As we have found when
delivering our public programs, there is always healthy enthusiasm for the
style elements we focus on. Content and delivery are both important
for structuring a clear message, making that relevant for your audience and
engaging them, however it’s introducing your own style that will make you truly
memorable.
Why? You are unique. The more you acknowledge and emphasise your personal speaking
and communication style, the more you stand out in meetings, board rooms, and
your presentations in general.
To develop your style, here are five simple, effective tips to become even more memorable:
- Get feedback: Ask people who see you communicate
professionally for feedback on what engages them most about you and your
personal style. Make sure you get a mix of people whose opinion you
respect to make the best decision on what works for you.
- Grow the good: when we’re coaching people we
like to emphasise what’s working for them - in all aspects, including
style – more than what’s not. Perhaps it’s your well-placed humour,
natural enthusiasm, or charismatic stillness and authority that work for
you the most.
- Discover other styles: once you’ve found the
qualities that work for you, avoid resting on those alone, as you’ll
limit, rather than expand, your communication style. It’s not unlike going
to the gym and only doing the same routine for months or years on end.
You’ll end up developing only one muscle, rather than making the most of
your own physique by mixing up your routine from time to time.
- Avoid imitation. Phil and I are both members of
the National Speakers Association of Australia. A well-regarded and highly
paid fellow speaker recently said that he never watches his competitors.
We want to concentrate more on our audience and the authentic connection
we make with them rather than our competitors or colleagues. By all means
watch other speakers for their techniques and their skills, but avoid too
much comparison and imitation.
- Bring more of you to the room than you think you need to.
Now that you’ve mined your points of difference, bring as many aspects of
those parts of yourself and the way in which you communicate to the
situation as you possibly can. Most people – in a diligent effort to be
professional, or sometimes out of nerves or fear – bring only one aspect
of their personality to a presentation. We’ll remember more about you and
your material, the more we feel we’ve got to know you.
There are many people wanting to be heard in meeting rooms, and
in the marketplace. Make yourself one of the ones whose are not only heard, but
remembered.
To fast track the definition of your own style and be more
memorable in the boardroom, your next meeting or an upcoming presentation, contact us for coaching or details of our
upcoming courses.
Video - presentability Capabilities
Phil Preston &
Michael Neaylon give you an overview of presentability capabilities for greater presenting influence: Click
here to view video
Until next time, keep practicing your presentability,
Phil Preston & Michael Neaylon
FOUNDERS & DIRECTORS
