Will you solve & balance the PARADOX of excellent presenting in 2022?

Will you solve & balance the PARADOX of excellent presenting in 2022?

In my view most speakers fall roughly in two groups. Only a handful of a speakers know to transcend these groups and solve the paradox of excellent presenting. The reason only a handful of speakers know to transcend these groups and become truly excellent speakers is because it requires to marry and master two opposing skills. And this can be damn hard. 😉

What do I mean exactly with these two groups? And what are these opposing skills you need, to transcend both groups and become a excellent speaker? Let us first have a look at these two groups.

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Group A:
The speakers belonging to this group mostly memorize their presentation by heart, word for word, when they present. This takes a lot of energy and it can come across as not really personal.  In fact, it can come across as a bit automatic.

Or they might have their PowerPoint full of information and find it hard to let go of their slides. Sometimes this leads to merely reading the information on the slides. Or their eyes will be focused on their slides or crib sheet 75% of the presenting time, thereby hardly connecting with their audience.

Their presentation seems contrived. They “talk from the head” as I call it. It seems as if the information comes from outside themselves when they speak, not from within them.

Often this is accompanied by a stiff body, a lot of “ehhs”, a monotonous voice and low energy. Although, the presentation can be perfectly correct content wise, the spark is missing.

Group B:
The speakers belonging to this group think they can easily talk about their subject without proper or any preparation. They speak of the cuff and it might look very professional at first. Especially to the speakers of group A. (Really connecting with their audience, really presenting in their own words). However, after a while even group A tends to tune out. What happens? Because they did not prepare properly, they tend to start somewhere and are not sure where they need to finish.  They repeat a lot of information, do not make the points, and need a lot of time to speak. This eventually takes too much energy from the audience and although they started off pretty well, the audience listening to group B will eventually tune out just the same.

Where do you fit in?  In group A or B?

In both groups, as you can imagine, you do not really attain the true art of Presenting.

In the first group, you find it hard to let go. Of your slides or cribsheet, you are not talking in your own words. The result is that you cannot connect to your audience and you’re not really connected to your story either. (lack of connection)

In the second group, you succeed in talking in your own words, it seems natural, but you did not prepare properly. Your presentation is not sharp, does not have a clear message and you jump from one subject to another, not clear where the final destination should be. (lack of proper preparation)

So, how to attain balance between A & B?

How would it be to have a razor sharp, convincing story, that you would effortlessly bring across to your audience? Being really in the moment, not a word too much or less. That you tend to touch or be in that “sweet spot”, most of the time? That you managed to transcend both groups?

In other words, that you would be able to solve the unsolvable paradox. Of being in either group A or B?

For me, this seemingly unsolvable paradox is what makes presenting so incredible interesting.

How so?

Because, as said, it requires two opposing skills that you need in order to attain the skill of the true art of presenting and balance them. That is what can make it so hard.

What are those two skills then?

First, you need the skill of a proper preparation (GETTING GRIP). Being strategical, knowing your audience, knowing your goals and message. Sculpting your story and creating an iron strong story design.

This phase also includes not falling into the pitfall of getting entangled into your content and losing overview. But remaining in control and keep the birds eye view.

And this phase includes making the story your own. In your own words, not learning it by heart, word for word. (Because this is the big pitfall that will keep you in group A).

Secondly, and here it comes.

Having had a proper preparation, so that when you present, you CAN LET GO, and BE IN THE MOMENT. (LETTING GO)

You can connect with your audience, you know to make the points, you embody your story. And you can be “PRESENT”, and sharp at the same time.

So, you need to get proper GRIP in the preparation phase, in order to be able to LET GO of it when you present.  THE PARADOX

And there are not a lot of people that can do both.

They do not provide themselves with the proper grip or they are not able to let go and be in the moment, when they present.

In other words, striking that balance or solving the paradox is about, preparing properly and in a way, that you can let go when you present and be PRESENT.

It is like Carice van Houten (actress) responded when a journalist asked her, what she did to be such a good actress. I prepare in a way, that when I am on the set and doing a scene, I can completely let go and BE there.

What is a proper preparation then?

To answer this briefly with an analogy. It is about holding the sand loosely in your hand. Not too tight, cause the sand will seep through nevertheless (group A), not too loose, cause the sand will disappear just the same (group B). But striking a balance and arriving at that sweet spot. You practiced your way towards that sweet spot and you feel, yes now I am there! Loosely and confidently, you hold the sand in your hands.

So, what do YOU need to hold your sand loosely and confidently in your hand?

Do you need to learn how to prepare properly?
Do you need to learn how to let go and be in the moment?
Or do you need to learn how to prepare properly instead of just jumping in and seeing where you will end up?

If you think it is time in 2022 to take that step and transcend your group and find balance than apply for any of my training or workshop. I will be happy to help you!

Have a Wonderfull 2022!