How can a public speaking mentor outside your industry improve your skills?

I absolutely agree that having a mentor outside your industry is a major plus when looking to up-level your speaking abilities. First, great speaking skills are a universal in many ways and what works well for someone, no matter their industry, likely has utility in your speaking skills gene to as well. In addition, we tend to become complacent when not challenged and our speaking style and content may become a bit rote over time. An outside perspective can be invaluable in helping you find new avenues and styles as well as helping you to broaden your reach beyond your niche.

A public speaking mentor outside your industry brings valuable insights by offering diverse perspectives, non-technical feedback, and universal communication techniques. This mentor can enhance your skills in effective storytelling, body language, handling Q&A sessions, and building confidence, providing a broader skill set applicable across industries. Learning from someone outside your field fosters adaptability and creativity in communication, contributing to a well-rounded and impactful public speaking style.

Among the most helpful ways for me to internalize that outside mentor’s expertise is to pay attention when I’m uncomfortable with the feedback, feel defensive, or try to explain the reasons why it doesn’t apply to me—all tell-tale signs that I need to be curious and open and willing.

3 weeks ago, I got an invite for a guest lecture session. It was one of my a public speaking event which aimed 300+ auidence in a room. I was discussing with my mentor about getting prepared for the session. (My mentor is from outside industry) She said a specific technique that she uses to capture the audience's attention in the first 6 minutes of the talk. I implemented them in my talk. And I am blown (??) I was amazed to observe ? increase in retention from 20% to 80% of the audience. ?58% boost in sales by the end of the session. And from my experience, I totally believe that a public speaking mentor from a different field giving you an outside view can drastically help.

In my opinion, the greatest benefit to having a mentor outside of your industry is the ''outsider effect''. They will have a fresh and (often) a completely different point of view on your subject matter that will help you build a better presentation. Most importantly, they can help you identify when you are using too much industry jargon or assuming that your audience understands certain topics that might be very familiar to you, but foreign to a lay person.

Embracing the perspective of a public speaking mentor from a different industry can revolutionize skill development in multiple ways. ?? A mentor from another industry brings diverse viewpoints, questioning your assumptions and fostering new thinking patterns. ?? Their outside perspective broadens skill development, introducing innovative approaches beyond industry-specific norms. ?? Objective feedback from an outsider avoids industry biases, providing unique insights to refine speaking techniques. ?? Exposure to diverse networks and experiences aids in adapting communication styles to broader audiences. ?? Learning to adapt strategies from different industries encourages creative adaptation and versatile speaking skills.

Fact: As humans we have only ~ 7 seconds to grab someone's attention. As a public speaker, it's crucial to make an enticing intro. 3 weeks ago, I was about to deliver a session. I prepared for the session as usual. On the same day, I got a chance to talk with my mentor (from another industry) She got to know about my event. And wished me the best while teaching a technique to grab people's attention.?? ? I ditched the usual (outdated) intro. And induced the new perspective into practice. And the results were crazy good. PS. Sometimes, we all need perspective shift for the better. Isn't it ? :)

Challenging assumptions is pivotal in public speaking mentorship. External mentors bring:- -diverse perspectives -enriched skills Moreover:- ?? External mentors challenge entrenched assumptions, encouraging broader thinking and creativity. ?? They offer diverse experiences, exposing mentees to different speaking styles, strategies, and industry insights. ?? Outside mentors provide unbiased feedback, offering constructive criticism and new angles for improvement. ?? Engaging with mentors beyond your ministry expands your network, creating opportunities and connections beyond your immediate sphere. ?? Their guidance fosters holistic skill development, empowering mentees to evolve into more versatile and adaptable speakers.

In business, as well as in life, you should never think you know anything. Always question and always seek to improve. The way you do that is by challenging even the things that have repeatedly proven true and different situations. Because circumstances change and reactions to certain stimuli may need a different response than you have done in the past.

If you’re only ever comfortable then you’re not growing. Only being an effective speaker to one type of audience is a weak spot. You need to be able to connect and convey idea to any audience you appear before.

Sharing knowledge is my passion As a speaker, i feel it is important to pitch down the knowledge to different crowds. A while back, my team got invited to do an event for the IT crowd. We were brainstorming cool ideas when, Surprisingly, i met my mentor during the dinner when he taught me the secret of handling different Audience That dinner really took me on transformation by helping me dive into different vibes of audience and connecting with them.

In my experience of sharing my neurodiversity, I benefit from different expertise. Traditionally, neurodiversity, as a form of invisible disability, is associated with medical care and social welfare since speakers talk about neurodiversity. Different experts bring in possible areas to share from neurodiversity in corporates to neurodiversity in public policy and space design. For example, a corporate professional suggests me talking about neurodiversity from corporate recruitment and staff training on the ground that HR professionals may consider collaboration with social welfare and neurodivergent individuals for staff capacity building when it comes to neurodiversity.

Having a public speaking mentor outside your ministry can significantly enhance your skills by exposing you to diverse audiences and perspectives, fostering growth beyond your immediate sphere. ?? Interacting with various audiences outside your usual circle broadens your adaptability and understanding of different viewpoints. ?? Learning from a mentor beyond your ministry introduces new perspectives and approaches, enriching your skill set. ?? Exposure to diverse audiences hones your ability to tailor speeches effectively, catering to different needs and preferences. ?? Guidance from an external mentor offers fresh insights, constructive criticism, and tailored advice for well-rounded improvement.

Engaging with a public speaking mentor from a different industry offers valuable exposure to diverse audiences, enhancing your skill set in several ways. ?? A mentor from another industry exposes you to different audience mindsets, teaching you to adapt your communication style to diverse groups. ??? Learning from a mentor outside your field encourages versatility in addressing various audience interests and preferences. ?? Their network introduces you to new connections, broadening your exposure and potential speaking opportunities across industries. ?? Insights gained from their experiences can offer unique strategies applicable to your speaking engagements, enriching your skill repertoire.

If you are struggling to find a mentor, start with finding a coach. All you have to do is find someone who has more experience than you to learn from.

A public speaking mentor outside your ministry can significantly enhance your speaking skills by offering diverse perspectives and insights, encouraging experimentation and growth. ?? External mentors bring fresh viewpoints and varied experiences, broadening your understanding beyond internal perspectives. ?? They inspire you to explore new speaking techniques, fostering innovation and adaptability in your presentations. ?? Through constructive criticism and guidance, mentors help refine your skills, bridging gaps and honing your strengths. ?? A mentor aligns your speaking goals with industry standards and best practices, guiding you towards professional growth and success.

Having a public speaking mentor from a different industry can be highly beneficial, inspiring you to experiment and broaden your skills in various ways: ?? A mentor outside your industry offers fresh and diverse viewpoints, encouraging you to explore different approaches to communication and public speaking. ?? Learning from someone in another field fosters innovation, inspiring you to experiment with unconventional ideas and techniques in your presentations. ?? Adapting skills from other industries enhances your versatility, enabling you to incorporate unique strategies that might not be commonplace in your field.

With caution experiments could be the gateway into something revolutionary and transform your personal and professional trajectories. Again, like I said, responsibly. Experiments can easily turn into gambles, which can then turn into an emotional experience. It’s important to put control measures on experiments.

A cross-industry mentor turbocharges your public speaking skills. Embrace their unique insights, adapting strategies that defy industry norms. Their outside perspective offers a fresh lens, challenging you to think beyond the familiar patterns of your own field (this stands critical to one’s professional growth). It's like exploring uncharted territory – you might discover innovative techniques that set you apart. Recognize the richness in this mentorship, allowing it to stretch and enrich your speaking skills beyond the confines of your industry's norms.

They can help refine your delivery, body language, and overall presentation style, bringing a diverse set of insights that might not be industry-specific. Additionally, their outsider's view may pinpoint areas for improvement that those within your industry might overlook.

When seeking improvement in public speaking skills beyond your immediate circle, external mentors can play a pivotal role in honing your abilities and fostering growth. ?? External mentors offer diverse viewpoints and expertise, broadening your understanding and refining your speaking style. ?? They provide personalized feedback and guidance, identifying individual strengths and areas for improvement specific to your needs. ?? Through their networks, mentors offer access to new opportunities, introductions to relevant contacts, and potential speaking engagements. ?? Mentors outside your ministry bring a fresh approach, pushing you beyond your comfort zone and elevating your skill set.

You don't know what you don't know. So if you allow other perspectives into your life, you grow as a person. And you can become a better Communicator too.

Be clear about what you want from a mentor, they have to serve a purpose for improvement. I like the following criteria, and you can draw up your own. 1. Give me critical feedback - I prefer harsh feedback. 2. Play the role of the toughest audience (sometimes) 3. Question my actions and decisions, always. It is mindblowing when you have to explain a typical action and how much you realise you do things on autopilot and this gets you out of that to become fresh and bring a new perspective.