Adele carried an armful of Grammy awards late Sunday night, but her stage fright will go on….. unless she decides to change it. It’s always been amazing to me that even the most famous people, doing what they do best, can suffer from debilitating stage fright: Barbara Streisand, Johnny Carson, Carol King (just to name a few). It has even shortened many careers. Adele’s stage fright has been labeled as “crippling”. That’s no fun, so I’m offering some advice – which also applies to speakers and presenters.

When asked on the 60 Minutes news show why she was so scared, Adele replied that she didn’t think she was good enough and that she did not want to disappoint the audience. As I said, she needs to decide to change her thoughts. Instead of concentrating on her own feelings and worrying about the audience, she needs to flip the record over and concentrate on those Grammys she received for being so outstanding and visualize the longest standing ovation I’ve ever seen on the show. In order for this change of emotions, she needs to visualize the ovation and rehearse positive affirmations daily. An example would be: “This is really fun. I love watching the audience enjoy my music. I’m really good at this.” I give the same advice to the presenters coming through the SpeakersTrainingCamp. In order to really change your thoughts and emotions, practice the positive side of the record.

How often does someone need to rehearse the positive? Several times daily, both words and visualizations, for at least 21 days in a row. Every time that negative thought creeps into your head, flip the record over and concentrate on the positive. Many people have to work on this for the long-term, but the payoff is huge.

The SpeakersTrainingCamp® is the fastest and easiest way to improve your presentation skills

Here are just a few reasons why people have named the SpeakersTrainingCamp® as the fastest and easiest way to become a fantastic and fearless presenter:

1. Learn to prepare a presentation in 5 minutes or less
2. Become twice as energized and dynamic
3. Discover how to rivet your audience (no more snooze button)
4. Cut those nerves in half
5. Have a great time learning, trying, and improving

2012 sessions will be held:

March 20-21 Portland, OR/Columbia Gorge
July 22-23 Washington, DC
October 9-10 Portland, OR/Columbia Gorge

Click here for more information and registration

The SpeakersTrainingCamp® is also available on-site.

Yikes! I had to consciously restrain myself from shouting “Ditch that script, and get real”. If he intended to read word for word in front of his audience, he was headed straight to presentation hell. His audience would moan and groan and writhe in agony. Instead, he should use his slides to suggest conversation. He knows his stuff, so just talk it. If I were to join him at his table, I’m sure he could tell me all about the details of his topic, using the slides as triggers.

The main point is – use your notes or your slides as conversation triggers only. Do not read! And when you are at Chicago’s Midway airport – try the great burgers and enjoy the baseball memorabilia on the walls. I’m sure Harry Carey never read from a script while he was singing “Take Me out to the Ball Game”.

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I’m often asked who some of my favorite presenters are. Steve Jobs is always one that I mention. Here’s why:
1. Always conversational

2. He took 100% of his personality into each and every presentation. Steve, the presenter, was the same Steve you would meet on the street.

3.His PowerPoint slides were incredibly vivid and simple

4.He usually had some sort of creative surprise for the audience: pulling a floppy disk out of his pocket as though he were a magician, sitting on a living room chair as he was demonstrating the iPad…..

5.He cared – through his voice and through his expression, there was no doubt in your mind that he really cared about the products, the message. He was authentic. He had charisma.

6.He spoke in everyday language. He left the techno-babble behind.

7.He dressed in a way that reflected his style: simple and different.

8.He was always well-organized and often used a numbered list for his organization. I am a great fan of lists.

9.Steve used the stage freely – took up space and addressed all sections of his audience.

10.He always exuded pride in his products and his company. His vocal inflection and facial expression gave us a clear picture of his feelings.

Steve was one of the very best role models for business presenters. He was an iPresenter. Just like his iproducts. He was one of a kind.

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Not just any story – what makes a really really great story? Here are the critical elements:
1. Use material that speaks to you. Almost any area of your life can be a source for a story – a trip, an adventure, a family gathering, a success, a failure, etc.The important thing is that it should ignite emotion within. You have to “feel” the story in order to tell it well.

2. Set the scene.Describe the details in three dimensions: help your audience to see the story as though it’s happening right now, help them to experience the story through descriptive words, and help your listeners to experience some type of impact as a result of listening to the story.

3. The story should end with a clear and relatable message.

A few years ago I listened to a professional storyteller tell the tale of how the rabbit lost its tail. He was talking to a group of about 35 children all seated on the grass in a park setting. They were mesmerized for the entire 45-minute story as he painted verbal pictures and skillfully crafted his vocal inflection to match the feeling of each word. Wow! They were spellbound. Afterward, I asked him what his secret was to capturing that attention and how could he remember all the vivid details of such a long story. He said that his method is very simple. As he is learning a story, he imagines that there is film rolling in his stomach as he remembers every vivid detail. Then he imagines that he rewinds the film. He said that the story is then “in the vault” for later storytelling, and he just rolls the film when it’s time to tell the story again. He lets his words match the feeling.

The next time you want to tell a story, paint the pictures, convey feelings with your vocal inflection, and relate the message to your audience.

Does everyone want a Bulldog?

I am very excited today, because I have just finished an enormous project. I’ve just shipped (well-emailed) my popular Sales Presentations Training Camp to Ireland. Soon it will become available to the other Certified Instructors in the US and around the World. I really enjoyed plunging into the depths of sales and researching the question,”why do people buy?”.

There is one secret that pops out – people buy for their reasons, not yours. So the key is to ask the #1 question: “What are your top-two priorities for choosing this product/service?” Then, in an interactive discussion, address those top-two priorities. Sounds simple, and it is.

Think about why you bought your last car. Was it because it was sporty? Fast? Great reputation? Big enough for your family of 5? Safety record? Ideal for hauling the boat? These are all very distinctive reasons. As a great salesperson, you need to unlock the buyer’s top-two priorities. My top two priorities in buying my last car were: a car dealership with a service center no more than 20 miles from my home (I live in a rural area), and a car that would be big enough for my 2 dogs and agility gear for competitions. The salesperson that keyed in on my needs received my business.

Does everyone want a Bulldog? Thinking that someone might want your product or service could be that farfetched…until you ask that person the magic question: What are your top-two priorities?

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1. Practice going from a low level of energy to a high level. Think of something that you do not like (maybe you don’t like cats), and practice speaking about that topic in a very flat, soft, uninteresting voice. Then think of something that you are wild about (maybe a certain sports car). Speak about it in a very loud, energetic voice with lots of inflection and expression. Now go back to the cats…. then to the sports car…. then back to the cats. What you will be experiencing is a “texture” change in your message.

2. Find a sentence in a magazine, and read it with 5 different emotions: excited, bored, scared, tired, questioning. Those emotions should bring out a great vocal range.

3. Use the elements of voice change to let the audience know that you really care about the topic. Your voice has is like a radio with lots of buttons: you can change the volume, the speed, the pause button, and the frequency (high pitch, low pitch).

Release those vocal qualities. Remember that variety is key. Unleash your voice for a more memorable message.

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It was very hard to say good-bye to Lorenzo – he made us feel like family. Venice is one-of-a-kind, and so is Lorenzo. His reviews on Trip Advisor highly recommend his establishment, and each one tries to explain why he is so special.

Just like any business, it’s not just about the product or service, but it’s the exceptional people behind them that create the wonder. We all need to become “Lorenzos” in our own industries. What are you doing today to create that memorable impression?

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