April 27, 2024, it all changed.
I stepped on stage in a speaking contest.
For those who know me, you may be thinking, "I have seen this guy talk before." Indeed, I have always been drawn to the stage and a mic, but this was different.
Previously, getting on stage meant flexing a leadership muscle, and being a good speaker was a bonus. Being judged on my speaking skills was new. The content was secondary to delivery and structure.
The rules were simple: no slides, a maximum of seven minutes, and a rubber chicken clucking you off the stage. A panel of Hall of Fame speakers gave feedback on the spot in front of the audience.
Oof.
I was nervous and energized.
The event was terrific, and I felt like it went very well. See the 7-minute video here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHHVHTAq1Ew)
The experience sparked a desire to make speaking a more significant part of my business and life.
Because speaking or presenting creates anxiety for so many people, I wanted to share how I prepared and what I learned.
Preparation:
My process is both active and passive.
Topic and Driver:
The first step is deciding "why" and "what". It guides everything else you do. I like to write down the central idea and how I want the audience to feel at the end: motivated, energized, or empowered.
Remember, emotion, not logic, moves people to action.
Structure:
Next, flesh out the structure with a few bullet points - my favourite is:
Story/hook - what draws them in?
Agenda/Intro - show them the path, tell them who you are
2-3 points - this is the gold of your presentation
Questions - if there is a spot for questions, don't let it be the last thing
Call to Action - what do you want them to do now?
Visualization/Subconscious Work:
Preparation happens over several weeks leading up to the event. As I fall asleep in bed, I picture myself on stage, going through the opening story or hook. I let it run in my head without judgement or concern, trying different strategies. Your subconscious will grind overnight, learn to trust the power of passive thought.
Research:
I am not a science-forward person, but some of my audience will be.
I like to back my compelling arguments with facts that are independent of me. Insert a simple phrase like "Science says" or "As was published in <insert your favourite trade publication>." AI is beneficial, but fact-check the answers that AI provides.
Write out the key points:
I don't always write out the key points, but when trying to master new content, I need to handwrite the material. It is not a memorization strategy, but my best learning is through handwritten notes, not typing, and not bullet points.
In the end, everything is summarized by a bullet point or two. Writing it out is what allows me to crystallize my ideas.
Insert Stories/Humor:
Even if you don't think of yourself as "funny," find a way to insert humour and tell stories to back up your points. The audience should enjoy themselves.
Visuals:
I use vivid visuals and very little text on slides. It pleases the audience and does not tie me to a particular story. There is an art to great slides, and it is a great spot to get help if you need it.
Practice:
I recreate as much of the performance environment as I can.
What will I be wearing? Will I have slides on a big screen and a teleprompter, and is it timed? Get all the variables into your reps. Record yourself, or ask a friend or a loved one to watch and provide feedback.
The key to practicing is to get comfortable with the material. Practice starting in different spots and realize it will not be the same every time, which is OK.
What I Learned:
A few key things I learned both from the expert coaching of Camilla Burgess (https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-burgess/) and feedback at the event:
A Presentation is a Conversation:
The most pleasing engagement for the audience is an entertaining conversation. Think of your talk as a conversation, not a sermon or dissertation—unless it is a sermon or dissertation, in which case, do your thing!
Physical Alignment:
Aligning through the body gives the best voice resonance. I tend to be forward on my toes, and it thins out my voice. Weight back, shoulders, hips, and heels aligned and relaxed for deep, rich sounds.
The Audience is a Mirror:
Remember, the audience facing you experiences things the opposite way you do. So, if you want profits to go up and to the right, you must go up and to the left. Chronological time goes from left to right, so you must go right to left.
The Story/Hook Does Not Have to be Chronological:
Some of the best movies show the end at the beginning and leave you wondering what just happened; they then start the story from the start. Think about the opening in the same way. How can you get the audience hooked, intrigued and wanting to engage in the conversation with you?
"I" vs "You" Language:
Everyone's favourite story is about themselves. The more "you" language is used, the better the audience can see themselves in the story. At the beginning of my talk from above, I started with, "I was standing in a parking lot." Better would have been, "Have you ever been standing in a parking lot?"
Use Movement Intentionally:
Movement is critical; use it intentionally. I pace when I talk, which is distracting. In most TED talks, the person stands in the red circle and only moves to emphasize a point. Figure out where movement will help you emphasize the story.
Communicating clearly across several different medians is a superpower, and speaking is potentially one of the most powerful aspects of business leadership.
An Ask: please consider me as a keynote speaker at your conference, association, or business group or connect me with people in your network that may need help.
I focus on leadership, strategy and high performance in business.
Here is my speaker reel you can share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPTU72rMPs
If you need help, contact me @ philip@philipedgell.com
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