You need to turn up the volume

I’m just going to come out and say it.

I’m a really good speaker.

But that wasn’t always the case. My first presentation at university, I was marked down for having my hands in my pockets and jingling my keys.

But by the time I finished my degree, I won the university’s award for best speaker.

Since then, I’ve given public lectures, professional development training, I’ve been an MC, I’ve organised and hosted conferences, and spoken at many different events.

And time and again, people come up and praise my speaking ability.

Now, this isn’t a brag. it isn’t even a humble brag.

It’s a fact. And I’m telling you this fact because I want you to understand that excellence in speaking – despite what some people will tell you – is not about talent.

It’s about persistence and amplification.

Persistence because you need to do it. More specifically, you need to drill it.

Here’s a simple exercise I do with every one of my clients when I’m coaching them on their public speaking:

But a pack of toothpicks. Stick one between your teeth. Then spend 5-10 minutes a day reading either your speeches or from a book.

Do this for 30 days and you’ll find that clear, confident speaking is so much easier.

But what about ‘amplification’?

Well this is the real secret to speaking success. Amplification is about identifying your own individual personality and then dialling that up.

There’s a bit of a myth around speaking that the most engaging speakers are the big personalities, the ones who run out on stage and always seem hyped up.

If that’s who they really are, then great.

But all too often, it’s not. One of my friends calls it their ‘preaching voice.’ They’re normal and engaging until they get up to ‘preach’, and then suddenly they’re a preacher on the sawdust trail.

The real secret to speaking success is to amplify the personality you already have.

Why?

Well, first, because it’s authentic. And human beings can smell inauthenticity like off prawns or bad eggs. And we hate it just as much.

A second reason is because it’s natural – and therefore easier to keep up when you’re nervous or under pressure.

Of course, as I said, you need to amplify it. Take those things that set you apart and dial them up ten times.

If you’re a joker in a meeting room of three people – tell jokes in your presentation.

If you’re bouncy, speak bouncy. If you’re steady, speak steady.

(Don’t speak boring, obviously – but that’s another matter.)

If you’re a naturally quiet person, use that to speak with quiet authority.

If you’re naturally loud, use it to jolt your audience awake.

If you’re obsessed with history, don’t be afraid to be ‘the person who always references history’. At least you’ll be ‘the person who…’

For example, when I teach philosophy, I swear.

Why?

Because I swear in my normal life. And because they don’t expect a philosophy lecturer to swear, so it works as a ‘pattern interrupt.’

But if you’re not a natural swearer, don’t do it.

It’s pretty simple. Be yourself – but turn the volume up, so to speak.

That’s how I went from being marked down for having my hands in my pockets to winning the award for best presentation.

And that’s how you can improve your speaking too.

Talk soon,

Alexander

P.S. Sometimes it can be hard to know what parts of our own personality should be amplified – or how. If that’s you, then the good news is, I can help. To get my help on your next speech, talk, or presentation, email me at [email protected] and let’s talk!