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When I started
speaking 10 years ago, I thought I needed to move around the stage like a
dramatic actor in a Shakespeare play. I worried I wasn’t gregarious and
animated enough. I wondered if I was boring because I didn’t like to swing
my arms as I talked and walked around the room. My fear was that I wasn’t
the person I imagined a good speaker should be. As I started to observe
other speakers, I realized one critical thing—all speakers are different!
The best speakers are the ones who recognize their talents, their style,
and know what feels best for them. Why this is important is because your
audience can tell when you are acting. Unless you’re one of the best actors
out there, your talk will come off as inauthentic and boring because your
audience won’t get a sense of who you are. Rather than
have a missed opportunity to build a real connection with the people who
came to see you speak, try the following strategies for finding your true
presentation style.
1. Ask 30 people to describe you in three words
Do you ever
wonder how the world sees you? You are probably already aware of what you
think you’re good at, but what about everyone else? A great way to find out
is by emailing 30 friends, co-workers, past bosses, teammates, and anyone
else who knows you pretty well. Ask them one question: If you could
describe me in three words, which three words would you pick? Create
a spreadsheet and keep track of all the words. Put tick marks next to the
words that keep showing up, and when you receive all your feedback, tally
your answers. You’ll likely have a few standouts in the group. Those are
the attributes that are strongest in you. Showcase them by using them as
building blocks for your talk. When I did this exercise, the three words I
heard most often were creative, thoughtful, and motivated. It made me ask
myself, “How can I make this talk more creative?” Just thinking about
creativity got me excited and made me want to build fun worksheets and
incorporate costumes and props. By adding elements of your personality into
your talk, you are showcasing who you truly are and giving your audience a
glimpse into your mind, your perspective, and your heart.
2. Talk about what you like to talk about
If you want
your presentation to shine, you need to talk about it in a way that gets
you excited. As we talked about in lesson #1, if you pick topics and
stories that exhibit your passion, you will create an exciting and engaging
experience for your audience. If you present those topics and stories using
your unique style, you are giving an even more compelling presentation,
because it is showcasing YOU. This will be a process of trial and error,
and you will eventually create an arsenal of favorite go-to stories you can
use over and over again for your audiences. These stories will also become
part of your personal brand and reputation as a speaker!
3. Showcase your gifts
What we’ve been
talking about here over is creating presentations that
are memorable, engaging, moving—ones that get your audience to do something
with your words. If you follow the tips offered and continue practicing and
tweaking your work, you will arrive at a place that sounds like you and
gives your audience the gift of your talents. Don’t be afraid to try new
things, experiment with different approaches, and integrate new styles into
your talks. Public speaking is a unique performance for each person, and it
doesn’t need to be hard. Make it an adventure and your audience will thank
you.
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