Even though you’re the CEO you have this “speaker nightmare”.

Again and again our clients – who run big businesses – share this same fear.

Drum roll, drum roll… you, the leader of your organization (or your region, department, association, or nonprofit agency) do NOT want to be embarrassed.

That’s it. Your biggest fear is embarrassing yourself.

You fear that your speech creates vulnerability that creates the opportunity to appear the fool.

Overcome your Fear Of Embarrassment with these three strategies:

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Bring your knowledge, attitude, and credibility to the lectern. Understand your content and practice your delivery. Finally, use our Speak For Yourself® best practices on how to organize your material so that you have more fun presenting your info with a higher predictability that your audience will retain what you’ve said.
2. Know your audience’s pain point. Get out of your own head and get “into” the head of your audience. What’s going on with them? How can you ease their craziness? What can you say that will increase their bottom line? If you answer these questions you’ll make their day. Concentrate on solving their issues and watch your own fears recede.
3. Anticipate questions you’ll be asked. You can’t get embarrassed if you know how to answer potential problem issues. Know the subjects you can and cannot discuss. IF you don’t know the answer then say, “I’ll get back to you in 24 hours.” And then do so.

Capitalize on this cycle of self-created fear of embarrassment by embracing these three strategies. Your end result? You’ll be even more prepared to present your message with gravitas.

To discuss a customized Speak For Yourself® workshop or Star Ranch retreat on how to communicate formally, informally, and electronically – email Info@SpeakForYourself.com or call 972.490.8676.

#Speaking #PresentationSkills #BusinessCommunication #OrganizationalCommunication #Speaker

Karen Cortell Reisman, MS, Executive Communication Author & Speaker