Presence and substance in public speaking

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I have a speaking assignment coming up and I want to do something new.  I have been working hard on strategy and messaging for my talks.  I have defined what I want my listeners to do as a result of my talk.  I have crafted a few simple messages to convince them that what I want them to do is important to them and possible, and then give them guidance on how to get it done.

But last night I had a dream about the presence of a speaker.  I dreamed about a speaker, faceless and nameless (although he might have been the Dalai Lama) who was radiant with optimism and confidence.  He was relaxed, cheerful, and engaging.  He lifted the aspirations of the people in the room, and gave them the feeling that change was possible, and that the change could (and should) start in them.

Yes, he had good things to say, but how he said them (or who he was) spoke as loudly as what he said.  There was something about his inner state that was infectious.  He was not exhausted, overly serious, or intense and theatrical.  He was joyful and in the moment.

This speaker I dreamed of is going to be the new me.  I have labored on the rock pile of running my own business for a long time.  I have pounded out cold calls, the warm leads, and the hot opportunities.  I have mastered the techniques, understood the industries, blogged, lectured and coached to the point of burn out.  I just want to show up and be glad.

I have substance, but do I have presence?

Big question for all of us who aspire to lead, influence, and move the mountain of the market in the direction we want.

Sims Wyeth & Co. provides public speaking courses, executive speech coaching, presentation skills training, voice and speech training, speech writing, and courses that address stage fright, body language, presentation strategy, and effective use of PowerPoint, all of which contribute to greater executive presence and personal impact.

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