A Fairy Tree near Statford-upon-Avon, from a family trip a few years ago
Regular readers of this newsletter know there is no magic wand that can turn a nervous, self-conscious, or even good speaker into a great speaker overnight.
But I do know something else that works for everyone in their own way: a KEY with which you can unlock your speaking greatness!
That key can be summed up as “Focus on your listener, not on yourself.” And you may say “is that all? That’s easy.” But is it?
Here’s the problem: when we tell ourselves to “think about the audience,” we start second guessing, watching ourselves. And disconnecting more and more from our listeners. We stop seeing them. We each retreat inside our mind, and take a detour that ends in a mental cul-de-sac.
To counter that, we need to stay fully present. With presence. How? By mastering an approach that engages us in the physical act of speaking. I show my clients how to do this by using their breath, body, and voice to maximize performance on their “instrument.”
I learned this technique in drama school and graduate theatre training. It came in handy during subsequent years, when I spent many hours acting onstage.
My background seems unusual to people in various other businesses and professions. And maybe that is why they sometimes label my approach to public speaking as “woo-woo.” Not entirely sure what that means, except that it is outside-their-box thinking.
But mine is not just a “woo-woo” insight.
Recently I read a wonderful article on public speaking, a McKinsey & Company author talk with Michael Chad Hoeppner, about his book Don’t Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life.
Hoeppner has coached many executives, candidates, etc. and is “the foremost expert on effective speaking,” according to one of his websites. I can’t vouch for that — there seem to be a numerous experts in this area! — but he is spot on as he explains why the physical aspect of speaking is key. I have read 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of bad public speaking advice and instruction. So this was quite refreshing!
He stresses that speaking is a skill. And as with all skills, to get good at it you have to practice. As you master the moves, you need expert guidance to achieve your personal best. That’s where a good coach comes in.
And you know where to find me!
