Butterfield Speaks

The Rigorous Road to Authentic Excellence We have all seen it, perhaps experienced it ourselves, the moment when one sticks the landing, the moment when one amazes with Authentic Excellence. Think Kamala. Think Michelle. As a storytelling coach, I have seen the journey. Passionate Chaos When I meet people seeking to tell a powerful story, I encounter what I call chaotic passion - so many ideas, so much excitement. I say yes! and tell me more so that everything can float before us to be considered, honed, crafted into the persuasion. The communicator is often their most authentic in sharing raw information and ideas. But then the going gets tough. The Sorting Hat That’s because we move to The Sorting Hat. This is when the ideas must be prioritized and reduced. This is when those competing ideas, those rough stories must be sculpted, reduced and brought to their essential persuasive essence. Clear ideas and compelling stories find their way into a Story Arc, one that hooks the audience, lighting a path to what listeners should think, feel or do. Stagger Throughs Stagger throughs are the early rehearsals where scenes and acts are being rehearsed and integrated. The performer is at a very vulnerable stage. They have no sense yet of the whole and are often lost in the parts. Authenticity and Excellence seem a long way off. All good! It’s a glorious time of experimentation and the coach listening and reflecting back can help sort and prioritize. What emerges is crystal clarity and a better persuasive architecture.? Make the Difficult Easy, The Easy Habitual and The Habitual Beautiful. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. The finest speeches, the most persuasive presentations must go through the rigor of repetition, of practice, of coaching, of feedback. It's a time when the presenter must be conscious of what they're doing and how it may land. They're being given mission critical notes and feedback - on message, on delivery, on gesture, pacing and staging - on tone. Let it Go, Let it Flow It’s time to help the performer release into authentic excellence. Sometimes it's as simple as saying, “let it go, let it flow.” In The Finale of my book It’s Showtime! I use the image of letting go of the parachute lines that you think are holding you up – because at this point, they are actually keeping you from flying. I remind the presenter of the most important person in the room, the other person! “Your role is to connect with them. Don’t speak at them, speak with them. Attend to and care for your audience as you present to them.” When presenters genuinely seek for their audience to understand, they can move into the zone of Authentic Excellence…and move their audience to great things. Kamala Harris did it. Michelle Obama did it. So can you.

At Butterfield Speaks our passion is Leadership that inspires through Communication Excellence. Key to Leadership Excellence is your ability to help your teams?solve the problem...lead the change. In our Executive Leadership Workshops we teach a unit on the Power of Consultative Listening. Check it Out!?It will raise the bar on the Quality of your Engagement.

The turn of the calendar is an opportunity to futurecast the year ahead. What will a brilliant year look like? What success stories will you write? And what actions will it take to bring your best self to the professional stage? Here's one action we suggest -?Brush up your Power of Persuasion!?Click below for three super short videos that will elevate your executive presence, sharpen your communications, and give you the confidence to soar. * Powerbites: Be brief, be brilliant and be gone. * Hook, Promise and Roadmap: Bring winning structure to your Presentations. * Effective Rehearsal Techniques: Command any stage. Here’s to an Extraordinary Year Ahead!