3 Things You Can Do Immediately To Gain More Presence, Credibility and Connection As A Speaker
Are you ready to take up more space?
As I was working with one of my VIP speaking clients today, one of the things that came up was the topic of taking up space.
What does that even mean?
It means owning your power, owning your voice, not being afraid to speak your mind, having your ideas heard and to speak with clarity, conviction, and presence.
My client is already a successful executive. To others she is confident, well-spoken, and is comfortable speaking. But next year she doesn’t just want to be comfortable. She will be speaking at several large events and wants to really step into her leadership for herself and her company.
While we were working on her messaging to really connect with her audience and declare her YOU, Amplified! Persona (how she wants to be seen and show up in the world), we uncovered a deeper inner barrier. The fear of taking up space and shining too bright.
And I know she is not alone. Even if you seem confident and successful to others, each time you up level, play bigger or evolve, your deeper fears may show up consciously and sub-consciously. Even I still struggle with this at times.
That’s why I believe when it comes to communication training, it’s not just about preparing for one speech, or media appearance. As you step into your leadership it’s about embodying you and your message on stage, in the boardroom, on-camera and off. That’s why with YOU, Amplified!® we focus on both the inner and outer work to create lasting transformation.
While we dive into the inner blocks, there are still things you can do to show up with more presence, credibility and connection immediately.
Here are 3 specific physical things to do:
- LAND YOUR ENTRANCE-When you walk into a room or on stage plant yourself first, front and center. Stand with presence and confidence before you speak. Don’t rush it. Own the room. Own your space. Shoulder back, head high. Take up space. Connect with the audience. Then speak.
- STAY GROUNDED-Once you start speaking be conscious of your movement when standing. Don’t sway back and forth. Stay centered. Keep your feet hip distance apart so you can stay balanced. You can move around the room, but with purpose. Don’t constantly be moving around the stage or pace nervously.
- PAUSING IS POWERFUL– Use your periods and commas. You don’t have to speed through and rush your words. Don’t be afraid of silence. It seems longer than it is. Give your audience time to reflect and absorb the information. A pause is not blank, it can be used to create an emotional connection with the audience. It allows them to stay engaged and follow along. A pause can be natural ( 1/2 second -1 second ) pause to help sound more clear to longer pauses for dramatic effect to emphasize a point.
The most important thing to remember is your energy. Your energy walks into the room before you do and sets the tone of everything. How do you want to feel and how do you want the audience to feel when you speak and when they leave. FEELING this is step 6 of the 7 Step YOU, Amplified® Performance Formula. If you would the other steps click here for Free Access.
It’s time for all us to take up more space and shine bright! The world needs us. They need YOU!
Here's to you and your voice,
Dear Angela,
I had the pleasure of learning from your BSchool talk. I’m ready to stop playing small and start taking up space in the digital arena. You showed a smartphone ring light. Will you pls share the name or product number so I can order it?
Thank you!