💡Opinion
Imagine having the same impact on your audience as Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. Picture captivating every listener with your words, inspiring them with your vision. This aspiration may seem daunting, but there's a proven path to elevate your standing in the workplace, enhance your profile across the business, and become the influential team member you aspire to be: improve your public speaking and presentation skills.
Transforming panic into power is attainable by becoming a confident and skilled public speaker. The art of public speaking gives you a unique influence, unmatched by anyone else in the room. Standing tall, palms facing out, you assume the power stance. A hush falls over the audience as you step up to the podium, a moment of anticipation. Your smile emerges, dispelling tension, and your first purposeful gesture captures everyone's attention. Your words are measured, deep, and resonant, and your power is evident.
Becoming this confident public speaker might seem like a lofty goal, but it's more achievable than you think. The key lies in mastering the techniques. The most effective way to refine your skills is …….
…….by frequently standing in front of an audience, any audience
Seize every opportunity that comes your way. The universe will provide you with the feedback you need.
In the early days of my public speaking journey, I relied on objects to steady my nerves, even a wheelie bin once! Opportunities to address an audience abound, and those adept in oral communication excel. Therefore, volunteer for every speaking opportunity. In the workplace, such occasions are numerous:
Farewells
Celebrations
Milestone events
Chairing meetings
Daily or weekly updates
Presenting a business case
Presenting new information
Reporting to a steering committee
Each of these situations demands preparation.
Treat it as a priority task on your to-do list.
👨💼 Try This
Instead of always saying ‘sorry…….’, try these reframes:
Sorry for rescheduling → Thanks for being flexible!
Sorry for being late → Thanks so much for waiting.
Sorry for bothering you → Thanks for carving out time.
Sorry for venting → Thanks for listening.
Sorry I had to take that call → Thanks for your patience!
Sorry for jumping in → I have an idea that may help.
Sorry for the mistake → Thanks for catching that!
Sorry, I don’t get it → Could you repeat that? I just want to be clear.
Sorry, does that make sense? → I’m happy to answer any questions!
💬 Quotes
“Investing is a business where you can look very silly for a long period of time before you are proven right.” — Bill Ackman
🗣️ Buzzwords
Marsquake - Scientists announced that a powerful Martian earthquake occurred recently - caused by changes in the tectonic plates.
Snowplough Parents - a parenting style that seeks to remove all obstacles from a child's path so they don't experience pain, failure, or discomfort (= lawnmower parenting or bulldozer parenting)
📖 Reads (or Views)
10 Emotions That Are Undervalued in the Workplace
The Sad History of Black Friday
🔣 Some Stats
The company we all want to work for, by country.
Killers of the Flower Moon is director Martin Scorsese’s 27th feature film, his 11th collaboration with Robert De Niro and his 7th with Leonardo DiCaprio.
⌛ Time Wasters
Early Business Cards (including Bill Gates’ & Jeff Bezos’)
Google’s new game, Odd One Out, tests if you can spot the AI-generated artwork.
🐔 Chicken Soup for the Office
Tarzan was broke. He needed money in a hurry. He had been thinking of going into the used crocodile business for a while.
He decided on the name ‘Corporate Crocodiles Pty Ltd’.
Keen as mustard, he got up early the next morning and swung down to the river bank.
All day he bargained, bustled, bought and sold crooked and crummy crocodiles.
That evening, he walked home; he didn’t have the energy to swing through the trees.
He fell through the door of the tree hut and shouted to Jane to bring him a martini.
He gulped it down and demanded another one, threw that down and pleaded with Jane to get him another.
“Tarzan,” she said, “this is not good for you.”
“Jane, you don’t understand,” Tarzan sobbed.
“It’s a jungle out there!
🤣 Prompts
‘Jungle Out There’, by Midjourney
Prompt: cartoon style, Tarzan, at home, with Jane, exhausted