Nothing scares you quite like the
prospect of stepping in front of a crowd of one thousand people, expected to
hold their attention for ninety minutes.
Yet there I was, waiting in the
wings while I was announced. Just me. No instruments to hide
behind. No PowerPoint to distract. No well-scripted speech to
deliver. In fact, I’d never rehearsed this particular piece.
Not even once.
* * * * * * * * *
Public speaking (sometimes termed oratory or oration) is the process or act of performing a presentation (a speech) focused around an individual
directly speaking to a live audience
in a structured, deliberate manner in order to inform, influence, or entertain
them. Public speaking is commonly understood as the formal, face-to-face
talking of a single person to a group of listeners. It is closely allied to
"presenting", although the latter is more often associated with
commercial activity. Most of the time, public speaking is to persuade the
audience.
It sounds like folly, but my medium
is an unusual one —interactive human psychology— and there is quite literally
no way to rehearse what happens upon my stage. When I deliver a
presentation I’m expected to construct a solid performance out of the raw
materials given to me in the moment —the minds and thoughts of my audience
members.
But though I had never rehearsed
this performance, I had certainly prepared for it, and my experience
over the years of preparing for the impossible on stage has also deeply
informed my business activities. I mean, as entrepreneurs “impossible,
improbable and unknowable” pretty much describes our daily existence,
right? It’s risky, scary and fraught with error —and absolutely worth it.
Here’s what I know:
You’re
More Prepared Than You Think
In the early years I constantly
worried that I wouldn’t have enough material. That I wasn’t experienced
enough. That I hadn’t done enough research, practiced the right technique
or planned for an eventuality.
Experience has taught me that I am always
more prepared than I think. It’s our duty as professionals to plan as
thoroughly as possible, but you must not let anxiety over your readiness
jeopardize your performance.
Effective preparation also involves
knowing when to stop. Prepare honestly and diligently, and then trust
that you’ve done enough. Let the stress go.
Your
Biggest Success Won’t Be Planned
I obsessively plan for what I
believe to be every possible outcome of my actions. Yet consistently, my
most extraordinary successes are completely unanticipated.
Make your plans. Then be ready
to throw it all away, because the universe is bigger and smarter than
you. It’s your preparation that keeps you ready to seize these
opportunities.
Failure
Is Impossible
I have one rule that guarantees
continual success:
Always deliver the best product
possible given the circumstances. Don’t sweat the rest.
I can be certain that the
performance I deliver in a proper theater will be better than the one I deliver
at a rainy outdoor festival. But both audiences receive my best
performance, given the variables.
Follow this rule and you’ll never have anxiety
over your “performance” again. Detach yourself from the outcome, and
invest instead in the process. That’s where the real magic happens.
So
how do you rehearse for success?
You don’t.
Like being on stage, success is the
result of preparedness, confidence and bold action in the face of the
unknown. Plan for the likely, and be ready to improvise like a virtuoso
when the unlikely occurs. Cultivate solid technique, and then step in
front of your audience confident in your ability to handle anything.
The 6 I's of credibility for public
speaking are:
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6
I's of Credibility
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Ideation
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Be creative in presenting the idea
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Information
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Bring out new and decision driving
facts
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Influence
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Be charismatic with show of
confidence
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Integrity
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Be authentic and build a trust
through the first half of the session
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Impact
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Identify and present a memorable
delivery to root the message
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Ignition
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Call out to action, if required
(E.g. Funding, Social Action, Proselytisation ...etc.)
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