Imagine you’re a few weeks away from speaking at a symposium you were invited to.
Just about everything is in your favor—the venue is great, the audience you’re speaking to is invested in the topics that will be talked about, and more importantly, you know a lot about the subject matter.
The problem?
You’re not that enthusiastic talking about the topic in front of an audience.
That said, does this mean you should still push through with your talk or should you back out entirely?
The answer isn’t so simple… and that’s why for today’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants,” we’ll dive deeply into this to help you out!
Passion Fuels Authenticity and Authenticity Engages Audiences
Just because you’re knowledgeable about something, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically excited to talk about it.
According to Dale Carnegie, author of the book, “The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking,” not every topic a person has “earned the right to talk about” makes him or her excited about it.
The importance of enthusiasm in public speaking cannot be stated enough.
You see, when standing in front of an audience, one of the most important things you need to possess as a speaker is passion.
This is because when you’re passionate about a topic, you’re much more likely to exhibit authenticity—a quality that captivates audiences.
Also, passion permeates every aspect of your presentation.
When you’re truly enthusiastic about a subject, your voice, body language, and expressions naturally align with the emotions you feel.
So, the more passionate you are, the more likely your audience will listen to you.
Are You Excited About Your Subject?
Let’s assume you’re knowledgeable about a variety of subjects. That said, how can you determine if you’re passionate talking about it in front of an audience?
Carnegie has an answer:
“If someone stood up and directly opposed your point of view, would you be impelled to speak with conviction and earnestness in defense of your position?”
If your answer to that question is yes, then you’ve found the right topic to talk about!
However, what if you’re not enthusiastic? What should you do?
Should you just forgo your talk altogether?
Well, you don’t have to!
You see, not every speaking engagement will be about a topic you’re naturally excited about.
Sure, you can be knowledgeable about it, but there’s always a chance that you’re not passionate talking about it in front of an audience.
While that may seem like bad news, that doesn’t automatically mean you can’t deliver a compelling talk to your audience.
Should you find yourself in that situation, here’s what you can do:
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Look for an aspect of the topic that’s exciting to you.
Even if a subject isn’t particularly exciting for you, you can always look for an angle that resonates with you.
Ask yourself if a particular aspect relates to your experience, values, or beliefs.
… or find an angle that connects with something you’re passionate about. The possibilities are endless when you look within.
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Focus on the Value Proposition.
Set your lack of passion aside for a moment and think about the topic’s utility to your audience.
If the subject is something that will benefit many, then you should focus on that utility.
One of the best ways to reframe your mindset about a topic you’re not excited about is to focus on the value you can deliver to your listeners.
It’s much easier to do something when you know you’re helping other people.
Also, by knowing that others will benefit from your knowledge, you’re much more likely to set aside the fact that you’re not excited about a particular topic in the first place.
See?
Just because you’re not excited about a subject, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t make a compelling talk out of it.
Should you encounter this problem, don’t fret!
The insights we shared with you will help you craft a compelling presentation.
All you need to do is to reframe how you’re going to approach the subject you’ll speak about… and once that happens, you’re well on your way to crafting a killer talk!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Thursdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person…
… a boardroom with five people…
… or a huge venue with hundreds of people…
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Thursday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to communicate and present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you find this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Thursday’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!”
Cheers,
Henry Desai
Managing Director
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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