Prevent Oversharing from Hurting Your Presentation

VULNERABILITY CAN BE POWERFUL - BUT OVERSHARING CAN BACKFIRE, when it comes to public speaking or LinkedIn content.

Especially for solopreneurs in financial services, striking the right balance is crucial to converting your audience into clients.

The story of Alan, a financial advisor who was passionate about helping his clients plan for their future, is a case in point.

After a challenging personal experience managing his finances through a divorce, he wanted to share his story to connect with prospects.

But in his talks, he overwhelmed listeners with too many personal details. The result? Their minds turned to mush and his core message got lost.

The Fix? Keep It Relevant.

To keep Alan from over-focusing on his personal struggles, I coached him to shift his focus to talking more about how he helped people create solid financial plans.

Gradually, the change in focus began to manifest itself in his work.

He realized he needed to listen to himself to be able to listen to others better.

He started to put out a message that became more clear and focused. His listeners found his newly streamlined message compelling. They found it easier to trust him, and to commit to putting their belief in him.

Are You An Oversharer? Here’s How To Stay on Track:

1. Get to the Point – Clients want to know how you can help them reach their financial goals. Personal stories are great, but only if they’re brief and directly support your message.

2. Show Your Personality – People do business with people. Be human, but avoid overloading them with too many personal details.

Ask yourself, “How does this help my audience?” and keep your message tightly aligned with what they want to know.

3. Stay Focused on Their Needs – Ask yourself, “How does this help my audience?” and keep your message tightly aligned with what they want to know.

4. Practice Makes Perfect – Nervous speakers often overshare. Practice pausing and refocusing on your core message when you feel yourself going off track.

?Remember, your audience isn't just interested in your life story—they’re wondering, "What’s in it for me?"

Answer that question, and you’ll build trust, engage prospects, and grow your business.

DID YOU MISS THESE GREAT POSTS?

Kathryn wants to show her boss she’s ready for a promotion but feels uncomfortable promoting herself.

--She’s unsure of what her boss is really looking for in a candidate for a higher role.

--She battles self-doubt as she watches her more competitive colleagues using every trick to get on the boss’s radar - texting updates on every accomplishment and even inviting him to play golf.

--She fears her boss might say no or think less of her for asking.

The key to lifting this mental burden is realizing that self-doubt comes from overestimating how badly a bold action will turn out.

Bold moves rarely go as wrong as we fear, and they often lead to positive outcomes.

Action Steps:

1. Make the boss’s job easier by taking some concerns off their plate. This shows dependability and capability.

2. Strengthen communication skills. Demonstrate an ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts and communicate effectively with all stakeholders.

3. Build solid relationships across the organization. When the time comes, colleagues will vouch for the would-be candidate for promotion.

4. Recognize others - the secret of making oneself look good is lifting others up.

5. Find a way to contribute to the bottom line. There’s no better proof of one's value than bringing in revenue.

6. Have a direct conversation with the boss. Ask exactly what it takes to get promoted.

POLL RESULTS: What's the best way to communicate a desire to be promoted?

--Directly ask for a promotion - 59%

--Build communication skills - 19%

--Take on extra tasks - 16%

--Other - 5%

111 votes

How long are you willing to wait when your prospective client is late for a call?

I used to be the person who’d wait indefinitely - placating, being patient, making excuses for the no-shows.

But over time, I learned that time is my most valuable asset.

Now, set a mental timer. It’s not about being rigid; it’s about valuing my time.

POLL RESULTS: How long do you wait for a prospect who is late to a call?

--Less than 5 minutes - 12%

--5-10 minutes - 64%

--15 minutes or more - 16%

--Depends on the person/meeting - 8%

95 votes

MICHAEL'S MOTIVATING MISSIVE:

The business professionals I have seen blossom into top presenters and public speakers generally have 2 character traits in common.

1. They keep pursuing growth, no matter how discouraged they get.

2. They are sufficiently modest to go after help when they need it.

When you both believe in the benefit and importance of work and are hungry to improve exponentially and quickly at your craft, that’s a winner’s mindset.

THANKS FOR READING!

lf you found this newsletter helpful, feel free to pass it along to your LinkedIn connections. And be sure to click on the Empowered Speaker link below to raise your professionalism to gain the trust of high-end clients through confident presenting.

Until next time ... Present like a champ and prosper!

Michael

#financialservices #publicspeaking #presentationskills