(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...Thomas Hayes is a master salesman, owner, CEO of Beantown Toys, visionary, author, and motivational speaker. With an iron will forged out of the tragic experience of losing a leg to cancer in childhood, Hayes has a compelling history to share with his audiences. Here are his secrets to being present in the moment with his audience.
Image: Yay Images
What is the best way you have learned to channel your nervousness?
When I am waiting, I focus myself on the moment. I watch what is happening. I look at the lighting. I sense how the sound system is working. I watch where is the audience’s attention…on themselves; on the food; are they preoccupied? I take all of my attention away from myself.
What is your secret about calming down and being with your audience?
Intention is my secret. I make my intention to give something to the audience and then I have all the power. If your intention as a speaker is to receive, then you are trying to get something. You have given the audience all the power. When I watch an open-mike night, I see young comedians who are always thinking about themselves. They are focused on receiving laughs and applause. They have to shift from receiving to giving.
What is your one sentence about being with your audience?
Change your attention and shift from self-conscious to audience-conscious.
What do you do when you are in the middle of speaking and you realize you have lost or are losing the audience?
I go back to building a bridge to my audience. I stop and ask the audience a question so the pressure is off me and on the audience. “Let me ask the group this question right now.” This is the quickest technique to regain power. I stop thinking about myself. Remember, my goal is to give to my audience.
Claudyne Wilder coaches executives, managers, and salespeople on how to deliver presentations that get to the message. Her clients give compelling, passionate presentations. Her company has an ongoing contract to give her Get to the Message: Present with a Purpose workshop at a Fortune 100 Global Pharmaceutical Company. Claudyne brings a unique and invigorating perspective to her work from her years of studying the Argentine Tango.
Do visit Claudyne’s site at Wilder Presentations to sign up for her blog, her tweets or to download some free presenting tools.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.
Related Posts
By Claudyne WilderI want to engage my audience, is what over half of the presenters I coach tell me. Here's what I tell them. First, many people in yo...
By Claudyne WilderImagine that you are listening to a presenter droning on and on, using the same tone of voice and the same pace. Before long you sta...
By Claudyne WilderTalk fast to fit it all in, or condense and speak calmly and connected? What would you do if you had a choice?Image: PexelsKuan walk...
By Claudyne WilderYou have practiced out loud. You feel confident. You know the subject. You have answered the questions you may be asked. But you are...