From the page to the stage - How to have a conversation with 200 people.
For many people, articulating their vision comes easily and discussing business amongst colleagues or writing out ideas with clarity is second nature. These private and interpersonal communication skills may be well honed, but delivering that message to a large crowd can be challenging, and, for many, the stage remains an elusive space that awakens anxieties.
CROWD PLEASING
In order to develop your performance skills, you and your communications coach will first examine your relationship with public speaking. Most of us start with early school performances or reading aloud in class, which can align the idea of public speaking with feelings of fear and discomfort.
During your sessions with a communications coach there will be a two-pronged approach focussed on unlearning unhelpful habits; sidelining those awkward associations, and developing new habits; building fresh associations of confidence and authority.
Whether preparing for a TED Talk or a company wide meeting, your communications coach will work with you to develop the skills needed to truly shine in the spotlight. With practical and interactive sessions, you can quickly acquire professional performance tools, enabling you to master the art of public speaking in a safe yet challenging environment.
LOSING THE FEAR
Your session(s) with a communications coach will provide you with the foundation to bring your message to life. Performance isn’t about creating a character on stage removed from who you are, it is about giving you the communications skills to amplify your best attributes. A strong performance is reliant on honing both your message and your role as the messenger. Together, we will craft your message into something you can be proud of, confident of the value you are delivering to the audience.
Assured of the content of your message, you can start developing the practical skills required to give your message the voice it deserves. Meeting you at your level, there are dozens of physical and intellectual techniques to be practised. Through a blend of storytelling traditions, effective body language, articulation, and powerful visualisation, you will not only learn to captivate your audience but also plant the seed of curiosity in their minds. Developing this element of intrigue will keep your message front of mind with your audience long after your presentation.
Developing these performance skills, you will find greater confidence in all aspects of communication. It is essential to broaden your communications toolkit so you have performance tricks to rely on in all circumstances. Reframing your mental approach to public speaking is just as important as finessing the practical steps needed to reach your audience.
Oftentimes performances and public appearances can go sideways, and more often when expectation contrasts with reality. Your communications coach will work with you to gain sharper self-orientation and help you define the parameters of success. Better understanding of your goals grants you more acute focus, which in turn will put you on the path to achieving them.
PUBLIC SPEAKING AND YOU
Broader understanding of your relationship to public speaking and pitching to an audience will create a roadmap to success; it is important to be honest with your communications about your experiences, positive and negative, to ensure your presentation toolkit is packed with all the essentials needed to step out on stage with confidence.
By honing their speech and clarifying your message, you will gain the confidence to leave a lasting impression, ensuring your words resonate long after the spotlight dims.
Key to success when performing to a large crowd is shifting your orientation to focus on the audience. By defining your message through the lens of their wants and needs, you can be assured that your message has value. Increasing your personal understanding of the weight of your presentation or pitch is an essential step in your communications journey. Confidence breeds confidence. If you are confident that your message deserves to be heard, you will find instant improvements in your confidence delivering that message.
Through sessions with your communications coach, you will focus on deconstructing your message to find the audience-centric version of your message. Using story-telling techniques, you can keep your message engaging throughout. Creating this sharper, audience focussed version of your message will allow you to have fun as you share your story with a crowd. Finding the joy in public speaking goes a long way to lifting your performance. Alongside the practical skills to heighten your stage presence (vocal coaching, developing your physicality), joy and enthusiasm are your best friends on stage. Audiences are incredibly perceptive and humans are drawn to enthusiasm. If you are excited to share your story. The audience will be excited to listen and join on your journey.
