The No. 1 way to market your business is through speaking. Speaking in front of a group of potential clients not only promotes your services or products, it also contributes to further development of your relationship-building and networking skills, both of which will serve all areas of your business and life.
It’s quite possible the thought of speaking in front of groups terrifies you. “You want me to stand on stage or in front of a room filled with people and speak?” This is repeatedly voted the No. 1 fear of adults.
I have been speaking and singing on stages since the age of five, but I was not born with the kind of confidence expected from someone with my platform as a singer and professional speaker. Each time I had a big performance, a piano exam, or a singing contest coming up, my abdominal pains would be so intense I could be at home from school for up to a week at a time. I was sent for every medical test available, and after each round of tests, the doctor would tell my parents, “There is nothing wrong with your daughter. It is just nerves.”
I loved being on stage, but I felt sick with anxiety beforehand. It was all very confusing.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Practice Makes Perfect
Overcoming anxiety to be able to present in front of a group is a process, and it can take time, but it will build your business confidence. Each time you present, you will further build that muscle.
Why is public speaking so nerve-wracking? It is easy to feel exposed to be standing in front of a room with a seated audience. Just by standing at the front with all of that attention on you, it may seem you think you are better than everyone else. It might seem that the expectations are high for you to deliver something extraordinary.
Now take these ideas into daily life. Imagine if every time you walked into a room where there were strangers, you felt completely confident. Imagine being able to embrace continued attention on your business and your products and services. This is real professional development.
At the age of 31, I made the decision to leave Australia and move to New York City. I had come a long way in terms of nerves when being on stage as a child, as I was now a professional performer, both on stage and on screen. Still, when I had a major opportunity, I would be dealing with that same anxiety all over again. I set out to handle this once and for all.
Around that time, I was studying with a vocal teacher in Sydney, Kerrie Biddell, and I learned the value that 50 rehearsals equaled one performance. Being on stage was the best preparation to break through the nerves. When I arrived in New York, I set out to perform at every chance; for money, for no money, as a guest at someone else’s show, with my own shows. I set out to be “performance ready,” so that at any place and any time I would be ready to walk up on stage and deliver.
Always Be Performance Ready
What opportunities could you take to prepare yourself to be performance ready? Saying a few words at a small dinner to toast a special occasion? Chairing a meeting? Imagine being able to say, “Yes,” to any last-minute opportunity to present and feeling completely calm about it.
When you speak in front of a group, your visibility is off the charts. You are seen as important and there is an assumption that what you have to say holds value. You can have this work in your favor by putting yourself and members of your team in front of as many groups as possible.
To increase your effectiveness as a speaker, focus on the value you can bring to those in the room. What is most wanted and needed for their business? What one piece of information can you share that becomes an action they can take into the office and implement immediately?
You will be remembered. You will be appreciated. You may even be hired.
Karen Jacobsen is The GPS Girl, who gives directions as the speaking voice of “Australian Karen” in more than 400 million GPS and smartphone devices around the world. A professional speaker, singer, and voice-over artist, Jacobsen travels the world speaking and performing concert-style keynotes to groups who want to be able to recalculate and give their best in business and life. Named one of People Magazine’s Most Intriguing People, she has shared the bill with Norah Jones, Neil Sedaka, and Christopher Cross, and performed The Star Spangled Banner at major sporting events, including the New York Jets game at Giants Stadium. Jacobsen is the immediate past president of the National Speakers Association-New York City. For more information, visit thegpsgirl.com. Connect with her @thegpsgirl and Facebook.com/thegpsgirl.
