I just spoke with a potential customer who sought me out for help working with his company. There was a significant eye-opener which came to light in our conversation, a principal I’ve been touting these days which affects our way of doing and engaging business in our fast changing world.
As I give you an inside peek into a candid conversation, I would like you to consider why you need to be the best possible presenter you can be in today’s marketplace.
The first part of the conversation addressed his company’s speaking requirements and went something like this:
Ivy: “So, you are in the business of connecting people on line and strengthening those relationships?”
Customer: “Exactly.”
Ivy: “And I see by your website and press releases that your innovative approach is making a huge impact in the marketplace – and in a such short time!”
Customer: “Yes we are. What we do is connect people on line in a unique way and are one of the fastest growing businesses in this area.” (I knew they were and he wasn’t exaggerating)
Ivy: “You stated earlier that you are interested in my helping your employees become better presenters. Since your business is on line, can you tell me why this is so important?
Customer: “Because although our entire business is on line, the way we get our business is face to face. We are constantly selling and presenting in person and our team is terrible! Great on line, but terrible in person and that’s where it counts!
And you know what, in my work as an executive speaking coach, I hear a lot of that lately.
At an event for the financial services industry in NYC where I was the keynote speaker, there was no question that presenting face to face was on their minds.
Today, in all businesses, people who are unfamiliar with this terrain are being invited to speak at industry events, participate on panels, deliver keynote presentations at conferences and on and on. It may be part of an overall strategy for branding yourself or positioning yourself as an expert or thought leader in your industry.
My thought for those of you in this competitive, fast paced world, is to take this aspect of your professional development seriously. Make sure that you are the best possible presenter or speaker you can be in your area of expertise. The landscape of how we sell, buy and live is changing at breakneck speed. But the power of people sharing a human experience in person, still matters. Don’t wait until you are thrust into the limelight and risk losing an opportunity or find yourself unable to make the most of it.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
- Are you ready to step up should the occasion arise?
- Have you found your voice?
- And are you prepared now to give powerful presentations no matter what the setting?
The most successful presenters continually hone their speaking skills and they also seek out opportunities to speak often. Assess your skills. To improve, work with someone in your company who is a strong speaker or consider hiring a professional speaking coach. Strengthen yourself so when the time comes for you to take center stage, you will come face to face with your audiences and seize the moment!
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