The IT Leadership Deal

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This one is a long, and important, one

Dear David,

I have always found communicating in a group the hardest thing in my life. I am fine on one to one basis but at teleconference I am totally blocked and just cant speak or explain myself. This is causing lot of issue in my work life.

Is there a solution to my issue and how can I work towards resolving this very important issue which is blocking my career progression.

Would you be able to guide.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your honesty with your personal challenge

After much research and speaking with other presenters far better than me, I arrived right back at the stuff I have written before about this – which I have updated based on some people’s opinions:

There are so many beliefs about presentations:

· People would rather die than give a presentation (really?)

· If you are not feeling sick with worry before a presentation, you are not properly prepared (I beg your pardon)

And, my personal favourite

· Presenters are born, and not made (People are born, not made)

One of the reasons that such "truths" fester is because there has been so much written about the mechanical side of giving a presentation and the process of preparation, whereas, important though they are, they will not help you be the hero that you can be. And it is hero status you must seek if you are to make a huge impact, and influence your audience.

The way to achieve this is in four steps:

Step 1

· Understand that presentations are an emotional experience, from the moment you are asked to deliver one, to several months and years afterwards (perhaps all of your life)

That's step one done then.

Not convinced?

OK - let's say you are asked to give a presentation to your Board of Directors. It is a very, very important presentation. You are asked on 4th February if you can give the presentation to the May Board meeting, three months later.

What happens next?

A…You acknowledge the opportunity, and plan your timings. You will do the research during February, prepare the presentation in March, and make any last minute changes, as well as rehearsing, in April. That way you do not have to even think about the presentation until the day it is being delivered, which you do, and then you forget about it, other than the specific actions that have been agreed as a result of your talk.

Or…

B…You acknowledge the opportunity, and your feelings take over. You wonder what will happen if you make a mistake, screw up or if the day is a disaster. Yes, you still do your research, by day, but by night you lie awake going through the talk over and over and over and over and over again. No point in sleeping, then the nightmares kick in…Oh no, its March. Yes, you prepare your overheads, but still, each and every moment, you worry, as every second brings the moment closer. Then its April. You start rehearsing it in your mind, and that doesn't help because you can't prepare for everything, for all those questions…come the day, you are already on the tablets to pep you up and seal you up! You give the talk, then you ask yourself the one question that everyone asks after a talk ("What was I like? - by the way, if anyone ever asks you this question about themselves, straight after a talk, the correct answer is "you were great, well done.")…and then the emotion and nightmares continue for several months. Indeed, although most people were praising of you, they are only saying these things to be nice, you are much more interested in those one or two things that went wrong…

Now, there is no right or wrong, there is only what serves you, and what does not. So, its your choice, which serves you, A, or B?

Clearly Shahab you choose A, so…

Step 2. Take control of your state – do this:

Think about all of the amazing presentations you have given, or, better still, imagine giving a fantastic presentation. Remember, our minds cannot tell the difference between something that happens in reality and something that happens with emotional intensity, so imagine how brilliant you will be, be there, in the event, at its centre. feel the energy.

As you do, and as you feel calm, anchor yourself to that feeling, by touching your thumb and first finger together of either hand – repeat this three times – every time you touch your thumb and finger together in this way again will trigger feelings of calm

Step 3. Focus on only one type of content - what's in it for your audience?

That is all they will care about - what's in it for them? So know your Board well, research where the company is going and go and speak with a few of them beforehand to "ask their advice on this subject" (they will be chuffed). I am not saying you simply tell them what they want to hear, I am saying you share with them how what you are proposing will achieve their outcome. It's just like any sales situation - people hate to be sold to, but we love to buy.

Step 4. Speak with passion

The critical question any audience, from one to one hundred thousand, will ask themselves, about you, is this - does this person believe what we are saying? If you do not, do not say it. If you do, say it like you do. When you do this eye contact becomes automatic, passion kicks in, and charisma takes over.

And that's it - yes, give it a structure, yes, make the content sizzle, but most importantly be you, believe in what you say and say it so that your audience can see the real benefits for them.

And be yourself

Thanks for reading

With my very best wishes

David