Every Presentation You Hear Makes You an Even Better Speaker
If you had to guess how many presenters you have heard speak, how many would you say? Have you heard hundreds? Maybe even thousands?
Depending on how many meetings you have attended, you may have even heard tens of thousands of people speak on business, policy, religion, education, etc.
Of all of those speakers, how much of what they said was memorable? Chances are not too much. They spoke, and you heard them, but their message went in one ear and out the other.
I challenge you to start studying every speaker and presenter you hear!
It’s time for you to become a “speaker critiquer” and deem whether or not each person you are listening to is good or bad, and determine why you feel that way. You’ll find you become extremely decisive about what you like and don’t like as an audience member, and you can use these experiences to shape how you speak in front of an audience. The best part is that being a “speaker critiquer” is free and invaluable for you!
Each speaker can teach you two things:
What to Do
Enjoying someone you are listening to? Think about how they connect with you and why they are so likable. Are they sincere and credible? Do they communicate their ideas in a clear way that makes it impossible to be misunderstood?
How did they do this? Use their strategies and techniques in front of your audiences. You don’t have to mimic a style to learn from it. Make it your own version and watch how this will improve your speaking dramatically!
2. What Not to Do
Avoid tuning out when speakers are terrible. Instead, study them and identify what makes them come across so poorly. What are they saying that is turning you off? Are they self promoting or coming across as dishonest? Do you feel like they’re talking down to you or are unprepared?
Reflect on how they are evoking these feelings from you, so you can avoid these feelings with your listeners.
After you’ve heard a presentation, think about how you might have improved it because regardless of whether or not you liked it, there is always room for improvement. Maybe you would add humor or pair your presentation with a handout to improve engagement.
You want to look inward and be critical of your own work. Is there something you noticed in another speaker that you may not have loved, and you happen to do that in your own speaking without understanding how it impacts your audience negatively? Maybe! Now is the time to change it.
Each presenter you hear can be a mentor if you choose to think of them in that way. The next time you’re part of an audience, make sure that you’re listening and learning from the person speaking to you, whether you’re learning what to do in your own work, or what not to do.
Make it a great day!
