Finding the Double WHY

Often when speakers feel uncomfortable, they don’t have clear answers to the questions:

1.??????? WHY am I here?

2.??????? WHY does this matter??

The first WHY connects to the speaker’s persona.?

There may be imposter syndrome. A seed of doubt could have been planted at some point in their life:

-????????????? Am I good enough?

-????????????? Am I interesting enough?

-????????????? Do I belong on this stage?

‘Tips and tricks’ will only get such a speaker so far, if a demon is stalking the subconscious.

Somehow, each of us needs to summon the confidence.

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-????????????? Reflect on your accomplishments

-????????????? Reflect on the years (or decades!) of experience you bring

-????????????? Reflect on all the times when you’ve communicated well

-????????????? Reflect on the love of family and friends (cheering you on even if they’re not there)

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Sometimes, I also ask myself: if not me, then who?

So, if I’m not good enough to be giving this talk, is there someone who is an easy, available, effective replacement? Erm, not really.

And so, I step forward.

Of course, the real answer to the ‘WHY am I here?’ question isn’t: because I’m a fabulous speaker.?

Someone speaks because an audience has been invited.

People have come to be educated, intrigued, entertained possibly. They have not come with the intention to judge (usually).

This puts focus on the second question: WHY does this matter?

A speech only works if value is shared. To feel comfortable on stage, a presenter must connect with purpose.

As Frederick Nietzsche said: ‘He who has a WHY can bear almost any how’.

Since then, many leadership gurus – like Simon Sinek – have concurred. We respond to WHY more powerfully than WHAT or HOW.

WHY binds us to meaning. WHY reveals motivation…and emotion.

Many senior executives and officials when asked to give a speech, find themselves pondering:

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-????????????? What do I want to say?

-????????????? How do I want to say it?

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This will leave them in ‘talking points’ land, and the speech will likely be a list.

Plus, they’ll get increasingly nervous as they’re failing to summon the necessary passion, which is the antidote to nerves.

WHY does this speech matter? That’s a better, more human question. It immediately sends the brain down story pathways.?

We are connecting with character, desire, challenge and morality. All fertile communication areas.

Speakers who can answer the double WHY - or WHY2 – will have the edge.

They will be more animated, more authentic, more comfortable… and more effective.

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If you are interested in Leadership Communications training, coaching or counsel – then reach out to me on LinkedIn or via www.sergeantconsulting.com