Being Real From the Platform

"Let it be known, no person, thing, or situation can validate you. You validate yourself by realizing who you are." Mark Tosoni

Knowing who you are is essential before you step in front of an audience. What are you knowledgeable to speak about? What are you interested in learning? What are you passionate about sharing? When you have clarity, your confidence and excitement about your topic will radiate throughout your presentation.

People see, hear, then they believe. Whatever the purpose of your speaking, it is ultimately important that the audience believes you. Your credibility is vital before they will buy your product, service, or your call to action. More than 90% of why a person "buys" from you is because they like and trust you. From the moment your audience first hears about you, sees you, or hears you present, they are making a decision about who you are and what you are saying.

Which is more important in a presentation, the message or the messenger? Both are completely dependent on the other with a cycle of the message supporting the messenger and vice versa. What is essential is congruence of what you are saying and who you are.

Credibility is created with congruence. Who are you? Are you congruent with your message? If you are talking about financial investments but your portfolio is negative, the audience will be able to detect your incongruence. If you are talking about marketing with an integrated marketing image, your audience will sit up and listen.

Authenticity and integrity are qualities that the audience will discern, the same way they will know if you are a fraud or lack integrity. Be real. Audiences love presenters who aren't afraid to show their weaknesses or laugh at themselves. Vulnerability or openness from the speaker helps people relate.

For example, during a sales seminar I shared that at the beginning of my career I had to "post-date twenty dollar checks" because my commission checks were not very big. Members of the audience nodded their heads in agreement and two came up after the program, thanking me for helping them see that success in selling was possible. One of these has kept in contact over the past decade letting me know his progress. About once a year he calls and he reminds me that my willingness to be real from the stage opened up his mind to his own potential.

This is not intended that you use the audience to bare your soul and make them feel uncomfortable. I heard a speaker talk about her divorce. She had not emotionally resolved her feelings and should not have talked about a subject that was still raw to her. Once healed, her story might have value, but not until then.

Authenticity, vulnerability, and realness simply mean that you know who you are. When you know that, you are comfortable with yourself and your audiences will be, too.

Presentation and sales coach Linda Snyder is the creator of "Dare To Dream: Plan to Succeed," a practical guide to achieving powerful goals based on Linda's 26 years of experience presenting motivational seminars and sales trainings. To learn more about this book, communications coaching, and to sign up for FREE teleclasses, visit www.clarityofvision.com.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Audience Respect

One of the biggest mistakes most presenters make is in... Read More

Trade Show Victory!

So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More

Cell Phone Dos And Dont During A Meeting

What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, there's... Read More

How to Teach: Lecture vs. Discussion

WHEN ONLY A LECTURE WILL DO: Under certain circumstances, of... Read More

Qualities of Good Communication

Webster's Dictionary defines communication as "a giving or exchanging of... Read More

If You Want Business - Throw a Seminar!

Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More

Public Speaking Training Tips For Better Business Presentations To Culturally Diverse Audiences

Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More

Choosing a Presentation Remote Control

If you deliver electronic presentations using PowerPoint or other programs,... Read More

Present Your Message with Power and Pizzazz

If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More

Tips for Thinking on Your Feet

If you really aware and alert, your audience's behavior -... Read More

27 Tips For An Effective Presentation

So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for... Read More

I Love the Smell of PowerPoint in the Morning: The 5 Sensory Approach to Business Presentations

You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More

Is Now Really the Time to Hire a Professional Speaker?

Since the events of September 11th and the economy slipping... Read More

Keeping Meetings Productive

KEEPING MEETINGS PRODUCTIVE: Whether participants approve or disapprove of an... Read More

Secrets of Successful Presentations

Does the thought of speaking in front of others send... Read More

Media Training 101: Mastering the Television Interview

As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More

Networking: How to Network Within Your Organisation

Although there are any number of different networking groups and... Read More

Preparation for Your Presentations

(Excerpted From the Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event)Persistence in your... Read More

Ten Fun Ways to Liven up Any Presentation

Most of us would agree that having humor in our... Read More

5 Breakthrough Marketing Ideas

Do you ever get frustrated with your marketing? Are you... Read More

Ancient PowerPoint Secrets: Ask Your Grandma!

Yes, there are ancient PowerPoint secrets...secrets your grandmother knows and... Read More

Rise Above Cattiness

Cattiness is something no one ever wants to be accused... Read More

Can Stage Presence be Learned?

What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly,... Read More

Why You Need a Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN DEVELOPMENT: Lesson plans, believe it or not, are... Read More

Present Statistics In Context

"I didn't have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only... Read More

Speech in Business

The social skills of a small businessperson, franchisee, independent contractor... Read More

Using Your Audience to Your Advantage

Regardless of what response technique may be convenient in a... Read More

Is This Thing On?: Keeping Your Audiences Attention

First and foremost, you must deal effectively with your own... Read More

A Discussion about Facilitation Skills

Interview with Julia Apple-Smith, Manager of Employee Development at Sauer-Danfoss... Read More

Media Training 101: Where To Look During A Television Interview

Ever had that uncomfortable feeling of not knowing where to... Read More

The Relationship between Information Sender and Receiver: The Art of Communication

For communication to take place, a message must be transmitted... Read More

10 Profitable Tips for Creating Better Sales Presentations

No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More

Being Real From the Platform

"Let it be known, no person, thing, or situation... Read More