When a client starts working with me, I often ask their opinion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ speakers. The answers are varied and diverse as the speakers themselves. Except for one thing. Everyone and I mean everyone, says that a good speaker is ‘confident’. The holy grail of public speaking!
But what actually is it?
When a client starts working with me, I often ask their opinion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ speakers. The answers are varied and diverse as the speakers themselves.
Except for one thing.
Everyone and I mean everyone, says that a good speaker is ‘confident’. The holy grail of public speaking!
But what actually is it? Well, the dictionary tells us:‘Feeling or showing certainty about something.’
A-ha. Yes, it all makes sense.
To buy into a speaker’s ideas, findings, strategy etc. we need to trust. And to trust, we need to feel or know that the speaker is certain – that they know their stuff, that they are 100% behind their claims, that they are taking a stand for something.
Not that we reflect on any of this consciously – it all happens mysteriously in our subconscious. And as audience members, we just decide ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Harsh but true.
How do we build this elusive but oh-so-important confidence?
Today I’m going to suggest a method that maybe you haven’t thought of.
Turn your presentation to be about “them”
A few years ago, I ran a ‘Nerve Busting Workshop’. We did the exercise on getting to know your audience that I highlighted in last week’s Tara’s Top Tips . One super nervous participant had a revelation during that exercise. ‘It’s not about me.’ She exclaimed. ‘It’s about how I can solve problems through my experience. When my focus is about how I can add value and help – the pressure is off my ‘performance’.’
By repositioning the focus of the talk so it’s about the audience rather than about you, many people find it easier to be confident and engaging.
Tara’s Top Tip. Try re-framing the topic of your presentation. Rather than talking about “What we did to make this project a success” talk about “How this project will help you achieve your sales targets.”
Rather than ‘Proof of concept; software scanning in due diligence’ talk about ‘Why and how Software scanning can improve our due diligence process.’
Way more engaging as well huh?
I have so many Top Tips on this topic so next week, I’ll share some more golden tips on confidence…
In the meantime, are you organising an event? Do you want your speakers to be clear, compelling and confident? Check out my event organiser brochure for details on how I can help raise the bar on your next event!
Until next time… be assured 😉
Tara
