When most people think of the world's greatest public speakers, hard-charging extroverts like Tony Robbins may come to mind. It's unlikely they equate public speaking with introverts.

The newest Speakers Hall of Fame inductee Connie Dieken breaks that mold.

A born introvert, Dieken is uncomfortable being the center of attention. "No question, I'd rather listen than talk," she says.

And that's exactly why she excels on the world's biggest stages, explains the former president of the National Speakers Association, Laura Stack, "Connie is a giver, not a taker. She connects with audiences on a deep level," says Stack. "Instead of focusing on herself and overpowering people, she's exceptionally prepared and empathetic."

"I've never experienced anyone as thorough as Connie," says veteran speakers bureau agent Renee Strom, who recently collaborated with Dieken on a client's leadership team keynote. "Her questions were deep and expansive. She's brilliant, humble, articulate, and wise."

The Speakers Hall of Fame honors a select few public speakers who've reached the top echelon of platform excellence. Past recipients include Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar, and Norman Vincent Peale. There are only 182 living members.

Awarded annually by the National Speakers Association, the Hall of Fame designation is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. This year's winners, including Dieken, were announced at Walt Disney World at the National Speakers Association's annual conference.

This is Dieken's second Hall of Fame induction. She was previously inducted into the Radio/TV Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000 following a 20-year career as a television journalist and anchorwoman for NBC and ABC stations. She earned five Emmy Awards and two Telly Awards for her excellence in reporting. What made Dieken an outstanding broadcast journalist also makes her a standout keynote speaker. "I'm a researcher at heart," she says, "I'm hard-wired to connect the dots between the root cause and the big picture."

Dieken is the founder of Influence 360, a validated psychometric assessment that uses hard science to identify how people influence others. An ongoing research study, Influence 360 has helped more than 20,000 leaders become more influential. Dieken also created The Influence Lab and Present to Win training programs which are taught in corporate universities worldwide.

An entrepreneur, Dieken is the president of The Dieken Group-an executive coaching and consulting firm that advises CEOs and other senior leaders in the spotlight on how to maximize their influence and presence. She was recently named one of the world's Top Ten executive coaches by the Global Gurus organization. Her clients are leaders at some the world's best-known brands including Apple, HP, Nestl, and The Cleveland Clinic.

"You'd be surprised how many chief executives are natural-born introverts," says Dieken. "I help them influence with integrity in all directions. Whether it's communicating with their boards of directors, analysts, peers, associates, customers, the general public or through the media, leadership influence is a crucial business skill-now more than ever."

Dieken is a top-selling business author. Both of her books, "Talk Less, Say More" and "Become the Real Deal," hit #1 on the Amazon bestseller list. The audio version of "Talk Less, Say More" was also #1 on Audible and iTunes.

A renowned keynote speaker, she's delivered speeches on five continents to major conference audiences in the thousands and is a guest lecturer at business schools such as Case Western University, Clemson University, Indiana University, and The Ohio State University.

Authenticity and gratitude are key to Dieken's dual Hall of Fame careers. An Indiana University graduate who grew up in a small rural town, she credits her Midwest values with her success. "I wouldn't be in this position without the many lessons I learned from my family, teachers, mentors, peers, and clients."

And that is how an introvert approaches life on the big stage: with curiosity, empathy, and most of all, with humility.

Original post:
Connie Dieken Inducted into Speakers Hall of Fame - Broadway World