pros recommend getting your main message across in five minutes or less. Executive speech coach Patricia Fripp agrees, asserting on Inc.com, “Sound bites can be more powerful than lengthy dissertations.”
Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Gemini is a playful and curious air sign. Social butterflies, these celestial twins come packed with energy and the gift of gab so they migrate seamlessly from presentations to dinner parties. They’re ideal candidates for sharing new ideas, especially since they’re ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication. This loquacious sign also has the gift for bringing people together, a major plus since connecting with an audience is key for a memorable presentation. So what’s their secret? Communications expert David Grossman commends their use of energy and urges people not to “phone in a presentation.” Explaining “a normal” amount of energy simply won’t be enough to captivate your audience.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
A cardinal water sign, Cancers, much like their crabby celestial symbols, have an outer shell you need to crack. However, once that shell splits, you’ll have a loyal friend or quick-to-help coworker with an ultra comforting maternal vibe. In fact, it’s this nurturing attribute that gives Cancers a leg-up when it comes to presenting to audiences. Speaking coach Mark D’silva says like the caring crustaceans, you too can go the extra mile for your audience. “Make yourself available after a formal presentation,” suggests D’silva. “It leaves a great final impression and the audience may provide valuable feedback.”
Leo (July 23- August 22)
Turn all the spotlights on Leo, the spirited lion and natural-born leader of the celestials. Passionate and full of confidence, these ambitious fire signs are fearless and always ready to take on their next big task. It’s like nothing scares them, not even a full audience. To gain a bit of ferocious courage, take a tip from speaking coach Mike Fruciano and allow your passion to catch a listener’s attention. Not enthused by your topic? Fruciano explains it’s more than that. “Passion is all about making a connection with your audience,” he says. “It’s not always the topic you need to be enthusiastic about. It’s the delivery. It’s the audience and the outcome.”
Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
These hardworking and practical earth signs are perfectionists with a knack for turning tough concepts into clear ideas. Critical thinkers, they take their role in the workplace seriously and are always ready to help with the understanding that even the little things matter. Every last detail counts for a Virgo, so not only will their presentation be on point, but everything will be totally perfect. While your presentation doesn’t have to be perfect, the curator of TED Talks, Chris Anderson recommends a natural approach to talking to an audience which includes the imperative use of eye contact. His easy tip is to find friendly people in the crowd and lock peepers Anderson says, “Think of them as friends you haven’t seen in a year. Eye contact is incredibly powerful.”
Libra (September 23 - October 22)
This air sign is obsessed with balance and taking initiative, two attributes that come in handy when a big project is due. You could also say they’re meant to scale office politics, often using their energy to keep everyone happy, but this cardinal sign has to remember that sometimes keeping everyone happy is next to impossible. Not to fear, Libras are great at fixing any altercation with some simple charm. Use Libras as inspiration the next time you’re in front of a waning audience. Host of Bloomberg Markets, Betty Liu, recommends flirting with the crowd—just a little— to win them over again. “Everyone wants to be special,” she explains, “And your job onstage is to help make the audience feel not only are they privileged to hear you speak, but you’re privileged to speak to them.”
Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Passion. Power. Persuasion. Scorpios know what they want—and more importantly how to get it. But this fierce water sign isn’t cut like the villain from a daytime soap, they’re just great at creating a plan they can stick to. They’re also imaginative, intensely curious, and energetic which is great when a project needs reworking or your presentation needs a boost. Consultant Rob Biesenbach says being dynamic and full of energy during a presentation is key for persuading an audience. So make like a Scorpio and bring the steam power. “It’s easy to go on autopilot. Stay connected to your material and invest every word with meaning and intention.” It’s not an easy task, but it will keep your audience engaged.
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Don’t box in a Sagittarius, they need freedom! It’s not that this fire sign is a rule-breaker, they just need the space to pursue their many interests and passion for travel. With so many adventures, these wayfarers learn to adapt to any circumstance. Something we could all learn from, especially when the projector decides to stop working mid-presentation. The author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker's Guide to Success in Every Situation, Lisa B. Marshall suggests you try not to freeze when unforeseen circumstances arise. Instead, she recommends “remaining calm and moving on to the next point.” Your audience may not even notice anything is wrong. Plus, she says, messing up can actually lead to “great interaction with your listeners.” Just gather your thoughts and push forward!
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
This ambitious Earth sign is disciplined, practical, and ready to show the world what they’re made of. Their plan doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to work! That’s because Capricorns are on a constant quest to succeed and get the job done. They’re serious about most everything, but especially when it comes to their job, so they’re not inclined to wait until the last minute and stay up all night trying to put together the perfect slide deck. And neither should you! Think like a Capricorn and use Beautiful.ai to make a slick, professional-looking presentation that impresses the audience in almost no time at all. Just make sure the visual presentation isn’t your crutch. Author Gini Beqiri recommends only using your slides for bullet points and in case of technical difficulties, stressing it’s important to “ensure your presentation still works without visual aids.”
Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
Don’t be fooled by the fishy name, Aquarians are air signs, as if you couldn’t tell by their non-conformist approach to life. This fixed sign is often trying to inspire change with enthusiasm and innovative ideas wherever they go. In fact, that’s what makes Aquarians so great at presenting. Writers and performers Allison Goldberg and Jen Jamula explain that thinking outside the box is key for an Aquarian-inspired presentation that surprises and wows audiences. “Take the time to brainstorm,” they recommend. “Cultivating ideas takes time. You might just have to take that extra hour or three to plan your presentation’s creative move.”
Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
Ruled by Neptune, Pisces are creative dreamers with endless imaginations and a knack for seeing the bright side of things. It’s this constant optimism and inventiveness that makes Pisces natural teachers and presenters. We’ve probably seen a kajillion slideshows, so take note from a Pisces and have an open mind when it comes to presenting in a new and unique way. Goldberg and Jamula suggest the first step towards a new approach should be to not rely on what’s already been working for everyone else. “Always ask yourself how can you enrich your message with tools or media the audience is not expecting.” After all, everyone loves to be surprised.
It’s written in the stars: you were born to give a great presentation. Now get out there and do it!
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