Years ago, I ventured to Atlanta for a wonderful opportunity. I had the chance to speak to the entire team at Leadercast… a global enterprise designed around leadership, at the time run by renowned speaker Duane Cummings who connected with me here on LinkedIn. That alone shows you the power of this platform for each of us as we all try to learn from others and make connections along the way.
I shared my expertise in the areas of marketing communications and media relations. I talked about “Becoming an Influencer” and unlocking “A Brand New You” (something I have since trademarked as a part of my program lineup at Kann Advisory Group.
But opportunities like this are much more than just delivering your normal keynote or seminar for an audience. I’m always looking forward to meeting folks, connecting on their level and making an impact on their day. In other words, I don’t have to be there, I “get to be there.”
So how to do that? I always say, speaking opportunities are bigger than just the number of minutes on a stage, the chance to hold a microphone, or the material you pass along. To truly succeed, you need to connect. You need to “stand out when you stand up.”
Over the years, I have worked and coached many C-suite corporate executives, sales leaders and middle management folks who want to go next level. I’ve also spent time with athletes and coaches who have a platform and want to use it for the right reasons. One of the keys to impact is obviously being comfortable and polished in front of an audience. But it is far more than that. You must be authentic, real and transparent.
To do that, you need to have a compelling story to tell.
Information, data and PowerPoint isn’t going to send people out the door with a belief in you or what you do. You must give them reason to buy from you. And to do that, you need them to buy into you.
And that doesn’t just mean product. It could be your message. It could be your personality. Both are key elements. In my television career hosting for Golf Channel, it meant making golf crazed viewers feel comfortable watching and developing a trust in me as a presenter of the game we all loved.
So, I ask you this: What’s YOUR Story? Why should people pay attention to your information? Why should they buy from you? People don’t buy products just because. They buy from people they trust. Everyone who attends my Elevate group workshops or Brand New You one-on-one sessions, not only learns how to create the right speech or presentation, but more critical is learning the art of weaving in the personal story. Everyone has one. It’s what makes you real. It’s what connects you with your audience. I’ll force you to dig deep and discover what makes you who you are, how you got where you did and how that story can be an effective part of your presentation.
I’ll leave you with this….
People are – for the most part – uncomfortable talking about themselves and their own story because they don’t feel people care. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. As I’ve learned, a person’s journey is the best weapon they have in making the most of any opportunity to speak. So dig deep and learn to present the authentic you. Your audience will appreciate it more than you might think!
Remember This: Who’s listening to your speech or presentation? Only those you can make pay attention. Be a storyteller, not a slide presenter.
Want help telling your story? Explore A Brand New You—our coaching program designed to help you own the moment with confidence and clarity.