Happy New Year!
I took a step back from blogging this year due to intensive scheduling and coaching demands.
Also, because I want to be able to offer you Public Speaking insights based upon the new realities many of my clients are facing.
It’s been an incredible year. I’m grateful to be afforded the opportunity to coach talented, smart Business professionals who are making a profound impact in the world. And each one of them, is dedicated to honing their speaking abilities to meet their growing public speaking demands.
The commitment they make (in addition to running successful companies!) has afforded my clients opportunities that build trust in their brands and help them gain significant recognition and influence in their industries.
In addition, an unexpected benefit for many, is the powerful, creative experience of performance.
So, how can you prepare yourself to Rise to the Occasion in the coming year?
There are significant changes that are impacting my clients and their approach to speaking and if you’re aware of them you can get off to a great start in 2020!
What’s Changed?
1. Your Speaking Requirements
Several of my clients who are CEO’s, Presidents, Founders and Partners of companies, are now speaking at a level that, in the past, was relegated to professional speakers.
As recently as 5 years ago, many of the people I coached were delivering in-house presentations to their direct reports, employees or in the board room. They might be presenting in a large conference room or in a town hall type environment. Occasionally they were delivering an external conference presentation while speaking behind a podium.
Today, in any given week, I’m working with people who are preparing for:
Delivering the Keynote at an industry wide conference on an open stage without a podium which is videotaped and shared,
Participating on an expert Panel, often broadcast live throughout their industry,
A guest interview on a Podcast,
A CEO/Founder short video for their company.... and the list goes on.
What’s changed is that these are not professional speakers!
They are business professionals running the company or internal innovators with specific expertise and their voices are being requested and heard.
They are speaking to large audiences on open stages or platforms without a podium. They are reading scripted copy from a Teleprompter or monitor designed for wide audience reach. They’re also being interviewed live on television and sharing their stories on audio-only platforms.
In all instances they must come across Believable, Credible and Engaging. And of course speak clearly.
Not a small task. The other piece that’s changed is…
2. Higher Expectations
Due to the Ted Talks, when someone gets up to speak now in a live situation, we expect the content to be compelling, concise and either motivating or inspirational. And the Delivery must appear natural and authentic.
The bar has been raised
Whether you know it or not, you are now being compared to prepared, well-rehearsed, dynamic presenters.
So, in light of the increased exposure and expectations, how can you prepare yourself for the inevitable invitation to share your ideas and perspective? And do so without risking your reputation and credibility?
Rise to the Occasion by building in a Speaking Strategy
Build in a Speaking Strategy as part of your professional development. Just as you put together a business, marketing and social media plan to grow your business, pay special attention to your speaking requirements.
Whether you work with someone skilled inside your company or hire a professional from the outside, get the support you need and outline a Speaking Strategy to get you where you want to go.
Ideally you want to work with a person who can make you feel comfortable and confident in various settings. There are nuances and small adjustments that have a big impact on how your message is received in an audio interview or video segment, vs in a face to face presentation.
For example, I worked with a brilliant doctor who suddenly found himself in the featured guest speaker spot delivering a 45 minute keynote at an annual conference, accompanying the release of a new book. He was understandably nervous because prior to all of this, he was used to speaking in his accepted academic lecture style. A few days after the event, he was invited to be a guest on NPR.
The most important thing he did, was to build time into his demanding schedule. The keynote prep was rigorous and ultimately he learned how to adapt his content and adjust his style for both situations. He did a beautiful job in both instances. What had been nerve wracking for him in the past, has now become an experience he actually looks forward to.
Once you understand what works best for you, it’s smooth sailing.
I really encourage you to make your speaking abilities a high priority. It’s no longer a nice to have, it’s a must have, if you want to compete in this arena.
The best of the best are making their speaking abilities a high priority, so why not you?
Coming up, I’m going to be sharing lifesaving speaking tips with you starting this month. These are real time useful concepts you may encounter and will help you execute with confidence and feel more prepared in uncertain situations. As the saying goes...
“If you can keep your wits about you when all others are losing theirs... the world will be yours and everything in it. “
- Rudyard Kipling
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To learn more about how you can work with Ivy to create a customized Public Speaking program for your company or work privately through the ‘Join The Ivy League’ coaching program, contact us here for a complimentary consultation today.