The Gift of Gab: The Power of Observation

I do A LOT of talking as a Pitch Coach and while some people may say I’ve got the gift of gab (or the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency), if you pay attention, you could too.  People are rarely born great communicators, but the greatest communicators have learned to not only do it but do it well. How? By using the power of observation. 

Follow these guidelines to better observation skills and enhance your gift of gab:

Ask Questions 

Getting a conversation started may feel uncomfortable, especially when you’re not entirely sure what to say. But the answer isn’t knowing what to say  - it’s knowing what to ask. Take the pressure off of yourself and let someone else take the hot seat! Ask open-ended questions like, “How did you meet so-and-so?” or “What was it like doing XYZ?” Questions like these keep the conversation going and give you more material to work with which leads us to our next point...

Listen Closely

Asking all those questions opens doors into a person’s life. They’re giving you details that you can pick up and use to ask more questions! Observe what topic really gets them going or pick a subject they mentioned and ask them to expand on it. If you listen closely, you can always find something interesting to discuss. And that brings us to the following point...

Take an Interest

Ever catch yourself zoning out? What’s worse is when someone else catches you. This can be embarrassing, especially when talking in a corporate setting. That’s why it’s important to not only get the conversation going but to take an interest in the people you’re talking to. One way to do this is by trying to envision yourself in their shoes; imagine how you’d feel, what you would’ve seen or done had you gone through these experiences yourself. 

Smile

When a person is disinterested in a topic, it shows in their facial expressions. Pay attention to your body language, especially when your environment is busy or when a topic of discussion is a little stale. Catch when your eyes start to wander or when you start feeling bored. When all else fails, smile, mirror their emotions and keep the focus on the speaker. 

Even in the corporate world, the gift of gab can lead to amazing opportunities, so make sure you get good at it! Need more help? Check out my services and let’s work together!

NEW PITCH COMPETITION FOR NYC BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES! Deadline to Apply, April 30, 2021!

FeverPitch is an initiative curated by Black Connect that provides a valuable platform for Black entrepreneurs and business owners to gain insight from and exposure to successful entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, community and corporate leaders, executives, disruptors and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2H-wu7h_aE&feature=emb_imp_woyt

https://www.blackconnect.org/feverpitch-2021

NEW EVENT ALERT!!!

Precious, the #KillerPitchMaster Speaks at Harvard University and SoGal BOSTON!!!

We know you've been hard at work building your incredible projects and ventures - and that's why we're so excited to bring you this incredible programming! Next Monday, May 3rd, from 5:30 - 7 PM ET Harvard University and SoGal Boston will host Precious Williams, dubbed "the killer pitch master"! Join us for a workshop that will help you nail your elevator pitch and project your best professional self.

Interested? RSVP now! To RSVP, click the RSVP button below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevator-pitch-workshop-with-pitch-master-precious-williams-tickets-150930694771?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch&fbclid=IwAR10bdn_9_mqt3fD1gpB8t9QtQ-xZUrsr__hBE4DZ_ff-mDozHZtqFPQurc&mc_cid=e99f6dcea1&mc_eid=b6385d89ad