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You want to grow in your career.
And you want to feel confidence, pride and, yes, even relief, that you are able to reliably and confidently present to your audiences: whether from a stage, conference room or office.
Here are three more skills that are imperative to owning your stage and wowing your audience
I. VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS - MINUS THE VERBAL PART
During a speech, don't speak for the first 5 - 10 seconds (if appropriate, and it almost always is). Simply take in the audience. Look individuals in the eyes and briefly connect.
Also, strategically, albeit organically and naturally, take pauses during your speech or presentation. This is particularly powerful and beneficial at key message points in your presentation.
Power through natural inhibition and fear of silence and you will likely feel the exhilaration and power in such moments. So will your audience.
Pause for several seconds or more after impact questions, points or moments in stories to allow people to feel and think about it.
Smile. Literally; but also metaphorically. This can be especially powerful if you do so in moments of silence, connecting one-on-one with individuals with whom you feel empathy and connection.
II. NERVES ARE YOUR FRIEND
Nerves are indeed your friend. They heighten your energy and you absolutely want energy to connect with, inspire, wow and influence your audience to action.
Accept that you almost certainly will feel nervous. It is a given. And it is a positive.
Breathe deeply, feel your feet fully grounded to the earth (stage) and channel your nervousness up through your feet, into your trunk, arms, hands and face and through your body and voice into passion for and expression of your message, as well as a caring passion for your audience.
Again, breathe deeply -- so important that it bears repeating -- and focus on your deep breath for a moment when you feel nerves getting the best of you. Do so, as just suggested, in silence. You will naturally fear silence especially in these moments of fear. But if you allow, rather than fight, the moment, you will likely be amazed at the peace and power that comes with this allowance.
Then gently, and with focused passion and energy for your message and your audience, reach out to them: with your words, your body and your heart.
HERE'S A GREAT EXERCISE TO FACILITATE POWERFUL PUBLIC SPEAKING
a. Before you begin your speech or presentation:
Stand with your feet shoulder length apart. Lightly bounce up and down while standing in place as a way to get a sense of your feet's solid connection with the platform and your body's life force as it flows up from your feet, through your legs, your pelvis, your core and the rest of your body, exiting your face, head, arms and hands and flowing directly to the audience.
b. Breathe deeply as you do this.
c. Raise your arms above your head, with your hands open. Then spread your arms out wide to your sides. Then back up above your head. And do on...
d. Maintain awareness of your energy flow during the exercise and while you do your speech or presentation. Feel your energy flow through your entire physiology and to each audience member with whom you make eye contact.
Maintain an awareness of your connection with the platform, your body, individual audience members and your energy flow to the individual audience members.
III. CONNECT AND CARE
Make eye contact with many people.
Truly connect. Feel the connection.
Send each person positive energy. Smile at them.
Spend a few seconds in eye contact with many people.
Don't scan over them, not really connecting with them. On the other hand, don't stare anyone down.
Have a conversation with one person at a time, traveling from person to person throughout your presentation.
Dismiss any and all judgment of the audience. Assume they all support you. There have been many a time when I thought an audience member disagreed or flat out disliked me. Only to have them later come up to me and tell me they were incredibly moved and grateful.
Peace, power and prosperity friends.
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Source by Christopher Babson
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