Some people think you have to be “born with” the skills and charisma that make a really great public speaker. Not true. Let me tell you the story of Henry.
I was invited to give a two-hour talk on presentation skills at a technical conference for a highly specialized professional association.
At the banquet the night before my presentation, I told the President of the association, Steve, that I wanted to line up a volunteer to coach during my talk. He asked what qualities I was looking for and I said, “Someone who really needs to improve in their presentation skills.”
Steve enthusiastically told me Henry would be perfect and I said, “Let’s go meet him.” Well, meet him I did. Henry hardly took his eyes off the floor while we were talking, and for the brief moments they did come off the floor, they went straight to the ceiling or the wall on our right. Turns out, Steve interpreted my request as, “Who is the absolute worst communicator in this group?”
Henry didn’t look like someone who liked to be told what to do. I told Henry, “You know, I’m going to be coaching you in front of 300 people.” He glared at me for a brief moment and said, “What does THAT mean?” I said, “I’m going to be telling you what to do and you’re going to have to do it. Are you okay with that?” He mulled it over a little (looking at the ceiling) and then said, “I guess that’s okay.” Neither one of us was sure that it was, but with these words we locked in our next day’s destiny.
After Henry left, Steve said, “I hope you’re going to coach him on looking at people!” And then laughed for 2 minutes straight.
I asked Steve, “What does the group think of Henry?” Steve said, “They love him, but everyone thinks he’s the worst communicator in the group” and started laughing again.
Turns out that Henry has been the worst communicator in the group for decades (he’s probably pushing 60). I said, “Steve, I not only have to teach him how to look 1 person in the eye, which he’s never done, he’s going to have to go from never looking 1 person in the eye to looking at 300 in one fell swoop!” Steve said, “I can’t wait.”
In the morning, Henry was surprisingly enthusiastic when I met with him before the talk. I told him that I was going to coach him and bring out his natural charisma. He said, “My what?” I explained and he seemed to like it.
As Steve introduced me, the group laughed like mad when they heard I picked Henry for my volunteer.
Before I started the actual coaching, Henry did a “before” presentation where he was looking off to the side and pretty much mumbling to himself. No one seemed surprised and we all applauded.
Then I started teaching Henry how to own the room. Simply looking at the whole room just about killed him. But, bless his heart, he did a great job of it. He really stepped up to the plate and, by George!, he GOT it! He owned the room.
I had him present again. Wow! He was so much better! I asked the group, “How many people saw a difference?” EVERY hand went up. I said, “Let’s give Henry some feedback” and Henry got more positive feedback in 3 minutes than he’s gotten in the last 3 years. He looked rather pleased.
Then I told him what he needed to do to REALLY connect with the audience and make each person feel like he was talking directly to them. He looked at me like he couldn’t believe I actually wanted him to do this. I coached. He did better. I coached some more. He somehow got it through his head that he wasn’t going to get off the stage until he did it. SUDDENLY WHAMO ZAMO ZAP! Henry was COMMUNICATING!!!!! All the way to the back of the room!!! And he was really CONNECTING with PEOPLE!!!!!
It’s no exaggeration to say Henry had charisma.
At two points during his talk, Henry was interrupted by spontaneous and enthusiastic applause while he was speaking. The audience was completely captivated, engaged, and loving him. No other conference speaker got as much applause!!!!! Not even the ones who were paid high fees!
No one wanted it to be over and Henry was MOBBED after his talk.
Afterward Henry came up to me and said, “I learned so much. I’m going to use what I learned for the rest of my life.” Well, you just had to hug him.
If there was ever a person who would have been voted “Least likely to succeed at public speaking” before this day, it would have been Henry.
When I say, “Everyone has this ability inside them,” I want you to know I mean everyone. This is why I love coaching people and helping them gain these skills. When you bring out the “star” in a person, it’s a glorious moment.
This is the reason I created the Transforming Your Presentation Skills Workshop. To help people experience the very same type of personal transformation that Henry did.
You are here to be a “star.” You just need some understanding, some practice and possibly a guide who knows exactly how to help you reach that goal. It is a goal well within your reach and completely worth the work it takes to get there.
Be the cause!