Before we go any further and talk about audience distractors (the verbal and non verbal things we do that are so lOUD they keep the audience from hearing our message.) I want to reiterate the importance of being you.
Often when I meet someone and the talk comes around to "what do you do?" and i tell them I'm a public speaking coach, They tell me about the great training they had and how they learned "how to use their hands". This comment always makes me shudder, but I've learned to do it internally with a smile plastered on my face so my no aquaintance has no idea what I'm really thinking. here's what I'm really thinking; DO YOU. As long as you're not repeating some wierd hand gesture that is really a release of nervous energy but truly aids you in speaking; DO IT. if on the other hand, you're someone who doesn't typically use your hands to speak, no biggie. Don't use 'em. Nothing bad is going to happen.
While we will absolutely go over some common audience distractors and how to avoid them, what we are talking about are nervous mannerisms or habits. These are the things we do subconsciously that have nothing to do with getting our message across;in fact, they impede our message. These kinds of behaviors must be stripped from our delivery so that we can be our most effective.
What I will NOT weigh in on, or advise about are ways to gesture. Each of us has an authentic way of using (or not using) our bodies to get our point across. Without getting all armchair psychologist on you, I believe it is critically important to be true to our own uniqueness in this regard. For me, or anyone, to suggest or enforce gestures on you would be detrimental to your effectiveness as a presenter. First, because they wouldn't be coming from you and would feel awkward at best and fake at worst. Second, unless you are an Oscar winning actor they will read inauthentic to the audience, and you know how damaging that is.
In fact, my goal with each of my students and clients, and my goal for you my reader, is for you to gain the faith and confidence to tap into your own uniqeness; your own "you ness", your
differentness" as my mother so beautifully put it, and allow that YOUness inform everything in your presentation, especially your delivery. It's the willingness and ability to connect with and display your SELF that allows your audience to connect with you. And for each of us the mannerisms associated with that delivery are unique and completely OK.
NOw that i've got that off my chest, let's look at the things we do and say that have nothing to do with our message, have nothing helpful to do with our delivery and in fact are just loud awful noise that prohibits us from being heard. (snuck that one in the back door, eh?)
(be quiet)
Often when I meet someone and the talk comes around to "what do you do?" and i tell them I'm a public speaking coach, They tell me about the great training they had and how they learned "how to use their hands". This comment always makes me shudder, but I've learned to do it internally with a smile plastered on my face so my no aquaintance has no idea what I'm really thinking. here's what I'm really thinking; DO YOU. As long as you're not repeating some wierd hand gesture that is really a release of nervous energy but truly aids you in speaking; DO IT. if on the other hand, you're someone who doesn't typically use your hands to speak, no biggie. Don't use 'em. Nothing bad is going to happen.
While we will absolutely go over some common audience distractors and how to avoid them, what we are talking about are nervous mannerisms or habits. These are the things we do subconsciously that have nothing to do with getting our message across;in fact, they impede our message. These kinds of behaviors must be stripped from our delivery so that we can be our most effective.
What I will NOT weigh in on, or advise about are ways to gesture. Each of us has an authentic way of using (or not using) our bodies to get our point across. Without getting all armchair psychologist on you, I believe it is critically important to be true to our own uniqueness in this regard. For me, or anyone, to suggest or enforce gestures on you would be detrimental to your effectiveness as a presenter. First, because they wouldn't be coming from you and would feel awkward at best and fake at worst. Second, unless you are an Oscar winning actor they will read inauthentic to the audience, and you know how damaging that is.
In fact, my goal with each of my students and clients, and my goal for you my reader, is for you to gain the faith and confidence to tap into your own uniqeness; your own "you ness", your
differentness" as my mother so beautifully put it, and allow that YOUness inform everything in your presentation, especially your delivery. It's the willingness and ability to connect with and display your SELF that allows your audience to connect with you. And for each of us the mannerisms associated with that delivery are unique and completely OK.
NOw that i've got that off my chest, let's look at the things we do and say that have nothing to do with our message, have nothing helpful to do with our delivery and in fact are just loud awful noise that prohibits us from being heard. (snuck that one in the back door, eh?)
(be quiet)
