The Power of Strategy: The First Step in SPEAC Success

Sarah Santana
Jul 21
2 min read

When it comes to speaking, most people think the key to success is all about delivery — the energy, the body language, the vocal power. While those things matter, there’s one critical piece you can’t skip: strategy.

That’s why the first pillar of the SPEAC Framework™ is Strategize.

You wouldn’t open a business without a business plan, or run a marathon without training. So why would you step onto a stage (or into a meeting) without a plan for your words?

Strategize is all about building intentionality into every communication moment. It asks you to get crystal clear before you begin developing your content. Because when you take the time to plan, you stop winging it and start communicating with purpose, power, and real impact.

I learned the power of strategy firsthand in my previous line of work. I often spoke at conferences about the importance of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and the incredible impact they can have on both the business and the individual employee.

One of my most memorable experiences was standing in front of 350 employees from across the nation on stage in Austin, TX sharing why ERGs matter, how they got our business to where it is, and how they foster belonging, empowerment, and innovation.

My strategy for that talk was everything. Immediately after receiving my invitation to speak, I started by getting crystal clear on who I was speaking to — employees from different backgrounds and career levels, each with their own relationship to inclusion and belonging.

Then, I defined my purpose: to inspire them to see ERGs not just as an HR initiative but as a catalyst for real business transformation.

My objective was to motivate leaders and employees alike to either join or champion an ERG in their own offices.

And my core message was simple but powerful: “When we create spaces where people feel seen and supported, everyone — and the business — thrives."

Because I took the time to Strategize, I felt prepared, connected, and confident on that stage. And more importantly, I saw the impact of that strategy ripple out through the audience in the days and weeks that followed.

Here are the key elements of a solid strategy:

Audience: Who are they? Understand what they care about, their challenges, and how they want to be spoken to.
Purpose: Why are you speaking? Inspire, educate, persuade, or build trust — your purpose sets the tone.
Objective: What should they think, feel, or do afterward? A clear objective keeps you focused.
Core Message: What’s the one big idea you want them to remember? Think of this as your anchor.

So, what’s the end message here? It’s that when you weave all of these elements together, you create alignment between your message, your audience, and your intention. That alignment transforms your communication from scattered to strategic, from forgettable to unforgettable.

At SPEAC, we believe strategy is the foundation of all powerful communication. When you lead with intention, you show up more confidently, connect more authentically, and open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Speak Success,