Last week, you met Rachel. She is a newer financial planner with a problem – she feels extremely anxious whenever she has to speak before an audience… and she has to present to a group in one month.
Sheโs learned that, when you speak in public, you donโt want to eliminate nerves, because some stress is good. The goal should be to manage those feelings and use that energy to improve your delivery.
There are two keys to doing this. Rachel has already learned the first key:
Focus on the benefit youโre offering to your audience. In other words, donโt think about what you’re giving the audience, think about what theyโre getting. There is a difference.
This brings us to the second key. Listen in on my second conversation with Rachel:
After initial pleasantries, Rachel says, โMichael, Iโve worked hard on writing my speech around the benefits to the audience, rather than talking about me. I can see where it will help with my nerves because I’m more concerned about them learning something useful. Now Iโm ready to learn the second key.โ
โI like your eagerness, Rachel,โ I say. “The second key is so obvious you’ll kick yourself. It is…
Preparation.”
Rachel looks somewhat disappointed.ย “That’s it? I always prepare before I speak.”
“Tell me more about that,” I reply.
“Well, I write out my speech first.ย Then I practice it in my head.ย If I can find privacy, I’ll lock the door and say it out loud a couple of times,” Rachel tells me.
After thinking about her response, I say, “The type of preparation I’m talking about is a lot different. I have an odd question to ask, Rachel. I promise it has a purpose.”
“Okay,” she says with some trepidation.
“If you wanted to be a great golfer, who would you ask for help?โ
She thinks for a couple of seconds and says, “The best golfer I can find.”
“Good,” I say. “If you wanted to be a great teacher, who would you ask for help?”
She quickly replies, “The best teachers.”
“Precisely.ย Do you see where I’m headed with this?” I ask.
She smiles, “I’m guessing you’re going to tell me to find the best speakers if I want to give the best speeches.โ
โYes,โ I say with a smile. โNot only that, but someone who’s learned from other great speakers.โย
โDo you know any good ones?โ she teases.
โIโll ignore that question,โ I say, in mock disgust. “There are 4 steps that the best speakers use to create memorable experience for their audiences:
First, they know their presentation – forward, backwards, and sideways.โ
โImpressive,โ said Rachel with a smile, โWould love to hear that sideways version.โ
I continue, โThe second step is to present their talks as many times as possible before โliveโ audiences. Do this to get comfortable with delivering the material, seeing audience reactions, and working on timing.
This is also an opportunity to get constructive feedback, make necessary adjustments, and continue to test your message until it becomes second nature.โ
โSounds like a lot of work,โ Rachel interjects.
โIt is, Rachel,โ I tell her. โItโs common for the highest-paid speakers to give their talks 200 or more times before they get paid. The old saying is true – โAnything worth doing is worth doing well.โ
โI canโt disagree with that,โ says Rachel.
โThe third key,โ I say, โis to audio and video record each speech.โย
โI was afraid youโd say that,โ Rachel quickly responds.
I smile and reply, โThatโs the answer I typically get. Hereโs the key, Rachel. I, or anyone else can give you feedback. Until you can see or hear what we mean, you wonโt truly understand the evaluations.
For example, I often tell clients they need to pause longer. They often respond with something like โI did pause a long time, Michael!โย
Since Iโm not interested in engaging in long disagreements about this, I simplyย suggest they โlisten to the recording and hear how long you pause when you speak.โ
After they do this, theyโll come back and say, โWow. I canโt believe how short my pauses were. They felt a lot longer at the time I delivered them.โ
โWhen you listen to the recordings, or watch the video, and get those ‘aha’ moments,ย youโre experiencing the real benefit of recording,โ I tell her. โWith this new perspective, youโre in a better frame-of-mind to improve for the next time you speak.
Rachel, after a thoughtful pause, says, โWell, I donโt love the idea of listening to myself, but, if itโll help me get better. Iโll do it. It makes sense to record myself – and listen to it – if it will help me control my anxiety.โ
โThereโs one another way to best use your recordings,โ I add. โWhen you watch the recording, watch it three times. The first, at normal speed with the sound on. The second, with the sound off. The third, with the sound off and 2x speed.โ
โThatโs an oddย suggestion,โ she says.
When you listen the first time, listen for audience reactions, extraneous noises, and silence. When you hear extra noises, thatโs typically a sign that theyโre not fully engaged. On the opposite end, when thereโs total silence, you have their full attention.
Listen with the sound off to focus on your use of the speaking area. Watch for unnecessary movement, and to determine if you’re โanchoringโ your key points to separate parts of the stage, or if youโre standing in one area of it too much.
Listen with the sound off and 2x speed to highlight repetitive or distracting gestures. Thereโs something about faster speeds that makes these more prominent. Thereโs a bonus too: itโs a cheap way to entertain yourself, because itโs usually pretty funny.โ
Rachel sits back, โMichael, those sound like great tips. I look forward to using them. Iโm just wondering – Are you sure theyโll help me with my nerves?โ
โAbsolutely, Rachel,โ I assure her. โTheyโve worked for me, my mentors and the people Iโve coached. I promise theyโll make a difference, and youโll create a better experience for your audience. โNow, I add as I conclude our call, โgo practice, and let me know how you do.โ
To learn how Rachel did with her speech, check in next week.
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