Overcoming the fear of public speaking comes down to one thing. How can you manage the uncertainty
of the moment? Will you say the right thing? Does the audience need to hear your message? Will you
remember what your message is or will your mind go blank? If you want to truly conquer the fear
of public speaking and start to build confidence in your ability to move the room when you speak,
your preparation and curiosity beforehand to understand what your audience needs
can be your secret weapon to help calm your nerves and deliver something valuable.
In this video we will cover off some of the most important questions you can ask,
well before you speak, to help you build confidence, conquer your fears and crush it
the next time you’re asked to step up and speak. My name is Riaz Meghji, this is the channel that
helps leaders, coaches and experts confidently connect every time you speak. Subscribe to get
the latest videos and best tips that will make you a magnetic presenter.
What are the questions you can ask if someone asks you to share an important message?
First things first, Prioritize their priorities. One of my favourite questions to
ask an organizer or event planner is ‘What does this group need that they don’t already have?’
Then stay silent and get out of the way of their response.
This question always sparks valuable insight to be shared. Maybe it’s the need to be more connected,
build relationships in a hybrid reality, learn how to earn trust across different cultures.
When they answer, don’t try to fix the problem then and there.
Just listen and stay curious. Following up with something like ‘tell me more
about that….’ will help you gain valuable intel to deliver your message successfully.
Cover The Basics - these types of questions cover more of the logistics but can provide
valuable context on how to frame your message. You could ask: Why are you
hosting the event? - Pretty straight forward, but important to understand their purpose - is
it an annual kick off event to energize the team for the year ahead? Maybe it’s an update meeting.
What’s the goal? - Do you want the audience to do something specific? Do you want to energize
and motivate them? What do you want the audience to think, feel and do after they hear you speak?
Who will be in the audience? - employees, externals, guests, family
What’s the set up of the room? how big is the room, will there be a stage, a microphone, are you
doing this straight to camera on a zoom given our hybrid reality. These are important to gauge how
you can capture and keep attention and maybe even use a moderator to help with the virtual audience.
Would you like there to be Q&A? What types of questions are top of mind for this audience?
It’s always helpful to have 2-3 questions that they want answered beforehand
as it helps avoid having dead air off the top when the Q&A begins. This last question about ‘what’s
on their mind’ sets us up for the next point. Get Specific About Their Reality
What needs to be celebrated? It’s easy to point out flaws, but it’s also
valuable to celebrate the milestones. Maybe someone set a record for sales, or
went above and beyond to help the team get to the finish line of a project.
Discover who the champions are in the room and put the spotlight on them. The audience will love you
for it. On the flip side, ask - what needs to be challenged? Has it been a good year? Burnout
could be a huge factor. People are exhausted from zoom fatigue or may have lost motivation.
It’s important to understand where people are at and what needs to be supported and
possibly challenged. Your expertise could be a game changer to get people back on track.
Know Where You Fit In What is the event agenda - where do you see your talk fitting in?
Who else is speaking, what are they talking about? Understanding the timing of when you speak
is important. If you’re first, you are setting the tone for the meeting or event. If you’re in the
middle or at the end, it’s important for you to listen in on previous speakers to learn what they
shared and potentially reference their message or messages into your talk to show you care about
what others had to say and can create a thru line that connects your message with the event theme
and previous ideas that have been shared. Define the End Goal - What does success look like
for your talk? No matter how well you deliver your message, people support what they create,
so they need guidance for what THEY CAN DO differently. Most speakers have a call
to action WHICH IS GREAT - maybe it’s to be more creative, give 1% more everyday,
but what would be your call to emotion? What stories can you share that will ignite a raw
and honest feeling with your audience and connect them with your message. If you’re looking for tips
on powerful storytelling, there are plenty of resources for you right here on this channel.
By leading with authentic curiosity and gaining valuable context about your audience,
this is a great first step in relieving stress and anxiety because you are
eliminating the guessing game as to ‘what do they need to hear right now’. When you
know you have valuable insight to help them work through a difficult time,
the nerves turn to excitement for how you can help lift others up. When you lead by listening,
you show them you care and build trust - which means can challenge old ideas while
successfully inspiring new ways of thinking. What do you fear most about public speaking?
Share your experiences and best tips that have helped you overcome that fear
below. For more ideas on how to connect when you speak, you can download the free guide - the
5 secrets to making every conversation count, that link is in the description.
If you are looking to level up your speaking and presenting skills, apply for The Magnetic
Presenter program that helps transform you and your ideas into powerful presentations
that elevate your impact and influence. Thanks for watching this video - if you
want to project confidence when you present, or captivate your audience when speaking virtually
check out these videos. If you found this content valuable, hit the like button,
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