Every human being has energy. If you don’t like the nebulous, mystic-sounding concept “energy”, choose vibe. Or attitude. Or “that something”. Whatever you call it, the fact is that we’re all attuned to the influence of intangible characteristics in others.
For the majority of us—those that aren’t psychopaths—the energy we carry is indistinguishable from the truth about our beliefs, attitude, and general stasis on the inside. When we’re happy and optimistic, we generally put off happy and optimistic vibes. When we’re stressed and disorganized and feeling scared, we typically put of those vibes instead.
As presenters, we have a responsibility to pay close attention to the energy we bring into a room. Everyone else plays a passive role in the event; we control the vibe. The more we want to steward this value commodity, the more we need to pay attention to how we develop, harness and communicate our attitudes to others.
The most powerful vibe you can give off is optimism. Not just with presenting, but anytime. Studies have shown that sales people with a positive mental outlook are as much as 37% more productive than those with a neutral or negative outlook. With presenting, we would guess that the chasm would be even wider.
The sheer act of attending a presentation indicates a desire and willingness to change. It’s a playing field that rewards those who see the benefits of progress and development. The more optimistic you are about the possibilities of the future, the more likely you’re going to have a crowd of fertile minds to talk to. By contrast, those who step on stage to talk about keeping things the same and being content with what we have tend to be quickly disregarded.
The thing is, just like the camera adds 10 pounds, presenting adds emphasis to your energy. If it’s positive, you can expect that energy to carry further than it ever has. If it’s negative, well, ditto.
Question: How do you take steps to control your energy before you present?
