“Will you be a speaker at our upcoming conference? We can’t afford to pay you, but you’ll have TONS of exposure! Whatcha think?”
As an entrepreneur, how many times have you heard this line? It never gets old for me. And, I am always honored whenever I receive an invitation. Still, to stay competitive and business-growth focused, it’s critical to know when to say “No, thanks”. Otherwise, we risk wasting a lot of time and a lot of effort.
My friend cried on the phone with me as he rehearsed his remarks that he was going to deliver at his father’s funeral later that week. His heart was broken and his words stumbled and eeked out from behind a growing lump in his throat. His pain was so palpable, I wanted to reach through the phone to wipe away the tears welling up in his eyes.
“How am I going to do this,” he asked. “I don’t want to turn into a blubbering mess up there, Andrea. But, I owe at least this much to my father.”
“Don’t go up there alone,” I replied...
If I have one trick that I share with everyone about powerful public speaking, it’s this: enumerate your points and watch your audience hang on to your every word. (See what I did there, eh?)
Enumerating your points means using numbers to strategically organize your speech content so that listeners will stay tuned to what you have to say next. Some simple examples are...
There he was: the CEO of a major company, projecting pure confidence on the stage before us as he worked to convince us all of the merits of his big community idea. I sat as an audience member – trying so hard to pay attention to his words. But I just couldn’t.
Why?
…because while his words and confident body language told one story, this dude's shoes – dirty, dull and falling apart – told another.
When you've been given the opportunity to hold an audience's attention for a speech - even if it's just 60-seconds - it's up to you to use every second to your advantage. That means, ENGAGING your audience. Failing to do this, will make you and your message as interesting as bad wallpaper in a cheap hotel bathroom. Get my drift?
One of the best ways to engage an audience during your speech (or even in a conversation) is to use metaphors, analogies and other "bright" or descriptive language...
I love it when I have to eat my own words...that is, follow my own advice.
I'm speaking today about a very difficult topic, and - in preparing my remarks - I remembered two very important lessons for me and for anyone who ever has to give a speech (or have a very important conversation).
Wanna know what it is? Listen below, friend. It's not even four minutes long...and it will change your day! Promise. ;)
ThinkBeforeISpeak
I walked into my client’s office ready to rock my presentation to their sales staff. I had on my power-suit and I was ready to face - what the client had described - as a group of eager-to-learn people. “Let’s do this,” I thought as I made my way down the hall to their training room.
…and then I saw the group. They were tired, bored and disinterested. They were distracted and doubting. They were huddled in the middle of the company’s call center so I couldn’t even greet them with an audible “hello”.
After I freaked out and died a little inside, I set to the challenge of winning over this audience. Luckily, it all worked out in the end.
I had missed some important details in my presentation planning and had overlooked the importance of knowing exactly who was in the room and what they needed to get out of their time with me.
I’ve made many, many mistakes in my years of public speaking and presenting. I’ve also learned a lot from those experiences, including some very important questions to ask before putting pen to paper…or mouth to microphone! Take an extra 15 minutes before heading into your next big talk or presentation and ask these 6 questions below. Your audience will thank you - and you will thank yourself!
Who are you (the speaker) and why does that matter for anyone listening?
Who is in your audience? (i.e. gender, titles, levels, social identifiers, etc.) This matters because it will drive your choice of words.
Is there a common theme, challenge or issue that this audience is facing? (Hint: the answer should guide your BIG message.)
What does this group absolutely want or need to "get" from their time with you? Whatever it is – give it to them. It’s far more important to deliver on what they want than what you want.
Is there an important call to action you can / should make with this group? Never leave a speech without telling your audience what to do with the information, knowledge or idea you just shared.
Is this audience more inclined to engage with a message that imparts knowledge / learning, humor / entertainment or motivation / inspiration? Find this out and tailor your message to it.
A good speech can take you on a journey from doubt to certainty, ignorance to awareness…from confusion to ‘getting it’. It can masterfully invite you to lean in, stand up, jump into action, say ‘aha’. I believe a good speech can change a person’s moment, day, or life.
That’s some powerful stuff.