My friend is a polished presenter and her 'gig' is as a Communications Specialist and Government Relations expert for a major health care company here in Chicago. She had asked me to help her get a handle on an hour presentation that she was giving the next day.
We went through the powerpoint presentation slide by slide and I helped her with a few minor points such as fluidity of message, clarity and handling/ stacking of sensitive topics.
We reviewed some of the body language basics and I was relieved to see that she really didn't have a problem staying on message with an ease that is only accomplished by seasoned professionals. Her pacing, eloquence , and gestures were solid. It was evident that she "knew her material" .
The smile comes across may face when I see someone handle with such ease an hour's worth of presentation material with little prep time, and have the audience enjoying their time with her, and from her assessment, the audience was thoroughly engaged.
The experience was one that reminded me that even the most seasoned and experienced speaker can be coached on basics, and the elemental. We all forget the basics and there's no shame in that. . Early in this I admit that the joy I experience in seeing novices come as far as they do in a short period of time, is a pretty powerful drug for me.
For more experienced speakers, posture, and foot placement , can be easily forgotten over time. The temptation is to write off having someone that can help us when we get to a high altitude in our professional careers. My friend is conscious of her need to improve things that she might be good at already. It was high level stuff and I passed the test. I'm thankful for that. And thankful for the opportunity to assist someone more effectively express their message to their audience.
Engagingly yours,
Robert S.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
It's in the way that you use it.
On the way to my morning BNI meeting this a.m. the Clapton song comes on and I find myself getting fired up as I sing along
. " Been through some dark nights.. never like this..
walked on some thin ice.. never like this..
looked in some true eyes... never like this.. IT's In the way that you use it!!..
I identify with this because so many people I meet believe that they just don't have the talent or personality
to "go big" while they are on stage presenting or giving a speech. They self talk themselves into a limiting belief that you need the personality of a Bette Midler or the statesmanship of a seasoned politician, Barack Obama comes to mind here, in order to be effective communicating to others. It's simply not the truth.
"It's easy for you Bob" I can almost hear them say as they look up at me..... "you're a large mammal". While it's true that I'm a large mammal, and I have some presence.... the fact is that even someone of smaller stature can have the same presence and power when they are in front of an audience as a large person. Tell Danny Devito that he's too small for him to have an impact on you. But when you watch him on screen or in person, he has tons of presence. Truly it's the way that he uses it. With Danny Devito, it comes and it rarely goes. He is on.
The trick is to find your core truth and let it sing. "You are an instrument which you must learn to play " Said Joanne Forsberg.. Ms. Forsberg was and still is a force of nature when you talk about performing at your best. She was ever so briefly my teacher at the Players Workshop of the Second City many years ago, and her words were pretty profound.
In my work today, we get a speaker to tap into his intuitive nature, trust it, and allow him to go big with it. There's just not a more powerful way of having presence while you are in front of people in the world.
Ms. Forsberg wasn't very large either.. but hers was the type of presence that was felt by each student. Clapton was right.. It really is in the way that you use it.
. " Been through some dark nights.. never like this..
walked on some thin ice.. never like this..
looked in some true eyes... never like this.. IT's In the way that you use it!!..
I identify with this because so many people I meet believe that they just don't have the talent or personality
to "go big" while they are on stage presenting or giving a speech. They self talk themselves into a limiting belief that you need the personality of a Bette Midler or the statesmanship of a seasoned politician, Barack Obama comes to mind here, in order to be effective communicating to others. It's simply not the truth.
"It's easy for you Bob" I can almost hear them say as they look up at me..... "you're a large mammal". While it's true that I'm a large mammal, and I have some presence.... the fact is that even someone of smaller stature can have the same presence and power when they are in front of an audience as a large person. Tell Danny Devito that he's too small for him to have an impact on you. But when you watch him on screen or in person, he has tons of presence. Truly it's the way that he uses it. With Danny Devito, it comes and it rarely goes. He is on.
The trick is to find your core truth and let it sing. "You are an instrument which you must learn to play " Said Joanne Forsberg.. Ms. Forsberg was and still is a force of nature when you talk about performing at your best. She was ever so briefly my teacher at the Players Workshop of the Second City many years ago, and her words were pretty profound.
In my work today, we get a speaker to tap into his intuitive nature, trust it, and allow him to go big with it. There's just not a more powerful way of having presence while you are in front of people in the world.
Ms. Forsberg wasn't very large either.. but hers was the type of presence that was felt by each student. Clapton was right.. It really is in the way that you use it.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Let's Get it Started in Here!!
I decided to make it official with posting some of the fruits of my research and discovery in the general field of communication, but more specifically, the art of the First Impression.
Every day, thousands and thousands of mini presentations are being given and the scene plays out as follows:
" Hi , My name is XXX XXXX (insert Name here) uhhh.. and My company is XXX XXX (Insert company name here) AaaaaaaHHHH.hhhhhhh. We do X Y and Z for companies and have been doing it for XX years.. aaaahhhh... What sets us apart from the competition is that we really listen to the customer.. aaaahhhh.. So if you or someone you know is in the market.. please give em my name. Aaaaahhh.. that's repeat. name with repeat company..
thank you.. "
Speaking well is an art form similiar to any who would hold an instrument or carry a basketball for a living. In watching hundreds of "30 Second" elevator pitches , and hundreds of professional speeches and sermons I have to say that I have become quite a conoseur of good speaking.
It has been in the recent past that others have asked me how they too can be more "out there" as one of my students put it, for I often times do my presentations freestyle but always invariably incorporate some of the previous topics or words mentioned in the morning or afternoon into my presentations. I have discovered I also have a talent for teaching these things as well.
Becoming a tough act to follow is what all of our goals should be. To that end my work or mission for this blog is to allow people to be more engaging, more likeable, more memorable when they speak.. My success in life is to help others step down from their presentation and for the next person to say.. "Wow.. That's a tough act to follow"..
here's to your speaking success.
Every day, thousands and thousands of mini presentations are being given and the scene plays out as follows:
" Hi , My name is XXX XXXX (insert Name here) uhhh.. and My company is XXX XXX (Insert company name here) AaaaaaaHHHH.hhhhhhh. We do X Y and Z for companies and have been doing it for XX years.. aaaahhhh... What sets us apart from the competition is that we really listen to the customer.. aaaahhhh.. So if you or someone you know is in the market.. please give em my name. Aaaaahhh.. that's repeat. name with repeat company..
thank you.. "
Speaking well is an art form similiar to any who would hold an instrument or carry a basketball for a living. In watching hundreds of "30 Second" elevator pitches , and hundreds of professional speeches and sermons I have to say that I have become quite a conoseur of good speaking.
It has been in the recent past that others have asked me how they too can be more "out there" as one of my students put it, for I often times do my presentations freestyle but always invariably incorporate some of the previous topics or words mentioned in the morning or afternoon into my presentations. I have discovered I also have a talent for teaching these things as well.
Becoming a tough act to follow is what all of our goals should be. To that end my work or mission for this blog is to allow people to be more engaging, more likeable, more memorable when they speak.. My success in life is to help others step down from their presentation and for the next person to say.. "Wow.. That's a tough act to follow"..
here's to your speaking success.
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