by Andy Janning
If you have a heartbeat, chances are you harbor afear of speaking in publicthat outranks death.
In the last 25 years, I’ve spoken to groups that could fit comfortably in a Mini Cooper and ones barely contained by the side of a mountain. Those experiences have taught me some valuable lessons about how to present in an honest and engaging way, and brought somehumbling professional successesinto my life.
This week, I have the privilege of sharing some of those lessons with you. They will help you form a positive and productive connection with virtually any group, anytime.
But before we go any further, my friend, I need to ask you one favor:
Stop stripping the audience.
It should be a federal offense to tell a nervous speaker to “imagine they’re all naked, and you’ll be fine.” This advice is bad with a capital BAD.It doesn’t help.
All it does is put some images in your head that you can’t unsee, all the while trying to make it through your presentation without some anxiety-induced gastric event bursting forth upon the naked assembly.I don’t know who created it but please – do your part in killing it.
Moving on…
