We’re looking a conference room full of 40 to 50 year old executives from all around the world, gathered for leadership school, the majority in standard issue khakis and well pressed shirts- corporate casual. And they are giving us that evaluative eye common when you arrive to address a room full of people. We’re here to get real, to invite these mid career professionals to share their untold stories and big ideas, to go out on a limb and say what the organization needs to hear. And we’re putting all their shiny faces on video. Essentially, we’re taking a few days helping people go deeper, looking for the treasures of their company’s culture and eliciting the kind of stories that would never make it into an ECM system but are the heart of the what it means to be part of the company, and tell the world (or perhaps just the leadership team) who this organization really is. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Presenting and Public Speaking’ Category
You Can’t be Unprepared to Be You: For Great Speaking, Arrive At Ease
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011When we review the attitudes people have toward public speaking, being on camera, or leading a meeting or a workshop, one of the most common comments is something along the lines of “I feel fine if I’m prepared- otherwise pretty much sick to my stomach”.
But as an audience member, how many times have you seen the phenomenon that a presenter only comes alive in the Q&A, when they are thinking on their feet? (Maybe I should have titled this piece “Start with the Q&A Mindset”- this is where speakers are most themselves, and are often most in touch with their expertise.)
The preparation and rehearsal in and of itself can sometimes lock a presenter up mentally and physically, and that shows on stage.
We would urge all presenters to release the performance mentality. This can include one or more of the following themes: “I’m here to show what I know…. to perform”, “I need to have my lines memorized”, “I don’t want to forget anything”, “I want them to think I’m smart/competent/etc.”- in short, some variation on “they will judge me.”
An alternative is to KNOW deeply that you are smart, competent, that you already have a mastery of your materials. Know that you will be able to access this knowledge when you need it and structure a cogent response on the fly. We urge you to shift your whole presentation energy to giving- what can you GIVE to the audience, and away from performance.
Simply being you, and being at ease, you will be able to offer what you do know with no stress- to bring forward your knowledge in an easy and compelling fashion.