Powerful, Confident Speaking with Gerard le Roux

Powerful, Confident Speaking with Gerard le Roux Coaching business leaders and professionals to advance above their peers through powerful, confident

👉 DON'T FORGET THIS IN YOUR NEXT TALK: Here's something I noticed recently with a few speakers. Although they were very ...
26/08/2021

👉 DON'T FORGET THIS IN YOUR NEXT TALK: Here's something I noticed recently with a few speakers. Although they were very experienced, and well prepared, the expression on their face was so dire! They looked so nervous and stressed, it was really off-putting!

➤ Now, why was it like that? Perhaps because it was given 1) for a large audience - always more pressure - you don't know who's in the audience, usually it's pretty intimidating; and in addition to the event being very big and important,

2) they were alone in their 'studio', with no-one really there (due to Covid, of course)! So it probably felt strange (although they should have been used to it - perhaps they underestimated how comfortable they were with the digital/online format!)

➤ Lesson? Practice ahead of time. Get that smile on. I'm not one to smile a lot and I feel really stupid and fake when I do it! But it has to be done. It relaxes you. It makes your audience warm to you. It makes you look (and feel) more confident.

👉 TOUCHY SUBJECT - what do you look like? We like to think we live in an equal society. No prejudice. But under all the ...
25/08/2021

👉 TOUCHY SUBJECT - what do you look like? We like to think we live in an equal society. No prejudice. But under all the laws and politically correct policies are... humans. And with humans come all kinds of beautiful... and ugly... things.

Here's an example.

➤ Take someone who's in their 60's. They may have a lot to offer. Wisdom. Business experience. The ability to help a business get on their feet, be sustainable and competitive.

But when our 60 year old presents themselves like they did in the 80s... what will the younger people conclude? They'll be wondering: is this person fit in? are they be up-to-date? will they get along with the team? will they embrace new technology? will their ideas really be fresh?

And another example.

➤ Same for younger people. What's on your social media? What does it say about you? Do you look like someone who has the discipline, professionalism, and standards?

In a speech, talk or presentation... your audience makes up their mind about you in a snap. If you - or your background - looks in disarray, or 'left behind' - you'd BETTER have something pretty astonishing and remarkable to say IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise you'll lose your audience rapidly.

You don't want the focus of the audience to be you and your personal appearance or lack thereof! You want it to be your message. Present an image that supports you. Not one that detracts.

Sometimes we have to do some work on this. Feels inauthentic perhaps. But it's a human thing. Judging what we're looking at, making a snap decision, assessing something based on appearance - these are pretty natural - and useful - things to do.

Argue all you like. But. Getting a makeover. Upping your image. Often these are good ideas.

👉 LACKING A LITTLE CONFIDENCE? I've just read an article about how to feel more confident. Perhaps for a talk, speech or...
23/08/2021

👉 LACKING A LITTLE CONFIDENCE? I've just read an article about how to feel more confident. Perhaps for a talk, speech or presentation, or a job interview. Pretty important to feel bright, positive, enthusiastic, and reasonably self-assured (not arrogant). Right?

The first 'tip' was to hold a "power pose" for 2 minutes. Oh, please. Maybe it'll work. But I'll never do it. I'd feel too stupid. That's just me. This tip is probably better than I give it credit for. Anyway...

Here's just one idea I have for feeling more confident:

➤ Spend 5 minutes remembering some past successes. Picture those times. Remember the feelings. Feel a sense of gratitude that you were able to do the thing you did.

➤ Think of the reasons why you have arrived at this opportunity (you've been invited to speak, or for an interview due to some sort of record of success, right?)

➤ Remember with gratitude the people along the way who gave you a chance, or helped inspire you (this keeps you humble, a very attractive quality).

This kind of exercise really helps your mindset. And your attitude. It gives you a sense of quiet confidence. It can take you from doubt to putting you back in touch with the "you" that has done good work, is respected, and is worthy of good things.

👉 DO YOU HAVE A TALK / PRESENTATION - here's a simple speaking idea: begin with a bang. At the very least.Just yesterday...
21/08/2021

👉 DO YOU HAVE A TALK / PRESENTATION - here's a simple speaking idea: begin with a bang. At the very least.

Just yesterday I watched someone give a talk at Google HQ. Great topic. But the start was bad. And as a result, to me, the whole talk fell flat. One simple change would have made the difference.

What the speaker in my example did, was this (after an effusive welcome and introduction) - these are his actual words:

➤"Is this the clicker?"
➤ "How are you all doing?"
➤ "So this is my first talk for the book, so I hope you don't mind me using you as a test audience."
➤"Ur, umm, well, um... when I started out with this book... oh, look, there's a monitor on the ceiling, that's cool... as I was meditating on the book"

The talk could still have been great. But often we (me and you) are not high-profile bestseller book writers with an eager audience. Often we have to get our message across short and sharp. And our intro often will determine how much our audience stays with us.

➤ Does it capture audience attention? Does it intrigue them? Does it talk to their needs? Does it get their mind involved?

👉 A SHOCKING STORY. No, I don't have one for you, but I do recommend it. For what? As a way to start your next talk.I ha...
20/08/2021

👉 A SHOCKING STORY. No, I don't have one for you, but I do recommend it. For what? As a way to start your next talk.

I have a short talk tonight on the topic of controlling one's temper. I'm starting with a story. Actually, I'm starting with the most shocking part of the story. Here it is: "I ran home, took an axe, and began to smash the windows of my house". (Not my story, someone elses!)

Instead of saying, "can everyone hear me?" or "my name is", or "um, uh, well, thank you for listening to me". Rather, I'll start with the drama, intrigue of the story. The audience will want to hear more.

How could you do the same in your next talk?

➤ Is it a business presentation? Can you use a shocking story of a competitor who's gone out of business? Or a story of a failed initiative? Or of a shockingly successful project? Or a shocking statistic. Can you use these as warnings or wake up calls?

➤ In a job interview? When asked, "So, tell us about yourself?" can you start by saying something unexpected? Like this perhaps: "In my last job, I took an axe to supply chain costs. During my first 3 months we negotiated better terms, and saved 11% annually."

Getting off to an attention getting start is always a great idea. In trying to help my clients give better talks, this is one easy way.

👉 HOW TO RADIATE CONFIDENCE. If you search this topic, you'll find some good advice. But a lot of it - not all - is pret...
20/08/2021

👉 HOW TO RADIATE CONFIDENCE. If you search this topic, you'll find some good advice. But a lot of it - not all - is pretty superficial. "I'm worthy" "I deserve it" are some of the mantras. Breathing. Posture. Pearly white teeth. Okay. That's all good when preparing to speak, give a talk or presentation.

But is there enough focus on the following?...

â–¹Do good work.
â–¹Read books that make you think.
â–¹Track your progress day by day, journal it.
â–¹Set ambitious goals and work towards them.
â–¹Watch less TV, fewer tik-toks and reels.
â–¹Volunteer in the community regularly.
â–¹Do that thing at work no-one wants to do.
â–¹Paint the house.
â–¹Write a short book.
â–¹Start a blog about a topic or something you love.
â–¹Start a YouTube channel. Interview successful people in your circle.
â–¹Start a gratitude journal.

These things build confidence from within. Your hair could look amazing! Your teeth shiny white. But what's inside will eventually show on the outside. So take a long term view instead of just a short-term and superficial one. Build yourself up!

Address

2278 Essenhout Avenue
Grabouw

Telephone

+27837445454

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Powerful, Confident Speaking with Gerard le Roux posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Powerful, Confident Speaking with Gerard le Roux:

Shortcuts

Share

Category