Becoming an influencer through speaking

"I want to be half a speaker The Obama's are," Zandile (pseudonym) said as we started narrating the essence of this skill when serving in a leadership position at work. She shared a very concerning account of women being in the corporate space and the pressure she was under especially now that she had been promoted to a leadership role. My heart ached at this, but we had to develop a strategy, not just sympathise. We had a short time to cement her credibility in that role.

I drool when I listen to spectacular speeches. These are speeches that evoke a deep sense of emotions, and mostly, inspiration is at the core. Leaders speak. Leaders inspire. Leaders influence.

I took time, mostly at night, to study what made the Obama's arguably the world's best influencers through oratory. Here are some of my findings:

1. As a speaker, what makes you worth listening to? Why not any other person? It is imperative as a speaker to have clarity as to what makes your story unique to any other person. Once you identify this, you are likely become a credible source of that subject.
2. It's not in how it happened, it's how it will happen in your audience's view. All too often, speakers are fixed to relaying their story just as they remembered it. We are missing the opportunity of having your story becoming the audiences' story. I can imagine your experience, but it's better to connect to my experience through your story.
3. It's not how loud you are, nor how physically expressive you become. It's what I (audience member) perceive you to be. There are times when President Obama presents a cool (swag) demeanour and he moves an audience equally as when he is assertive and unrelenting. His audience justifies their perception of his "body language" to make a pivotal point.

This process challenged me, but most of all, stretched my capacity to unearth these skills in my client. I remember that with each individual we process these things differently and generally, it boils down to a persona a person would want to portray. This morning, I was delighted to hear that after 4 months of engaging with Zandile, she has been promoted again! I am not a cause for this, but, I am delighted to be a part of the success story.

Do you have an upcoming address/presentation that you need to cement your position/ambition in your career? I would love to be a part of the success story, please email [email protected] and let's engage.