As an artist giving a public presentation such as public speaking engagement, I have been aware from the onset that it wouldn’t impress anyone if I had arrived on the stage looking slouchy. So rather than turning up in my paint-splattered overalls just to make a point, I do quite the opposite.
I once made a purchase of a very expensive suit approximately 10 years ago, after I had been asked to do a number of public speaking engagements. I saw that this was probably something that I would be doing more of it and it was something that I did want to do more of. I could see that most of the people in attendance to these lecturers were addressed well, if not impeccably.
This was one of the best purchases I could have made. I have met many distinguished and famous people at some of these occasions. I have shook hands with governors and senators and have never felt out of place and I feel that I also owe it to that attention to detail and amongst other things by buying that suit. I feel I present well at these engagements and in some sense it also helps me with my sense of confidence to be wearing good-quality good-looking apparel. I’d like to add though, I never wear ties.
Body language. ??There is a good book about this by Allan and Barbara Pearce called: “The definitive book on body language”. This is a good book to buy to really help you with this particular concept.??There is another book called: “Influence science and practice”. By Robert B Cialdini. Well worth reading as well.
The six influence pillars of speaking.??Social proof and scarcity are the most utilised.
One. Law of reciprocation. Giving – if I give you something it makes you feel special.
Two. Law of commitment and consistency. What will set you apart is if you say you will do something and follow it up.
Three. Law of social proof. Testimonials, video newspaper articles, magazine articles, letters, (preferably signed with photographs). Audios with photos are also good. Videos are the best. With social proof 70% video 20% audio 10% written is really the statistics you are looking for.
Four. The law of liking, smiling is an influence, also match the handshake, follow fractionally after. This is a really good thing to learn: just matching people’s handshake – not being overly strong, or weak with the way that you shake the hand, just match where they’re coming from. This is a really good tool.
Five. Law of authority credibility.
Write your own book. This is a really good thing to have as a backend sale to your lectures and in your public speaking. I guide you through all aspects of how to write and self-publish your own book in my seminars.
Six. Law of scarcity.
Seven. Engage your audience emotionally and intellectually.??* Logic doesn’t cause people to buy what you say, whatever shifts them is their emotions. Influence and persuasion is at work. Choose the right words.
Words trigger emotions – all industries have key trigger words whether they’re in their verbal’s or written text.
Building your killer presentation. There is a key factor at work here and that is unique to trigger your audience and emotionally. Let’s go through it step by step.
One. First thing is to secure the audience’s attention.
Use this following method as mentioned above. For example ask them how they are – twice. This puts you into control and it gets their attention.
Two. Credibility.
Three. Rapport. Commonality: making eye contact, share your humanness.
Four. Self-effacing, eat a bit of humble pie just to make contact: talk about some of the pitfalls you’ve had in your career.
Five. Target the audience problem. Find the pain, why are they there in the first place. What is it that they want to know?
Six. Suggest there is a solution. Give hope.
Seven. Set an expectation.
Eight. Revelation. Fact number one, fact number two, etc.
Nine. Provide social proof number one: for example, video testimonials.
Other tools of influence.
It’s very handy to have a toolbox at your disposal. As a public speaker one very good tool to having that box is the ability to use NLP.
A good resource book on this subject is called: “The unfair advantage – Sell with NLP”, by Duane Larkin.
Take some time to learn about the amazing skills of influence and persuasion. Also look at NLP techniques, these teach you the effective use of communication psychology. NLP is a pattern of speaking. There are no “ums” and few “buts”.
Justice O’Connor has produced two books called: “Introduction to NLP” and “Selling with NLP”. Also a good reference books on the subject. Human beings minds like to fill in the gaps.
Take this for example. Pick a number from 1 to 4. Most people will answer with the number three. We were influenced to choose three because we’ve already used one to and four. Consider that. Engage your audience emotionally and intellectually.
