June, 2009
Z one into your audience to connect with them even before you speak!
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Quote of the month: "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." –Buddha  |
Opening: Both a speaker and the audience share a degree of anxiety and apprehension at the beginning of a presentation. Would you choose to be stressed if you knew you had the option not to be?
Promise: By following the following environmental, physical, and mental preparation tips before your speech, you will ZONE into your audience easier allowing you to be more real, comfortable and connect with them more readily.
Roadmap: We will look at a few characteristics of being IN THE ZONE and how to get IN THE ZONE.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPEAKER BEING IN THE ZONE
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calm, centered, confident |
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focus with total concentration on the present |
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more real and authentic (speaking more from heart rather than head) |
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more passionate about content and desire to help others |
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grounded in reality of the moment, able to think on one's feet easily and be more spontaneous and creative with responses |
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playful and energetic |
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any other characteristics you can think of or experienced? |
HOW TO GET INTO THE ZONE (It requires total preparation).
BEFORE YOU SPEAK
Environment preparation:
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check out the room- seating arrangements – will all be able to see and hear you? |
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are there any barriers between you and the audience that you need to remove? |
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is the room temperature comfortable for the audience?
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are there too many chairs, which may leave the front rows empty? |
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have you established a friendly working relationship with the AV person? |
Physical preparation: |
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don't eat for an hour and a half before you speak |
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avoid ice cold drinks, caffeine. |
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keep throat moist with room temperature water |
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meet and greet your audience as they come in |
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use calming breathing exercises. |
Mental preparation (Your thoughts are very important): |
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minimize personal worries and as Darren LaCroix 1999 WCPS says: "Worry bigger for the audience. It's all about them, not you, the speaker." |
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think about the message with which the audience will leave - what do you want them to think or do differently after you're finished |
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visualize a great presentation |
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listen to an empowering song or one you just really like |
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remind yourself to have fun; if you need to, place a note in your pocket reminding you to do so.
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WHEN YOU'RE BEING INTRODUCED
Have you ever heard a speaker being introduced and you thought to yourself: “So what! Who cares? What’s in it for me? Unfortunately, many speakers write introductions that turn audiences off even BEFORE they step onto the platform and begin speaking.
Create a connection with your audiences and ZONE IN, even before you speak. If you haven't listened to 1999 WCPS Craig Valentine's 8 minute audio in a previous newsletter on Introductions, click on the link below. Discover how to bring your audience in and endear them to you before your speech.
http://members.instantaudio.com/postcard/?5045816X1413
Try to inject some humour into your introduction, as it helps you gage the audience's energy level and establish a connection with them. What methods will you use in order to get IN THE ZONE with your audience? The butterflies may still flutter but are now flying in formation when all the preparation is done.
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Dear friend and subscriber, This newsletter marks the end of the alphabet. I will be restarting the alphabet relating the letters to a specific speaking skill. PLEASE feel free to email me with any recommendations and requests. I'd be more than happy to explore, in more detail, a speaking topic that interests you. I am very open to any suggestion you may wish to make. Thanks Kathryn |
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Join us next month when we return to the letter "A" and examine Craig Valentine's 4 ways of anchoring a point in a speech. In the meantime: Happy Speaking. |
Kathryn@kathrynmackenzie.com
416.489.6603
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