Reinvention, positioning for the upturn, seeing silver linings in the economic clouds--these ideas are coming up frequently as business strategists, growth thinkers and leaders try to create a positive outlook during uncertainty.
I'm glad to hear this shift to forward thinking and to see people speaking of actions they can take. Speeches and presentations provide you a powerful opportunity to pull people out of the doldrums and onto your bandwagon. Please be sure to use these speaking appearances wisely. Here are 3 tips to help you make the most of your time in front of an audience:
1) Start your message by connecting to your audience's emotions. Economic worries hit people emotionally as well as financially. If you describe a scenario in evocative, emotional language, you grab them and get them thinking "yes, that's how I've been feeling." Then they will stay tuned to the rest of what you have to say.
2) Use a variety of ideas to lead up to your key points. Audiences will get it when you quote a movie or book title, refer to a well-known entertainer or public figure, or mention the challenges faced by a well-regarded sports figure. Life goes way beyond work, and the more you bring life into your business speeches, the better you connect with your audience. "Tiger Woods is still struggling to recover his top form following knee surgery. But he's out there, competing and taking risks. That's what we have to do in order to come out on top of our industry a few months from now."
3) Tell some stories. It's important to write your stories in an artful way. I call this "crafting" the story, rather than reporting the story. Use the details that are relevant to your message, pluck great language from the literary side of your brain, and allow yourself some vocal variety in the telling. Two great business story types are the "springboard story" (someone did it in the past, you can do it now) and the "who you are as an individual" story (your grit, determination, fears and actions to overcome them, your values). After a story like this, you ask the audience to think of a time when they demonstrated similar personal characteristics--that makes your story their story.
How are you seeking and using speaking appearances to lead your company as the economy improves? Share your ideas through our comment link.
If you're not seeking speaking appearances becuase you don't know what to say or how to find them, let me know. I have many resources to help you.
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