CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – JANUARY 30, 2021
Eye contact is important.
If you are imagining the person in the front row with their clothes off, will you be able to look them in the eye? Connecting via eye contact is important during a presentation because it makes the audience feel heard and involves them in your presentation.
It’s the non-verbal equivalent of saying somebody’s name aloud.
You can’t be fully present.
The best speakers are truly “all in” for every single presentation. They’re evaluating the subtle feedback in facial expressions of the audience, feeling the power of their message welling up from within, noticing the tone of each word they deliver, and even multitasking with technology. This takes all of your focus and energy.
It’s better if you are the naked one.
Well, emotionally speaking that is. Picturing your audience in the nude is generally a tactic for increasing your feelings of authority and reducing your exposure to vulnerability. Believe it or not, however, a little bit of vulnerability goes a long way.
If you mentally strip your audience of their clothes, you are reducing them to a mindless blob with no identity, which takes away from the community you are working so hard to build through your message.
But if you instead strip away your wall of perfection and share something human, suddenly you are someone they can relate to, someone for whom they can cheer. When you activate the empathy of your audience by sharing something truly authentic about yourself, that is when you rise to the level of unforgettable.
It’s better to just practice instead.
The more prepared you are for your speech, the less likely your nerves will be to attack. Just knowing the content is not enough, you must practice how you will say it and hear what it sounds like. Never forget to speak your presentation out loud. And remember, it’s not about memorizing every word as much as knowing your content inside and out.
Then, show up early. Familiarize yourself with the technology available, the layout of the venue, and give yourself some time to breathe. The best practice is to perform a run-through in the actual space, if possible. Make yourself a checklist beforehand and make sure you have everything you need.
Have fun being in front of a group leading a discussion or driving home new Information at the workplace does not have to be a bad thing.
Make it a champion day!