"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.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
How do you come across in your emails?As I receive... Read More
In recent years, companies have recognized the need to expand... Read More
Here, David Letterman style, are what I consider to be... Read More
You have presentation style habits that automatically appear when you... Read More
Preperation is vital when conducting a successful videoconference session. Thus... Read More
When was the last time you thought about what you... Read More
Have you ever been slideswiped? You walk into a meeting... Read More
"I didn't have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only... Read More
Every day, so many tens of thousands of innocent clients... Read More
"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . .... Read More
Since the events of September 11th and the economy slipping... Read More
As the meeting began, the project manager of the buying... Read More
Whenever and whatever you're pitching, dozens of factors will figure... Read More
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the... Read More
Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More
Did the "Painless" part of the title get your attention?Speaking... Read More
LESSON PLAN DEVELOPMENT: Lesson plans, believe it or not, are... Read More
So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More
The most critical job of a manager, when you boil... Read More
Whether you are speaking in front of a civic group... Read More
People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some... Read More
How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own... Read More
Usually the emphasis on making an effective speech is what... Read More
The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More
You don't have to be on a stage to be... Read More
Are poor presentations costing you business?The ability to deliver a... Read More
THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE... Read More
"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More
Calling a projector hire company will often get you confused... Read More
A top complaint from audience members is that many presenters... Read More
A trade show is an ideal way of showcasing your... Read More
Converting PowerPoint to Flash would be absolutely a good choice... Read More
We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More
Cattiness is something no one ever wants to be accused... Read More
Interview with Julia Apple-Smith, Manager of Employee Development at Sauer-Danfoss... Read More
Tip #1 The purpose of your speech is to get... Read More
No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More
When its time to give your next sales presentation, here... Read More
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More
People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some... Read More
Converting PowerPoint to Flash would be absolutely a good choice... Read More
MORE and more corporations in Malaysia have awoken to the... Read More
MANAGING MEETINGS--BEING PREPARED MAKES A DIFFERENCE: You can schedule all... Read More
Believe it or not, preparation is a better determinant of... Read More
What is it about overhead projectors that causes us to... Read More
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the... Read More
Here, David Letterman style, are what I consider to be... Read More
Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More
Calling a projector hire company will often get you confused... Read More
You speak before a group. You present your message. You... Read More
As the meeting began, the project manager of the buying... Read More
People love stories. We love to hear about other people,... Read More
Usually the emphasis on making an effective speech is what... Read More
"I have a love/hate relationship with PowerPoint. In the right... Read More
We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More
There is an old saying: "The first thing to do... Read More
There are many definitions for presentations. When you present there... Read More
Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More
Many experienced trainers feel that there is something lacking in... Read More
The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More
Long long ago, it was the time when time itself... Read More
Communication is vital for survival in an age of information... Read More
What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly,... Read More
Webster's Dictionary defines communication as "a giving or exchanging of... Read More
The query letter is simply a business letter that serves... Read More
First of all, what is a bio sheet and why... Read More
Presentation |