The irony of me teaching Business Communication is that I’m not a great communicator. I’ve just gotten good at being honest with myself, and finding that that alone can be the hardest part for anyone. In order to grow, we must face the real challenges that affect us and learn to play with them. So, in the first session of class, I ask students, “How do you want to grow through this course?” Students, who are adult professionals, often respond with wanting to improve in public speaking.
Part of the challenge of public speaking is being prepared and knowing the subject matter, the other part is being present and connected with the audience – in the moment vs. stuck to a predefined structure. Preparation must be met with presence and adaptation.
Preparation must be met with presence and adaptation.
The audience is your muse so listening to them plays a key role in influencing the ever-changing dynamics of their mood. Here are some lessons I’ve learned on becoming more attuned with the message through the audience:
1. Be a human: Don’t be just a transmitter of information, be a human with a purpose – a voice. As an audience member, more than anything, I want to hear the depth and realness in your voice.
2. Be curious: Decide what you are going to be curious about and what you want to learn from the opportunity. This helps to channel any lingering anxiety toward adding value as a presenter.
3. Focus on a central thought: We live in a noisy world where people are glued to technology and easily distracted by their own personal identities. How can you grab their attention for a sufficient period of time? This is an advice I’ve learned from every speech coach I’ve come across: Focus on a central idea that has an emotional core you can connect with. For example, one of the main ideas I present in my leadership and communication courses is “have a clear purpose,” and I share success stories from Instagram, Apple, and Zappos to reinforce what I mean by purpose.
4. Don’t prove how smart you are: It’s not about you, it’s about purpose, truth, and humility. Express the authentic qualities that are discoverable only within you. That’s what makes you different and memorable.
5. Practice a mindful pause: As excited we might be to share our message with the world, know that the substance will continually reveal and regenerate itself in fresh ways, if it’s worthwhile message at least. The ability to pause allows us to guide the message with care, as it is most appropriate in the moment. A mindful and deliberate pause, in considered moments, signals your subconscious and the audience that you are in command and receptive. Which leads to the next point.
6. Feel and observe: Good presenters can feel and observe their audience to speak to their particular challenges and desires. One of the simplest and most powerful advice I have received in my growth was from a friend who said, “Learn to feel.” It’s the single most important gift as a presenter or an artist. After all, all we are doing is communicating a raw feeling. How you do that is the creative process. Why you do it is a matter of having a clear purpose.