(NOTE: I was recently interviewed on the GSD podcast. Thanks to Misha Bleymaier-Farrish for an engaging conversation. To hear our entire conversation, CLICK HERE)
QUESTION:
What needs to take place to become a proficient and successful speaker?
ANSWER:
There is a misconception, which was encouraged by the TV show American Idol, that you can enter a contest, practice for a few weeks and become great.
A lot of people in the musical field have tried to do that, I’ve been a music fan my entire life and from researching the topic, I know that is not the way to develop long term success.
There are myriad stories of bands and artists who for years travelled in old vans or broken down buses to play in dive bars or lousy venues in order to hone their craft.
What Does This Have To Do With Speaking?
Everything.
The touring musician story is a parallel concept to what it takes to become a successful speaker. You do not get up and give a speech a couple times and become so memorable people want to pay you to do it.
It is a sacrifice. You have to give up social time, fun time and some family time to go stand in a room by yourself, talk out loud to the walls, to your plants and pets, or whoever is willing to listen. it’s repetition, feedback, tweaks and adjustments, and repeating the process.
it’s like the the individual who becomes a great athlete. We don’t see the thousands of hours LeBron James put in. Or Caitlyn Clark, the superstar college player from Iowa, who gave up most of her free time to master her sport. We don’t see all the work they put in.
Any one who is accomplished travels the same road. They make it look easy because they’ve put in the time.
If you want to become a meaningful and memorable communicator, there is no shortcut.
You gotta get in there and do the work.
What are you willing to sacrifice to become the kind of presenter other people want to hear?
Need Ideas To Improve Your Presentation Skills?
Schedule a time to talk with me to discuss your current speaking strengths and challenges. CLICK HERE for your complimentary, no-obligation call.
Michael’s mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - it’s a learnable skill. Once he discovered this ‘secret’ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the world’s best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
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