THWS#093: Be Free. Be Engaging. Be Heard.

Sometimes the very thing you think is helping you is actually holding you back. 

Let me tell you about Emma.

Emma's Problem

Emma had to use a script when she presented. She'd stand there reading her notes - word for word.  But that meant she didn't connect with people.  They weren't engaged, they didn't listen.

Lots of people will switch off when they feel people are reading to them.  The tone of people's "reading voice" puts people off.  The lack of connection.  The inability to adapt to the room mid presentation.

The script was supposed to help her, but it had become a crutch. And that crutch was killing her impact.

The Solution

So I worked with her on three things.

1. We removed the crutch. No more reading paragraphs of text word for word. That had to go.  Scary.
2. We used a new type of notes. Instead of full sentences and paragraphs, we used bullet points. Just key ideas, trigger words. Enough to keep her on track, but not enough to read from.
3. We practiced riffing off those ideas. Taking a bullet point and expanding on it naturally, in her own words. Over and over until it felt comfortable.

I remember one practice session vividly. She looked at her bullet point, looked up at me, and just started talking. No script. Just her, explaining the idea like she was having a conversation.

"That's it! - Eureka"

The Outcome

The transformation was massive. Her engagement with people went through the roof. She was making eye contact, reading the room, adapting on the fly.

She became much more natural and engaging. People actually listened.

She still uses notes. She's not up there winging it completely. But those notes are her guide, not her script.

Sometimes the thing you think is helping you is actually holding you back. For Emma, losing the script actually set her free.

Hope this helps.

BenP

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Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

• Leaders In Tech: Raise the impact of your team.  Make them more influential, memorable and successful with customers everyday.  The Technical Storytelling Professional Program enables them to create clarity, generate energy and drive the results you need.
• Individuals: Accelerate your career and build your reputation.  Develop the skills to help you present,  influence and explain in the tech world.  Check out the Technical Storytelling Essentials or Tech Community Speaker courses.
• Tech World Human Skills Podcast:  The latest episode is " First Recall = First Call - Neuroscience of Memory, Time and Persuasion" with John K Coyle. Check it out on the Elevated You website,  Apple, Spotify, YouTube or Amazon Podcasts.