Personal Impact
Non-verbal communication such as unease, uncertainty or nervousness can convey negative signals to your audience. These subconsciously perceived weaknesses can capture the audience's attention so that what you are saying is lost.
Know exactly how you are going to start your presentation or conversation. Ensure that it's powerful and engaging and be aware of you body language.
Emotional Connection
If you aren't passionate about what your topic how can you expect any body else to be?
Engage people at an emotional level during a presentation or conversation. Tell personal stories, use metaphors and let people into your life's experiences. You will find that your audience will more easily join you in your pictures.
Right to Talk
What right do you have to talk about the subject you are talking to us about? Tell us your History and in doing so create authority?
As a child we were told not brag about our achievements. You then enter the world of work and what happens you are judged on your accomplishments.
When you identify your expertise and call on the 'hands on' elements of the matter being discussed you develop personal credibility and elicit an emotional response from those listening.
Facts
Once you have developed an emotional rapport, and a reason for them to trust and believe in you, then your presentation has to have defined facts and detail.
Don't talk in terms of hypothetical situations. Make it relevant to your 'audience', their businesses, their hopes and concerns. Understand what they want to know, not what you want to tell them.
Encapsulate
We live in a sound bite society.
"Just do it", "it's the real thing", "Am I bovvered?" We are programmed to expect information to be packaged in instantly memorable phrases. Encapsulate your message, the key elements of your presentation / conversation and translate them into succinct, influential language.
Credibility
Don't make claims that you can't substantiate. At a seminar recently a speaker used the following information.
"A first impression is based on 7% spoken words, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language."
The speaker was questioned about the provenance of the quote but did not know the originator. His credibility was immediately blown.
If you are going to use quotes make sure you know who said it and in what context.
The Company
Apart from your individual right to talk on a specific subject it is also important to establish the credentials of the company or companies that you are associated with.
Use testimonials from delighted customers and the value you bring to the company. Is is a universal truth that those we associate with can give us even greater standing and authority.
The key to your personal and financial success is in your ability to positively impact others
No comments:
Post a Comment