Have you ever known someone who stressed you out just by being around? What about someone who always calms your nerves, even if they don’t say anything?
We all have an energy that we carry with us. But did you know it’s more than just person-to-person? We presenters carry our energy with us on stage, and audiences are extremely sensitive to it, whatever it is.
Sometimes, our advice kind of comes across as, “Be a better person, and you’ll be a better presenter.” That’s pretty much true. Audiences mirror the presenter’s good traits but react against the presenter’s bad traits. The more serene, stable, non-judgmental and supportive you are, the more your audience will mirror those traits. If you’re desperate for the sale, aggressive, cocky or insincere, their minds will close and their inner monologue becomes rigid and argumentative.
Literature of every kind, from the Bible to Buddhist texts to Stephen Covey and about a zillion blogs out there all have advice that goes like this: spend more time in quiet relaxation and long-term thinking and you’ll be more effective. The default pull of our world today is constant activity, most of it reactionary toward whatever prompts, notifications or circumstances are flying in our faces. The result is that most of us rarely have time to be the strategic, visionary, character-rich individuals we always intend to be.
The difference for presenters is that it’s unacceptable to be anything but. The very implication of being on stage is that you’re an individual that can serve as a guide. We believe that implication goes beyond the expectation that you are an expert in your field; on some level, you need to model a way of living that is desirable and positive. Influence certainly depends on expertise, but you also derive influence from many other sources. The kind of credibility that comes from your basic energy is inimitable. And it starts by making time to relax and go long-term with your thoughts.
The feeling of giving a presentation in a state of calm, positivity and goodwill is one of the most unique feelings in the world. There is a bond, a strong connection that forms between you and your audience when this happens. It feels almost collaborative, even though they’re listening and you’re speaking. It’s the way a presentation really ought to be. Try it and you’ll love it.
Question: When you present, do you plan your schedule to allow time to relax?
