The good news: You have a message!!

The bad news: You are scared to death to share it!

Does that describe you? Perhaps it is your elevator pitch. Maybe a room full of potential

customers. Or that dreaded one-on-one you set up at the networking lunch.

You have the message. You have the opportunity to speak. Yikes!

Many people list the fear of public speaking as their number 1 fear, generally above the fear of

dying. But it doesn’t have to be. Speaking is as natural as breathing, yet there are times for

each of us when we freeze up, stutter and stammer, sweat like we are running a 5k. This can

cripple an entrepreneur who needs to make the best impression the first time, every time. We

have to deliver, not only with our products and services, but also with our voice.

Here are a couple of tips from Dave Papenmeier and Jennifer Hanks, a couple of people who

have “been there, done that” as public speakers. Both of us have won multiple speech contests,

we are members of the Toastmasters District 25 Speakers Bureau and we facilitate a public speaking

class. We help people share their message to their tribe.

First, know both your message and your audience. What specific parts of your message will

connect best with this particular audience? If it is your elevator speech, what is one thing that

will make you memorable to the people in front of you? Sometimes that is a catchy phrase, a

rhyming jingle or powerful statement that whets their appetite to hear more from you. If you are

doing a presentation to a group of people, how can you grab their attention, clearly articulate

your message, give a compelling call to action, and still stay within the time you have been

allotted while allowing time for questions?

One of the biggest mistakes speakers make is trying to cram everything they want to say into

their presentation regardless of the time. This causes rambling speeches, disengaged

audiences, and no meaningful connections. You don’t want that and neither do we! The best

speeches are remembered because they connected with the audience. Abrahma Lincoln’s

Gettysburg Address was not the featured speech that day but it is the one that remains with us

because it was clear, powerful, and connected with the audience in minutes. The 45 minute

“keynote” is now a footnote in history. Make sure you know your message and tailor it to your

audience.

The second tip is to know yourself. Connecting with and knowing your audience does not mean

that you have to alter who you are. Be authentic and show your heart. While some may tell you

to keep your heart out of your business, the reality is that your heart is even important in a

business context. It is best understood by the quote from President Theodore Roosevelt: “No

one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” You don't need to speak

perfectly or present everything just right to catch the attention of those that are meant to hear

your message. There are things that make you unique. Embrace those things and find a style

that feels right for you. We can help!

These tips will help speakers at any level be able to improve their ability to share their message

with their audience in a way that not only inspires and energizes them, but also drives them to

action! You are invited to join us for our next Discover Your Voice public speaking class to learn

even more tips and find ways to grow your business with your message. We want to encourage

you to use the Learn, Connect, Share networking group as a catalyst to grow your business. By

supporting the people in the room at LCS, you will find that you are supported as well.

[https://www.d25toastmasters.org/speakers-bureau/]
[https://www.yournextperfectstep.com/discoveryourvoice/].