Who is the better singer?
Kylie Minogue or Jimmy Barnes?
Well, it depends, how are you measuring them? Vocal scale? Number of hits? Global reach? Years of experience? Or are you measuring them on your personal preferences?
Maybe neither is your favorite, and that’s okay too, we don’t all like the same thing.
Every singer is unique and there is room for everyone, and you don’t even have to be a good singer to be successful! (I’m thinking Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen here)
It is the same with public speaking.
The goal is to clarify your style and amplify it.
Here are some tips to help:
- When are you at your best?
I was coaching a client recently who was getting increasingly agitated about an upcoming presentation. I asked him if he was any good at his job and is answer was an emphatic ‘Yes!’ And I then said, “Pretend I’m a client sitting across the table from you and talk to me about this topic.”
He then went on to deliver an engaging and informative talk. So, I stopped using the term ‘presentation’ and encouraged him to imagine sitting across from a client and sharing with them what they needed to know.
- Share your stories
Stories are a way of sharing our expertise. We become more animated when we share our stories. This makes us more engaging and likable which leads to us being more persuasive.
Your stories are unique to you. They are your signature material. And they make your message memorable.
- Be true to you
My presentation style is “Go big or go home.” I feel most comfortable when I have a loose structure and can improvise on the way. If I must memorise a script, my presentation feels clunky and monotone.
So, for me to deliver a cracker presentation, I need to have a bit of freedom, space, and permission to be me.
Your style may be the opposite of mine, and that is okay. You only need to look at the TED Talks to see there are many ways of being an engaging speaker.
Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ And today when we have world in our hands it is hard not to compare ourselves with others and feel we come up short.
So, sit back, take a breath, push through the veneer of fear, and step up and shine.
We want to hear what you have to say.
- The Three Networking Circles You Need - April 15, 2024
- Mind Matters - February 1, 2024
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