10X Your Communication Skills

This week we talk about some of the ways that you can 10 x your communication skills. We stretch the boundaries a little, beyond the usual public speaking training and move towards the performing arts. We take a look at how we can encourage ourselves to develop further and overcome conscious or unconscious barriers that may be holding us back today from expressing our full potential. All this, by assuming the role of other characters and truly making our world a stage. 

I can still remember how I felt that day. My earliest memory of going on stage. I was four years old, it was a university fashion show that my mother was helping to organize at Syracuse University in upstate New York. It was a freezing day which seemed even colder on account of the chattering of my nervous teeth and the shaking of my anxious little body. My mother, sensing my fear, yet confident in my inner powers as only a mother can be at that age; squatted down to look at me with loving eyes, drew me into her comforting chest and threw her safety arms around me…she held me tightly against her heart then whispered those words in my ears that changed everything.  

“It’s ok if Janine feels nervous or scared my darling….that’s normal….just remember;  the person going out onto the stage is “Little Diva Janine”, the part of Janine that loves the stage and loves to communicate and make people happy. And everyone out there cant wait to see little Diva Janine. And me, your dad, your grandmas and everyone who loves you, are all standing right here behind you to cheer you on and catch you if you fall.” I believed her. After all, she was my mama. And because I did, I wrote a programme in my subconscious mind. 

To this day, before taking the stage to make keynote speeches, to perform, or before walking into a mission critical meeting or presentation; I recall those words. I silence my noisy heartbeats and calm the butterflies with meditative breathing, focus and visualization of my mother and everyone I love standing right there behind me; rooting for me, ready to catch me if I fall.  

And it changes my state.  

Suddenly, I no longer fear the worst, the embarrassment of struggling for the right words, the worry that I will not be able to answer all the questions, or even the shame of just totally screwing everything up. Instead, I have replaced these negative feelings which are common for millions of people, with positive feelings of comfort and support provided by family behind me, as well as the excitement of delivering value to the people looking forward to hearing from me. 

Isn’t it amazing how reframing a situation in our mind and re-telling the story to ourselves differently can completely change how we ‘feel’ about the situation? Since then, I have successfully helped thousands of adults and children use similar techniques to transform their communication and presentation skills. From critical presentations at Annual General Meetings for international brands, to job interviews to auditions and tough conversations; these techniques are equally powerful and transformational.

So let’s get you started on your way to 10X your communications skills!  

I invite you to consider 2 powerful tools that can help you see positive results quickly. 

1. Get on Stage!  

a) Experiencing the performing arts can help you become a more confident speaker and presenter 

 b) The performing arts is a structured way to take on the character of someone else (imagine in your mind being another character), and then to use their words and actions to tell a story 

 c) Taking on a character other than yourself is a liberating and less intrusive way of performing things that may otherwise feel awkward to you 

2. Tell stories the TTB way : Align your thoughts/experiences (Think) with your words (Talk) and use your voice and body to tell the story (Behave) 

a) The most powerful and inspiring communicators often use authentic experiences from their lives to highlight the problem or concept that they want to discuss, and then create a powerful story around that 

b) Make it personal – provide enough latitude in your stories for the audience to ‘insert’ themselves in it…being able to include and connect with the audience is a key skill of a powerful orator. A great presenter engages his or her audience 

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So have ever wondered how different your life, relationships and career would be, what kind of impact you could have if, every time you spoke, you engaged your audience, locked their attention and inspired action? How would that change your views on yourself, your confidence levels and your growth?  

If you would like to experience the impact on your life, relationships and career; of becoming a powerhouse communicator, then try these techniques out for yourselves and keep us posted.