WOW factors are the mystical, hard-to-achieve qualities that make people leave the room saying "Wow, that was amazing." Right? Well, mystical yes, but not hard to achieve.
It's thrilling to be surrounded by a cheering, stomping crowd listening to a speaker who is charismatic and charming. Your heart beats faster, you're flush with enthusiasm, your mind spins with visions of your own charmed life coming the next day. These experiences make conferences and conventions buzz and leave everyone feeling great.
You, the more down-to-earth business speaker, are not likely to create that experience for your audiences because you don't work at it day in and day out. Keynote speakers who enchant the audience spend their whole working lives making themselves that way. The typical business speaker has to fit speaking into an already packed schedule.
So how can you WOW your audiences? The answer begins with something you have right at your fingertips--your character. Character means being true to yourself and speaking from your inner knowledge with passion and authenticity. When you show your authentic self to your own audiences, you'll connect with them and give them value.
Here are my three best tips for connecting with your audience and making them glad they were there:
1) Think "conversation" not presentation and definitely not "Power Point". No matter how formal the setting, your conversational attitude must come out loud and clear.
2) Put yourself in your audiences' shoes. What path are they traveling? What goals do they have? What troubles would they like to deal with? What gets them excited? I guarantee you that when you craft all of your content with these questions in mind, you'll increase the conversational attitude and the connection. Put the audience first.
3) Rehearse ten or twenty times more than you usually do. You won't understand the value of lots of rehearsals until you do it. Once you've rehearsed 20-30 times, you'll be so conversational and authentic that you'll make them feel that they're sitting over dinner with a good friend.
Speaking opportunites occur in businesses every day. Be the one in your office to embrace them, create "WOW" and see your repute and regard grow.
Share your stories of creating "WOW" through our comment link.