It's safe to say that every speaker has their own unique way of delivering their message to their audiences. For those of you who've seen me in action, you know that I'm a "conversational" type of presenter. I'm not overly animated and I don't put on a show. My objective is to connect with my audience to make them feel as if they're talking to a trusted friend.
Not everyone has this approach and I respect that. However, I think there are times when speakers get too caught up in interactive audience participation. You know what I mean. Every other word or phrase, he/she is making you turn to your left, then turn to your right, then stand up, now sit down, repeat after me, say this out loud. We as the attendee get so focused on trying to remember and recite the phrase that we tend to forget the subject matter that's being taught.
You don't want to come across as a boring lecturer, nor do you want to appear hyper and over-caffeinated. This is why it's important for you to be your genuine self and not try to do anything that takes you outside of your comfort zone. People can tell when you're trying too hard to impress them. Public speaking isn't about winning any awards for being the best actor. It's about communicating your expertise and educating your listeners in the process.
Don't fall victim to those who want to teach you how to be a better performer. No one can be a better you than yourself. We all have room for improvement, but that doesn't translate to "room for transformation". Stay true to your own style, techniques, and delivery. Practice but don't rehearse. Figure out what works best for you and what your audience responds to and then enhance those skills. If you're having trouble, you may want to consider working with a public speaker who coaches folks on how to become better presenters.
Contact me for a quick consultation if you want to incorporate speaking into your business model. Looking forward to talking to you soon...
I was one of 5 or six speakers at an event years ago, the last two speakers were the excessively interactive types. The last speaker really took the cake, he had people standing up and sitting down, raising their hands, and hugging their neighbor. At one point in his speech a few wise guys in the audience had just had enough. They very naturally (and very loudly) broke out into the honey pokey. I was embarrassed for the speaker, but I guess they had just had enough.
ReplyDeleteBrandi -
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it. I totally understand and feel those two guys' pain. You can certainly get your point across without overkill. See...I knew I wasn't the only one who felt this way!
dlj
I can really appreciate your viewpoint on being yourself in your speaking. I schedule and moderate 14 training calls per week and I work with a very opinionated male speaker. Every so often I will also be the Hostess and Speaker on one of our live calls.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am just myself and share from the heart, my message is so much clearer and well received. Inevitably, this other guy will mock and argue my points...sometimes right on a live call. But, I always receive great feedback from the callers and have learned to look to the ones I am speaking to for guidance rather than the over-inflated ego of someone that is threatened by the authenticity of a woman. So, you rock on with your bad self!! You're right on!
Ah, thanks Coree! I totally agree with you. I appreciate you sharing your insight and knowledge with my community!
ReplyDeleteDonna J
I was one of 5 or six speakers at an event years ago, the last two speakers were the excessively interactive types. The last speaker really took the cake, he had people standing up and sitting down, raising their hands, and hugging their neighbor. At one point in his speech a few wise guys in the audience had just had enough. They very naturally (and very loudly) broke out into the honey pokey. I was embarrassed for the speaker, but I guess they had just had enough.
ReplyDelete