Seven Principles of Learning Another Way To Be – applied to speaking anxiety
Have you ever agreed to do a presentation and as the time got closer wonder what ever possessed you to say yes? Then you’ll benefit from the experience of Michael Hansen of Whidbey Island, Washington. Michael is the author of the award-winning parable Another Way to Be – The Path Within. While he had several successful book signings under his belt, the prospect of speaking to his own community created high apprehension. Here he applies the seven principles of learning from his book to delivering a masterful talk – and experiencing a great connection with his audience. As Another Way to Bereminds us, “The universe is not out to get us. It is trying to get us out – out of our limited thinking, our limited feeling, our limited believing. It is attempting to guide us back to the path of awareness, understanding, and knowledge.” Continue reading
Activism + Artistry: Speaking Out for Change
This month in Vancouver, 17 inspiring people attended my Speak Out! workshop to build their speaking skills to catalyze personal and planetary change. Ten ideas emerged to support you when you are faced with an audience whose worldview and values are markedly different from your own.
1. Recognize that if everyone is already on board with you, you are preaching to the choir. It’s uplifting to find audiences that respond, of course. But often your mission requires that you open up new avenues of understanding and potential support. The first step in change is beginning a conversation that introduces a new framework or language. Consider the changes in your own awareness over time and honor what it takes to move to a different point of view. Continue reading
Demo Video Tapes: Assuring Your Best Shot
Once you move into the world of paid/professional speaking, those who consider hiring you typically ask for a video demo to see you in action. A good demo tape will feature excerpts from several speeches to show your flexibility and range.
For that reason, even while getting started with your speaking, consider investing in a professional video recording whenever you have a good-sized audience. When you have that shining moment when the heavens open and the angels descend, you definitely want to capture it on camera!
As part of your pre-program planning, be sure the event organizer has approved the recording. And don’t forget that they may already have technical support on site and may be able to provide a video for a lower cost. Early on, I was able to trade what would have been an engagement that provided travel reimbursement only for a professional two-camera recording. Continue reading
Using Your Breath to Gain Focus & Calm Before Speaking
“Fear is merely excitement without the breath.” So stated the legendary psychiatrist Fritz Perls.
So when Sankara Saranam, founder of the Pranayama Institute, attended Real Speaking, I asked him to develop some breathing exercises for speakers. I tried his suggestions below and found them remarkable tools for becoming more present and focused.
Here are three simple yet highly effective methods to gain focus and utilize nervousness to one’s benefit before public speaking. These methods can also be used before meeting someone, to regain composure in a tense moment, or simply as a meditative exercise in the morning and evening by closing the eyes and directing the attention upward toward the brain, especially with every inhalation. Continue reading
Keynoting: An Art Form Unto Itself
Recently AOL ran a story about “The Top Ten Most Overpaid Jobs.” High on the list were “motivational speakers” with warmed-over messages. While that delivers a sting of truth in some cases, I believe speakers who build lasting careers really earn their fees and then some. Here’s why:
Speaking takes many forms. Some speakers are successful in intimate settings, other on large platforms. Few do both with equal ease. Shakespeare’s exhortation “to thy own self be true” is absolute wisdom in the case of where to invest your energy in building a speaking career. Continue reading
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