Speakers, What Do You Do When You Face “The Wall?”
Michael Davis
President & CEO, Keynote Speaker, Presentation And Speaking Coach | Communication And Storytelling Mastery For Leaders and Sales Professionals | Speaker's Advocate
At some point in the presentation creation process, every speaker faces The Wall.
What’s that?
It’s that moment when you doubt the quality of your message, the structure of your presentation, or your ability to effectively deliver it. It’s when self-doubt creeps in, and you think thoughts like:
"This is terrible."
"No one wants to hear this."
"They’ll just scroll on their phones."
Sound familiar?
The Benefit Of The Wall
Here’s a secret:
The Wall is part of the process to create a meaningful and memorable message.
It's there to test you - how committed are you to developing a meaningful message? How important is this to you?
The Wall is a key step that forces you to review your message, structure, and stories to ensure they best serve your audience. it’s the point where you stop being a presenter and start becoming a communicator.
It forces you to ask:
One Simple Step To Break Through The Wall
One simple shift to get past that barrier is to:
Focus on serving the listener
Instead of obsessing over how your talk reflects on you or how you come across to others, think about how it best serves them. What's the challenge they're facing? What do they need? How can you help them leave the room better than when they entered?
When you face The Wall, remember:
It’s a part of the process that ensures your focus is on the correct area - the message the audience needs.
The Wall isn’t an obstacle, it’s where meaningful messages begin.
Speaker, Psychotherapist (LCSW) at Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Department, (RYT500) Registered Yoga Teacher
2 个月The wall is the guiding light.
NSA Storytelling Champion | Keynote & TEDx Speaker | WSJ & USAToday Bestselling Author | Inspiring Teams to Innovate, Activate, and Motivate to Fuel The Future? | Training & Workshops
2 个月The stoic have a saying- the obstacle is the way. Meaning, don’t avoid hardship or challenges- they’re there to help you grow. Great reminder Michael Davis!
President @ Fripp Virtual Training | Presentation skills expert
2 个月Michael Davis I like the idea <<The Wall isn’t an obstacle, it’s where meaningful messages begin.>>
?? Keynote Speaker, Comedian, Culture Guy. I blend comedy and strategy to help teams collaborate, innovate, and create cultures that are comfortable with getting uncomfortable. Want to challenge the status quo? DM me!
2 个月I ran into the wall when I was trying to get too many points across and realized I was talking too much. One of your video posts actually was a really good reminder to narrow down the message with the audience in mind. Broke that wall right down.
Helping Business leaders and Educators build Championship Teams. | Keynote Speaker, Workshops and Coaching | Author
2 个月Great point Michael about serving the listener. When I developed the mindset that I am here to serve the audience, I became a much better presenter. Thanks for sharing.