Would you have ever seen yourself as a “Cliff Climber”?

 

Do you find that you are always looking to push the envelope?

 I actually have a bad habit about that. Always pushing, pushing, and pushing myself. Mentally, physically, emotionally & spiritually pushing!  

The decision is though, that to accomplish anything, it takes a lot of work and learning how to conquer what is intimidating you.

I believe that   intimidating is good…makes life worth living when you conquer your fears!

Recently several Stagers were discussing that they are afraid to speak publicly. Their “fear” is understood. Speaking to a crowd or small group is intimidating, even to seasoned veterans.

One of the best tools in marketing your business is good old fashioned FACE TIME. People will feel more comfortable hiring you if they have the opportunity to meet you. Trust is a key element in what we do. After-all you will be in their home.

 Most of us would never attempt Cliff Climbing without training. Why not educate yourself in the Art of speaking publicly. There are even Public Speaking networks on LinkedIn.

10 Tips From Un-Common Knowledge

The Self Confidence Trainer by Mark Tyrrell (the author of this article) and Roger Elliott

  1) Use eye contact with each member of the audience in turn.

  2) Remember that some people get nervous in audiences too. Put them at their ease.

  3) Use visual aids where useful. People like to look at things. Flip charts, overhead projectors and video can all be used to make the presentation more memorable. Too much detail or overly technical information might not be best presented in a visual way however. Keep visuals simple. If you don’t have the use of visuals remember that ‘words paint pictures in the mind’.

  4) Consider giving handouts to your audience members. It gives them something to take away and it might be a memory prompt for them when recalling your speech. They can also feel as if you have given them something ‘for free’ Too much written material may be off-putting however and you don’t want everyone reading during your presentation, so choose carefully when you give them out.

  5) Again, remember that the audience has a responsibility too!

  6) Don’t think How can I survive this?, think How can I do this brilliantly?

  7) Remember that, as with all things, you need to know where you’re going if you’re going to get there. Rather than I hope I don’t panic, work out how you would like things to be.

  Vary your voice tonality and speed during your presentation. Convey energy when you need to, and slow down to ‘draw them in close’ when it’s appropriate.

  9) Repeat the exercise earlier in this section until the thought of public speaking starts to actually let you relax. If you need more help with this see our Self Confidence Trainer. Remember the World needs good communication and if a natural born coward like me can do it you certainly can!

  10) Read a good book on excellent presenting. One I use personally is ‘Inspire any Audience’ by Tony Jeary. As I mentioned above, it makes for fun and compelling reading, is really well laid out and it motivates you to present excellently.

Final Tip: Public Speaking CAN be Fun!

It’s possible for public speaking to be fun and hugely satisfying. Once you’ve enjoyed a presentation, or even part of it, your self confidence will get a huge boost and you’ll be off and running! Give yourself the best chance by using the exercises and tips on this page. Good luck!

Our local community college also has courses in Speaking Publicly.

 A great group to become a member of is Toast Masters. I’m certain that there are webinars out there that can help you. Talking to people about what you know and having a passion for the subject is the key. People are thirsty for knowledge.

 Most of the things we have to conquer also propel us forward. Just by getting up today and turning off the alarm was a battle won. That warm intimidating bed was beaten today!