Powerful Presenting: What Kamala Harris Gets Exactly Right
Some time ago I saw some endearing footage on youtube. In this footage a group of enthusiastic giggling teenagers gather around Kamala Harris. Kamala had just given a presentation and one of the girls asks her in admiration: “How are you so good?”
“I am going to tell you,” Kamala replies.
“So, when you are standing up to speak”, “Think that it is not about you!”.
She continues to explain.
”Did you see the movie The Titanic? Well, imagine that you are on the Titanic and you are the only one that sees that the ship is about to sink. Are you going to worry about what you look like, or how you sound in that moment? NO! Because, what is most important is that the rest of the people on the boat know what you know. Because, that is what they need to know, right?”
“So, when you give a speech, and she sweetly reaches out to take hold of the girls hands, then there is something that YOU know. And you need to share that with other people, so that THEY know”.
So, what can this mean, sharing what YOU know, so that THEY know in a presentation?
Of course, this can be anything. From sharing with your employees that you are proud of them, to sharing the results of your project and emphasizing where to focus on, (if the results want to be attained). Or in the case of Kamala, sharing with her fellow Americans what is needed to get the country on track.
What is it that YOU know that OTHERS need to know?
What is your unique knowledge, perspective or vision? Where do you believe in? What do you think needs to happen? What is striking in the data and why do we need to give it a thought?
In short, what is happening on your Titanic?
Put your focus on YOUR MESSAGE when you present, instead of preoccupying yourself with how you look or what you sound like, when you speak.
It will make you more powerful and convincing as speaker.
And the wonderful thing is that “this focus” will also “tame” your presentation nerves!
How?
Keep posted and you will read it in my next newsletter.
Good luck!
Want to become a more powerful speaker?
Understanding that “it’s not about you” is one thing.
Applying it when you’re standing in front of an audience — with pressure, expectations and nerves — is another.
If you want to learn how to truly focus on your message, stay present and increase your impact as a speaker, 1:1 coaching will help you make that shift in practice.