Everything under the sun grows and changes, and human beings are no exception. Unfortunately, getting stuck in ruts and hitting plateaus are also part of the deal. There are a number of reasons plateaus occur, but the 1# culprit would have to be the lure of The Comfort Zone.
The Comfort Zone is a trickster–it meets all the criteria necessary to keep you stuck right where you are–indefinitely! It’s safe, it’s cozy, it’s not challenging, it’s reliable, and it’s predictable–the perfect recipe for inducing plateaus and bringing your progress to a grinding halt.
Getting out of ruts and pushing past plateaus doesn’t come easily; it usually requires an uninvited, disquieting nudge, or getting sick and tired of yourself and your current circumstances, or getting ass-kicked by a situation that forces you to move in a new direction.
I’d like to explore 3 different activities that can help boost you out of your comfort zone and take your business to a whole new level; there are personal benefits to be attained in the process as well.
Booster #1 Speaking Engagements!
This may be absolutely terrifying for some of you–the thought of standing in front of a roomful of people you don’t know…and all eyes are on YOU. Public speaking is, in fact, at the TOP of the list of common fears, http://www.speech-topics-help.com/fear-of-public-speaking-statistics.html and if you’ve never actually done a live presentation, it might seem downright impossible.
I remember my first corporate speaking engagement 15 years ago; I was so jittery, I thought I was going to lose my lunch. However, as a result of going through with it, (the speaking, not the barfing) I experienced a tremendous amount of growth, and there are so many reasons why.
The first growth spurt came when I began researching and dissecting the topic. It required countless hours, consuming books and communicating with experts to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the topic I was presenting.
The second growth spurt came when I combed through all the information I’d collected and distilled it down to easily digestible parts.
The most significant progress, however, came from the self-confidence I gained when I finally presented the work, gathering my composure and standing up in front of all those people! Needless to say, it doesn’t always go as planned, and one is required to navigate those waters as well. (More confidence-building! More growth!)
If you are committed to developing a dynamic program that flows perfectly, additional growth will be experienced in the following months (and beyond) as you continuously strengthen your presentation skills and hone your content. Note: There is no way to get it right all at once! This is a process, and even stand-up comedians who are customarily NOT terrified of public speaking will tell you that it takes multiple performances for a presentation to come together…and the honing process is NEVER fully completed.
That said, your efforts are likely to start paying off somewhere around your 20th gig when people begin approaching you after your presentation, wanting to shake your hand and ask more questions and congratulate you on a wonderful program.
That’s a good summary of the personal growth you can expect.
As for the professional growth, live presentations give you credibility. In the eyes of the attendees, there’s a good chance you’ll be regarded as an expert on the topic of your program. If you’re presenting to a target audience in your field, you may very well become the go-to person for some of them and be pursued in the future for your services. Further, the more often people see you or even hear about your presentations, the more likely those same people will want to do business with you, or perhaps even partner with you.
Some thoughts to get you started:
The Easy 3:3:3 template – 3 sections: 3 keys: 3 to-do’s
- To select a topic for your presentation: Identify some things you already do well and would enjoy learning more about. For example; cold calling, writing a book, painting, recruiting new employees.
- Single out ONE aspect of a topic that can be developed into a presentation. For example: How to get start recruiting your first employee.
Note: A common pitfall for new presenters is thinking it’s necessary to discuss every aspect of a particular topic. Using this title as an example, you’d want to focus only on the ONE aspect of recruiting employees: Getting started.
With that in mind…
- Break your talk into 3 sections such as: 1) Crafting the job description; 2) Developing referral sources; 3) Creating your screening process.
- Flesh out each segment with 3 noteworthy key points. Don’t forget to include research, statistics, or stories to illustrate use and application.
- Summarize each point and give the audience 3 practical takeaways or tips.
- At the end you will have separated the topic into 3 sections, each with 3 noteworthy key points followed by 3 things that can be implemented for a total of 9 takeaways.
Public speaking is a lot of work, but it will pay off down the road, (especially as you start making a name for yourself) and the 3:3:3 template is a good way to get started. It’s wise to solicit feedback from trusted attendees following each engagement, and your program will become more sophisticated as you continue developing your content and style, incorporating such things as:
- Continuously finding ways to gain a greater depth of knowledge about your topic (research);
- Making your presentation more entertaining and engaging;
- Finding low-risk ways to practice, experiment, and improve your presentation;
- Targeting appropriate audiences for your program;
- Obtaining professional guidance from organizations such as Toast Masters or NSA (National Speakers Association) or hiring a presentation coach
The template I’ve described here is just one of many ways to push your envelope.
In my next blog post, I will share with you how to continue supercharging your development by using Booster # 2: Creating a personal mastermind group, and Booster #3: Finding ways to collaborate with other organizations!
