Can you buy presentation charisma from a good public speaking or presentation coach?
A really good presentation coach can teach you a great deal about how to present with confidence, clarity and impact.
What about presentation charisma?
It’s one of those words you don’t really hear too often these days, it’s a bit like hearing someone say ‘oh gosh’ or ‘crikey’. It’s one of those things that can make a massive difference to the impact you have when you present to an audience.
To talk about ‘charisma’ feels a bit nebulous. In fact, I’m not certain many people know what it means exactly but strangely it’s one of those things that you know when you see it.
Sadly, it doesn’t matter how much money you hav, charisma just isn’t something you can buy or learn from a presentation coach.
Presentation charisma is one of those things you either have or you don’t
To me, presentation charisma is that air of confidence, self- comfort, charm and grace. You can talk about anything and your audience will still hang on to your every word. It’s a personal confidence and self-belief that can move even the most reticent listener.
When you have charisma the bottom line is you’re like a people magnet.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for charisma. Even with all of our experience and knowledge it’s not something a Mindful Presenter coach can just miraculously give you on a day or two’s training.
That said, we have our own way of making little miracles happen.
Whilst we can’t give it to you, here’s what we’d suggest and help you with to tap into your personal charisma:
Take up space
Stand tall with your shoulders back, your feet planted firmly on the ground positioned shoulder or hip width apart. Open up your chest a little so that you can breathe properly and keep your head up.
Smile
There is nothing more powerful than a smile. It tells your audience you are a nice person, you are happy to be there. They can see that you care and that you are like them.
Smiling is contagious. It makes you feel good as well as your audience, releasing tension for both of you and it helps us all to relax.
Send them love
I owe you an apology.
There is something more powerful than a smile, much more powerful; it’s love.
Just imagine how the entire energy of the room would change if the moment you stood to speak, before you uttered a single word, you sent you audience thoughts of love. Please don’t dismiss it as ‘cheesy’ or ‘new age’ until you’ve tried it a few times; it works.
Lighten up
One of the challenges many professionals have when presenting today is that they operate in very serious business environments. Being professional doesn’t mean we have to speak like politicians; we can relax a little. Have a sense of humour and don’t take yourself so seriously.
Let them in
A presenter who is distant and only tows the company line isn’t very endearing or pleasant to listen to.
Let your audience see the real you. Tell them how you think and feel. Give them a little insight into what’s happened to you in the past to make you feel the way you do.
Make them feel something
Remember, you’re not just there to share data, they can read. Your job is to make them feel something too.
For your audience to feel something you have to feel it first. Be very clear on what that is and do everything you can to make sure you feel it first.
Step in
Step briefly but firmly into their shoes. Show your audience how much you really understand them. Find out as much as you possibly can about them. Set a goal of becoming one of them but with one key difference; you have the solution to their problem.
Speak up
Never underestimate the power and range of your voice and the ability you have to express passion for even the most mundane subjects. Practice stretching and challenging your voice; learn how to use if effectively. As you learn how to strengthen your voice, tell your audience stories, use analogies, metaphors, and your vocal energy to bring your message to life.
Passion is the expression of love, commitment and belief in what it is you’re speaking about.
When you show up with passion for a presentation, people pay attention.
Make it more
Mindful presenting has to be more than a job.
If presenting or speaking in public for you is just another monotonous part or your job, you don’t like people or don’t believe you have anything interesting to say then even surgery won’t change your attitude.
Re-frame in your mind the task of presenting as an opportunity to connect and make a difference.
It’s not magic, it’s mindset
That’s the one thing you have complete control over. There are always ways to improve your mindset.
Start by:
– Remembering just how good you are and how far you’ve come. Stop making the constant comparison to others. You may not speak like Obama or the late Steve Jobs but that doesn’t mean you can’t be brilliant in your own unique way.
– Believing in who you are, where you’ve come from and what you have to offer. Stay positive and remember that you have something to share that will make a tangible difference to those who take the time to listen.
People don’t always remember what you say but they remember how you make them feel
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Whilst charisma isn’t something you can buy, it is something you can step in to by adopting these ideas. The world needs more charismatic presenters and public speakers.
If you need help tapping into your presentation charisma:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
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