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[audio:https://kendall.audioacrobat.com/download/27c12b0e-6b9b-2b1e-8239-bda6afadf3fc.mp3]I give a lot of live events each year, and I’ve learned there’s more to creating a stellar experience for people than just having great content.
Yes, you need to be sure you’re delivering everything your attendees expect, but there is also an unspoken agreement between you and your audience that you must fulfill. I call this your Spiritual Workshop Agreement.
At each event attendees ask me, “Kendall, how do you maintain your energy during your events?”
I have a few secrets I’ve developed over the years to help me stay focused, confident and connected to three areas: Spirit, my audience, and my content.
Here are 3 simple tips you can implement to help you deliver your presentation with confidence, any time, anywhere. You’re welcome to use these whether you’re speaking for 10 minutes in front of your local networking group or you’re presenting several days of content in front of your own workshop audience.
Tip #1 One Month Before: Connect To Your Content
Good content becomes great content when you feel emotionally connected to the information you’re delivering. This is the time to review your content to make sure every piece of it feels meaningful to you and you feel a strong, clear emotional resonance with it. Make any tweaks you need now, so your confidence is 100%.
Tip #2 One Week Before: Connect To Your “Energetic Presence”
This may sound a little woo-woo but I’ve discovered that as a presenter, there is a core, energetic quality people most appreciate about you. Get clear on what that quality is. Then, each day, practice generating that feeling within you. Think of radiating this energy as strongly as you possibly can. Practicing this ahead of time leaves no room for stage fright or performance worries. Your energy is what people will remember most about your presentation.
Tip #3 One Day Before: Connect With Your Attendees
While it’s unlikely you’ll get the chance to meet people ahead of time, these final hours before your event are the perfect time to imagine a room full of people who are happy and eager to hear what you have to say. Imagine them one by one and ask yourself what they may be struggling with the most, within your area of expertise. Continue your inner dialogue by imagining which portion of your content will help them solve their struggle. This type of energetic rehearsing will help you feel as if you know them even before you welcome them from the stage.
Speaking From The Stage Is An Opportunity To Lead With Your Presence As Well As With Your Content
When you take the stage, feeling confident, connected and in alignment with the value you bring to your audience, they will sit up and pay attention. So, lead as much with your heart as you do with your content and your audience will love you!