When You DO Need Speaking Training
Credit: Alexandre Pellaes / Unsplash
In a previous blog, I mentioned how most people don't need to invest in public speaking training. That goes DOUBLE if it's gonna be fluffy, 'mindset/confidence'-focused ‘coaching’ instead of skills-based training.
HOWEVER: you, fancy reader, might not be 'most people'. And since I do work with clients, clearly some people do need to invest in someone like me.
Here are the top 3 reasons why you DO need a public speaking trainer:
1. you don't know what you don't know. Plain and simple. If you've already done a keynote speech, a TED talk, or some other type of speaking gig, and it went...okay, but no real work opportunities were generated off the back of it - this might be your case. You might've caught yourself thinking 'hey - people applauded, feedback was good, so...what gives? Where's the biz or the invites to more (and possibly better paid) gigs???'
What gives is: maybe other speakers at that event outshone you. Or maybe you simply delivered but didn’t overdeliver. NOT making a negative impression isn't the same as making a strongly POSITIVE one. And if you haven't had any speaking training yet, or if it was fluffy 'mindset' stuff but didn't teach you any tangible skills...you might still have a skills gap you're not aware of.
2. even the best speakers need a sounding board. Just like even the top athletes need a coach, or the top singers need a vocal coach. Learning isn't a one-and-done situation. You keep improving, and you take feedback from an impartial observer because even the smartest and most skilled aren't 100% objective about themselves. If you want to keep your skills razor-sharp, you need ongoing feedback from someone who knows the subject better than you!
3. you could use some peace of mind. Today's (biz) life is more hectic and stressful than ever. Sometimes simply knowing you can outsource your thinking and strategizing to someone is worth its weight in gold. Imagine simply having to follow instructions: no second-guessing, no hmmm-ing and hawww-ing, no procrastinating because…you're accountable to someone who'll make sure you get things done. Someone who's rooting for you and knows their stuff. Exactly - feels like a goddamn relief, doesn't it?
There you go: the top three reasons you DO need a public speaking trainer (*again: IF you're a busy professional in a hight-stakes situation. If you're George Next Door who just wants to post the odd FB video but is camera-shy: you'll figure that one out on your own and with a bit of practice!)
PS: if you are that kind of I mentioned, and need to nail that upcoming TED talk, keynote, or other speaking gig: hit the ‘contact’ button at the top and drop me a line. Let’s see if I can help.