|
Great news!
You don't have to develop an engaging speaking style.
You already have an engaging style. By engaging,
we
mean you have a style that can grab listeners, connect with
them, and make them like you.
We call
that style "Maximum Jack", or "Maximum Sara", or "Maximum
[insert your first name]". Maximum You is You When You're At
Your Most Engaging.
Maximum You
is:
·
That smile
that made your wife fall in love with you.
·
That eye
contact that you give your best girl friend when she is
opening her heart to you.
·
That
confident relaxed body posture that you have when you're
toasting your favorite football team at the local bar.
·
That
energetic voice you have when you are excitedly telling your
wife about that crazy thing that your boss did at work today.
Remember
How Michelangelo Found the David
Someone once
asked Michelangelo how he sculpted from a block of marble
something so beautiful as his famous David. He responded that
it was simple. He said he merely looked at the marble, saw
the David, and carved away everything that wasn't the figure.
To develop
your style you need to see your Maximum You and tear away
everything that is not that person. Find Maximum You and bring him or her to the presentation.
Four Steps
To Find Maximum You
If you don’t
know how to find Maximum You, here’s how.
Step
One: Imagine anything you're passionate about.
Cooking? Fishing? Gardening? Your child's basketball games?
Step
Two: Replay in your mind a scene from when you are
discussing that passion at your highest natural level of
animation.
Step
Three: Fix that scene in your mind as a tape that you can
reply at will.
Step Four: Take that tape
and place an imaginary label on it. The label should
read "Maximum [insert your name]".
How
We Found Maximum Gary
We had in
our workshop a young executive at an internet company named
Gary.
Gary had a wonderful gregarious personality. He was the classic
example of a person who could get along with everyone. Big
smile. Twinkle in his eye. Always glad to see you.
But when he
stood to speak, he became "Moderate Gary." It was like he had
suddenly placed a heavy weight belt on his personality. His
voice became monotone. His smile was gone. It was like he
was trying to fit an image of a typical corporate presenter.
His presentation style was boring.
In private, Gary and had the following conversation with one
of our coaches.
"Tell me something that you're passionate about,"
our coach said.
"Fly fishing," he said without batting an eye.
"And tell me about the best day you ever had fly fishing."
He instantly
drew a very detailed picture of himself in hip-waders standing
out in the middle of a
Montana
stream, fly-casting for trout as the sun was coming up over
the horizon. Suddenly the twinkle had returned to his eye.
His voice carried a level of drama and excitement that I could
feel and made me want to go fishing.
"That's it, Gary," our coach said, interrupting him.
"That's what?"
"That's how
you need to be when you present. Fix in your brain right now
a picture of how you are when you're talking about
fly fishing Make sure you remember how you feel and how it
feels to talk the way you're talking right now. And talk
about your work the same way."
He smiled because he instantly got it. Maximum Gary was Gary when he was talking about fly fishing. That was Gary at his most engaging.
Speechworks
can help you find “Maximum You?” Call us at 404-266-0888. Or
check out our website at
www.speechworks.net. |
